Ree
Community Member
This is my first post and new to R2R. I have had my tank for 9months. Lost my fair share of fish in the learning process but believe my tank is as stable as it can be at this point. Please forgive me if I am not using the correct terms, but please help me to learn them. I have not lost any fish in over 1 1/2months (not a long time I realize) all are doing well at this point. I want to be the most educated I can be to be the most successful I can be in this hobby.
Currently 50gl started with live rock- dual chamber charcoal filter on one side and protein skimmer on the other. I have both actinic light and white florescent lighting.
Stock is 1-blue hippo tang, 1-yellow tang, 1- blue chromis, 1-cleaner shrimp, 1-long tip anemone, 8 -sm hermit crabs (they dont do well) and zoa polyps (that are thriving ). I am finding new life: slugs, copepods, serpent star fish (2) and a baby hard blue starfish that must of hitched ride. I don't have a r/o system but purchase it when needed. I have great water flow (circulation).
I would like to try out a LPS coral but really want to clarify what I should be testing my water for as I am getting mixed info from people I ask. Do I need to use both the white light and actinic lights for my corals?? Currently only using the actinic for 8 hrs a day otherwise just moon lights and nothing at bed times. Stopped white because of over growth of cyanobacteria and was told don't need white light anyway. Also what do I need to be testing my water for other than na+, nitrates, nitrites, ph, ammonia, alk, phos and calcium. All of which are within normal ranges.
.......All right let me have it ....
Currently 50gl started with live rock- dual chamber charcoal filter on one side and protein skimmer on the other. I have both actinic light and white florescent lighting.
Stock is 1-blue hippo tang, 1-yellow tang, 1- blue chromis, 1-cleaner shrimp, 1-long tip anemone, 8 -sm hermit crabs (they dont do well) and zoa polyps (that are thriving ). I am finding new life: slugs, copepods, serpent star fish (2) and a baby hard blue starfish that must of hitched ride. I don't have a r/o system but purchase it when needed. I have great water flow (circulation).
I would like to try out a LPS coral but really want to clarify what I should be testing my water for as I am getting mixed info from people I ask. Do I need to use both the white light and actinic lights for my corals?? Currently only using the actinic for 8 hrs a day otherwise just moon lights and nothing at bed times. Stopped white because of over growth of cyanobacteria and was told don't need white light anyway. Also what do I need to be testing my water for other than na+, nitrates, nitrites, ph, ammonia, alk, phos and calcium. All of which are within normal ranges.
.......All right let me have it ....
