New salty 29g biocube

[NY_Caveman]

Turbos do an excellent job. I have a couple, and they are workhorses, but they are also big bulldozers. They often knock frags loose. I would add a few dwarf Cerith snails to round out your snail coverage. They really went after hair algae for me.

Good snail coverage chart at the end of this article
https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/whats-the-best-snail-for-a-reef-tank/

 

[TexasTodd]

Great link NYC!

 

[Bleigh]

Turbos do an excellent job. I have a couple, and they are workhorses, but they are also big bulldozers. They often knock frags loose. I would add a few dwarf Cerith snails to round out your snail coverage. They really went after hair algae for me.

Good snail coverage chart at the end of this article
https://joejaworski.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/whats-the-best-snail-for-a-reef-tank/

Looking at that link, I think I have astra and turbo snails. I have def had to right a few frags that have been knocked over. I've learned that when I putty down, I should hold the frag there for a few minutes while the putty sets up. I will look for some cerith snails next time I go to the LFS.

 

[Bleigh]

Taking the peppermint. I woke up with my blasto looking terrible, after being beautiful the day before. So I sat and watched from a far. Totally caught the turds picking at it. I got one shrimp out super easy, the other one I had to move rocks for. I am really hoping they are the culprits of my coral woes - they started dieing over night when I added them. I am going to get another coral acan to see if it stays happy. If it does, then I'm guessing it was the shrimp. If not, then there is obviously something else goin on that I need to figure out.

Do peppermint shrimp normally eat corals? Or is it hit and miss? They only hit the aipstasia the first night they were in, but they completely decimated it. If I get more shrimp, I may wait until I have more than one or two small guys to give the shrimp something to munch on.

 

[JDowns]

The peppermints could be part of the problem or they could just be feasting on dead tissue.

As a starter tank until things get settled you can add birds nest since they are cheap and hardy. Start with some good test corals to evaluate flow and lighting. You already have some shrooms. Acans, Zoas, Monti's, Clove Polyps (although a pain to remove if you don't end up liking them) are great starter corals to start getting into the swing of things.

What kind of flow is the tanking getting?

Oh and welcome to R2R!

 

[Katrina71]

Yes, peppermints can be little turds!

 

[Scdell]

I've read through your thread. You need some real help.
First thing is you picked the hardest tank to set up your first saltwater tank. Bigger tanks are way more forgiving.
AIO tanks aren't that forgiving. You're subject to what someone thinks will work with that system.
Second thing, you can't keep adding new stock to your tank hoping something works.
Third thing, you need to slow down. Figure out why things are going bad. Like people say nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Only bad things happen fast.
You've pushed the envelope with almost everything you've done. It just takes time to set things up right.
Fourth thing, you are searching the internet and this forum for answers. Fast answers. One thing you are going to learn. For everything someone says to do? Someone is going to counteract that theory. That's the problem with the internet. Too much info out there confusing people.
Now I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of flack about that, but I don't care.
Watch and observe your tank. Measure five parameters. Salinity, Clacium, kh, phosphates and nitrates. Don't guess at any of these. Rodi water for top off as needed. Don't let too much water evaporate before adding rodi. Keep things as stable as possible. It'll happen. Just don't rush it.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Peppermints aren’t reef safe. Glad you got them out. Things should be better going forward.

 

[Scdell]

Peppermints aren’t reef safe. Glad you got them out. Things should be better going forward.

I have 6-8 in my tank. Never touched a coral.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

I have 6-8 in my tank. Never touched a coral.

You got lucky. They are definitely hit or miss. Mine ate Fungia plate corals like candy. I ran a poll a while back and about half the responders said they also ate the corals.

 

[Bleigh]

The peppermints could be part of the problem or they could just be feasting on dead tissue.

As a starter tank until things get settled you can add birds nest since they are cheap and hardy. Start with some good test corals to evaluate flow and lighting. You already have some shrooms. Acans, Zoas, Monti's, Clove Polyps (although a pain to remove if you don't end up liking them) are great starter corals to start getting into the swing of things.

