New Tank Help

kingPumpkin · Sep 17, 2020

I am new to this hobby. I love it so far and have learned so much in the little time I have had my tank. I just want thoughts about what to do next/ things to improve on/ honest comments on rock scape.
Specs: I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, 40 lbs of live sand, 38 lbs of some live and dry rock, 2 clown fish, a flame angle, cleaner shrimp, sea urichin, and a few snails and hermit crabs. I keep the temp to about 75. The tank is about 4 months old. I learned i need to slow down so I am plan on going at least another 8 months without adding to many new things.
I have had a lot of my hermit crabs and snails die and i don't know why. I got a cheap zoa to test in my tank to see if it would grow. for the first 2 or 3 weeks it was doing great, now it isn't opening up all the way and seems to be sad. Other than my calcium being a little low i don't have any other issues with the chemical levels.
Thoughts on rockscape, things to do next with my tank, help with zoas? Just looking for thoughts please! Also is there anything i really need to do with my sand bed?
Thanks.

scabbedwings616 · Sep 17, 2020

What lights are you using? Where are you placing the zoa? What kinda zoa are they? I ask cause some are very picky and tougher than others. Your tanks still to new to be adding a ton of crabs and all. A few snails are good but too many, there isn’t enough for them to eat and they just starve to death. From the looks of this the rocks not fully ready. Stability is key in any tank and if you don’t test at the same time of The day, your numbers will be off. So, if you want to test your tank after work, it’s 8pm, then always test at 8pm. And dose accordingly.

flampton · Sep 17, 2020

First off welcome welcome welcome to r2r! I suggest that you introduce yourself in the meet and greet forum

Okay to start there's no food for your snails and crabs. You will need to start feeding them.

As far as the zoas, please give use the complete run down on what you're testing and what those levels are. And as already mentioned what lights are you running? The pics suggest a weak warm light.

Finally I personally would like that temperature raised up a bit.

PTXReef · Sep 17, 2020

+1 on posting parameters, lighting, flow and raising temp. I like to keep mine at 78 F.

Paulie069 · Sep 17, 2020

kingPumpkin said:
I am new to this hobby. I love it so far and have learned so much in the little time I have had my tank. I just want thoughts about what to do next/ things to improve on/ honest comments on rock scape.
Specs: I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, 40 lbs of live sand, 38 lbs of some live and dry rock, 2 clown fish, a flame angle, cleaner shrimp, sea urichin, and a few snails and hermit crabs. I keep the temp to about 75. The tank is about 4 months old. I learned i need to slow down so I am plan on going at least another 8 months without adding to many new things.
I have had a lot of my hermit crabs and snails die and i don't know why. I got a cheap zoa to test in my tank to see if it would grow. for the first 2 or 3 weeks it was doing great, now it isn't opening up all the way and seems to be sad. Other than my calcium being a little low i don't have any other issues with the chemical levels.
Thoughts on rockscape, things to do next with my tank, help with zoas? Just looking for thoughts please! Also is there anything i really need to do with my sand bed?
Thanks.

Remember to take your time, unfortunately there’s no shortcuts to cycling your tank, there’s stuff to make it go quicker but not really by much, patience and stability are key to success in this hobby,, also I think your temp is fine, it’s actually a little bit high to me as I keep my tank temperature at 72-73 max and all my coral does fine and grows

kingPumpkin · Sep 17, 2020

I will retest everything. I tested everything a few days ago and my calcium was about 360 ppm and i had about 25 ppm of nitrate so i did a 10 gallon water change. I test calcium, carbonate hardness, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium. But let me get back to you on the levels and i will test again.

As far as my light goes i have a zetlight. " Zetlight 33" to 39" Lancia II 895M WI-FI LED Marine Aquarium Light " I am lost when it comes to the levels of blue/red/green light. so below are the pics of what the levels are. I don't know if that helps with light. but if you have any tips definitely let me know

I feel bad for my little hermit crabs and snails but thanks for the tips everyone. I honestly didn't expect this much feed back so this is awesome! I will let the tank cycle a lot longer and then start adding a few more things.

For flow i have a hydor Koralia pump, 1350 pgh, 5.5w. The owner of a local LFS told me this would be good for a 40 gallon breeder but i feel like it may be a little strong.

I believe the zoa is a alien eye zoa. (blue wit a little green/yellow in the middle). It had a lot of heads (4/5)when i bought it but it was still very small.They seem to be getting smaller and smaller and don't open up anymore. I also have one that is similar to everlasting gobstopper. It had one head that was a great size and a little growth of another one and now it doesn't open up. I will call my LFS to ask him the name of the zoas i bought. sorry i can't be more specific.

PTXReef · Sep 17, 2020

Which salt do you use? I used to think that the larger the water change the better (may not always be the case unless the parameters aren’t too different that it causes alk swings). I would also test each new bucket of salt just in case!

scott11106 · Sep 17, 2020

at 4 months the tank has not settled yet but it is looking good so far. welcome and keep asking questions as we are all eager to assist if we can.

no sump correct? so i would do consistent water changes to ensure levels, then as you go you can refine your process and with so little in the tank you will not have to worry about major/minor elements depending on the salt mix you are using. Also are you using RO/DI ?

vetteguy53081 · Sep 17, 2020

Moderate light and water flow.
Bring lights to:
65% blue
75% uv
3% red
5% green
18% white

ranges should be:
Temp- 77-79
Salinity 1,024-1.026
Ph 8.1-8.3
CA 430
Mag 1300-1350

add a little lugols iodine for zoa