What kind of flow is the tanking getting?

Oh and welcome to R2R!

Yes, peppermints can be little turds!

Peppermints aren’t reef safe. Glad you got them out. Things should be better going forward.

I have 6-8 in my tank. Never touched a coral.

You got lucky. They are definitely hit or miss. Mine ate Fungia plate corals like candy. I ran a poll a while back and about half the responders said they also ate the corals.

So, all my corals look like they are turning around since I've gotten the peppermint shrimp out 2-3 days ago (except the mushrooms, but they were doing poorly before the pm shrimp. I think they just got bleached.). I caught one shrimp in the act of eating my blasto. The LFS owner said he has never heard of them doing that, but I got it on video. I was looking at the blasto because it looked like it was opening up again when the shrimp jumped on it - the aggression reminded me of predator or Hannibal or something equally as gruesome. I grabbed my phone as quickly as I could for proof. The LFS did say that it may have been picking on dead flesh, but the blasto went from happy and open to shrunken and shriveled over night and is looking on the happier side since the pm shrimp have been removed. The LFS owner also said that shrimp had eggs in her. Maybe they're hungrier and/or more aggressive when they're spawning and more likely to pick at coral flesh? There are no fish in the tank right now, so I haven't been feeding super heavy either. If I ever try pm shrimp again, I will make sure they are getting fed regularly to curb any predation on my corals.

The blasto is still a little angry, but it's opening up. The acan has a few places that are pinker than they were. I am not holding my breath on that one though, cause it was pretty picked clean and has very little flesh left with which to grow from. I was beyond certain the cat's paw was dead though. There was no flesh left on it. BUT!!!! I am fairly certain the cat's paw has little baby polyps on it again. Here is a video. Let me know yall's opinions. It may be some kind of hitchhiker, but I really hoping it's coming back around.

 

[Bleigh]

The peppermints could be part of the problem or they could just be feasting on dead tissue.

As a starter tank until things get settled you can add birds nest since they are cheap and hardy. Start with some good test corals to evaluate flow and lighting. You already have some shrooms. Acans, Zoas, Monti's, Clove Polyps (although a pain to remove if you don't end up liking them) are great starter corals to start getting into the swing of things.

What kind of flow is the tanking getting?

Oh and welcome to R2R!

WOW! Some of the neon bird's nests are really pretty. I also have acans that may or may not have been murdered by the peppermint shrimp - I really hope the brighter pink tissue is a good sign; Zoas with a bivalve hitchhiker that is, well, happy as a clam; two frog spawns that have new heads starting on them; a gsp that is super open and happy, a blasto: still a little mad, but is getting glad; some polys that seem happy; and a cat's paw that I was certain was totally dead, but looks like it has polyps on it again! So, oh happy day!

I have the biocube filter/powerhead and an additional fan. I don't remember what kind it is. It's not the one that is "designed" for the biocube, but they said it's still great for it. The biocube power head is on the left back of the tank and the fan is on the right back of the tank.

 

[JDowns]

I'll get some photo's tomorrow, @dantimdad has me busy being his parts slave today . But I'm due for a trim in one of my tanks and I have some corals I could send your way that I think would be perfect as some starter corals if you like them. I wouldn't worry too much on the shroom. Unless its completely shriveled up then odds are good it will bounce back for you. They are very hardy corals and very difficult to completely kill off. I do have some Green Birdsnest that I started with that got attached to rocks that I haven't been able to completely get rid off yet. It's a great first sps that is pretty hardy, and a good indicator of water quality and lighting without breaking the bank.

 

[crusso1993]

I'll get some photo's tomorrow, @dantimdad has me busy being his parts slave today . But I'm due for a trim in one of my tanks and I have some corals I could send your way that I think would be perfect as some starter corals if you like them. I wouldn't worry too much on the shroom. Unless its completely shriveled up then odds are good it will bounce back for you. They are very hardy corals and very difficult to completely kill off. I do have some Green Birdsnest that I started with that got attached to rocks that I haven't been able to completely get rid off yet. It's a great first sps that is pretty hardy, and a good indicator of water quality and lighting without breaking the bank.

Yeah, that guy @dantimdad is good that way!

 

[Scdell]

The LFS owner also said that shrimp had eggs in her. Maybe they're hungrier and/or more aggressive when they're spawning and more likely to pick at coral flesh? There are no fish in the tank right now, so I haven't been feeding super heavy either. If I ever try pm shrimp again, I will make sure they are getting fed regularly to curb any predation on my corals

I think this is the thing with the shrimp. I am quite sure I have found little shrimp in my filter socks. I have found the molt from shrimps in the socks. I feed heavy. Plus I have SPS and a few LPS. Peppermint shrimp are scavengers. There has to be something for them to scavenge on. If not, they may feed on what they can. Survival rules at all costs. Soooooo, Yeah you are right. Good call.

 

[Scdell]

I was beyond certain the cat's paw was dead though. There was no flesh left on it. BUT!!!! I am fairly certain the cat's paw has little baby polyps on it again. Here is a video. Let me know yall's opinions. It may be some kind of hitchhiker, but I really hoping it's coming back around.

Cats paw is still alive. Just a warning though. As that grows? They have nasty sweeper tentacles. Keep other corals away from it. It will kill anything around it.

 

[JDowns]

Sorry for the delay, by the time I got around for pics everything was closing up for the evening. I thing this might be a good selection to help fill in the tank and give you some good indicator corals for folks to help evaluate your system.

I'm horrible with names so others may need to chime in.

Pair of zoas already fragged out.

Some acans / micromusa that are in the way of my acros now.

These are starting to get attacked by shrooms and need to go.

This guy is not happy surrounded by the torches above. You can see they already offed his mate.

Some yuma's that are in need of a new home. They are dropping babies everywhere now and I need to thin them out.

Green Birdsnest about the size of a golfball.

And some montiporas that I can frag off. These can be great starter sps corals and good indicators for flow/water quality/ lighting.

Grafted monti that lost the graft, and JF slow burn.

Xmas monti and sunset monti.

And finally the dreaded clove polyps. These are the fireworks variant. If they do well they can take over a tank.

 

[crusso1993]

Sorry for the delay, by the time I got around for pics everything was closing up for the evening. I thing this might be a good selection to help fill in the tank and give you some good indicator corals for folks to help evaluate your system.

I'm horrible with names so others may need to chime in.

Pair of zoas already fragged out.

Some acans / micromusa that are in the way of my acros now.

These are starting to get attacked by shrooms and need to go.

This guy is not happy surrounded by the torches above. You can see they already offed his mate.

Some yuma's that are in need of a new home. They are dropping babies everywhere now and I need to thin them out.

Green Birdsnest about the size of a golfball.

And some montiporas that I can frag off. These can be great starter sps corals and good indicators for flow/water quality/ lighting.

Grafted monti that lost the graft, and JF slow burn.

Xmas monti and sunset monti.

And finally the dreaded clove polyps. These are the fireworks variant. If they do well they can take over a tank.

Sounds a lot to me like you simply need a bigger tank!

 

[JDowns]

Sounds a lot to me like you simply need a bigger tank!

Thats why I'm setting up another now. But things are getting crowded in the meantime. When you start sticking lobo's in the corner you know you have space issues. This poor guy is not happy in close proximity to a space invaders pectina that took off for me.

Forgot this guy needs a home too. Would look really good in the sand up front.

 

[crusso1993]

Thats why I'm setting up another now. But things are getting crowded in the meantime. When you start sticking lobo's in the corner you know you have space issues. This poor guy is not happy in close proximity to a space invaders pectina that took off for me.

Forgot this guy needs a home too. Would look really good in the sand up front.

When I looked at your pic, I think I heard it say, "Hey! What in heck is going on in here?"