30 gallon tropical paradise

by **meh (1454)** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:05 pm

My first saltwater tank and I am excited/nervous about it. At this point I have it set up. All dry rock. 15 pounds so far. 30 pounds of Aragonite sand. A duel Head power head. And a HOB filter. The water is mixing as of now. And here it is as of now

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Please feel free to help me along. I'm gonna need it

by **ScottFish (2637)** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:12 am

Congrats on finally getting your first SW tank going! Christmas come early. I know you've been waiting along time for this. Good luck and ask even the simplest questions around here. Since I've never done a SW tank --I'm going to learn a thing or two.

by **meh (1454)** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:07 pm

I added the water. A new filter pad and watching it start to clear up. I added some fish food today. Starting the cycle

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by **meh (1454)** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 3:13 pm

Tank cleared up and ammonia is up to 5 ppm. Now to sit and wait and look at stock list and research a lot

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by **meh (1454)** » Fri Dec 19, 2014 3:15 pm

I forgot to ask. Anything needed to be done to the rock like redone?

by **meh (1454)** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 3:38 pm

I bought a nice peice of live rock from the LFS today. Stuck it in the tank and i already found 3 critters. 1 hermit crab,1 white starfish, and an anemone. Rock sticks out cuz of the white dry rock. This should help with the cycling.

by **Diana (1269)** » Sat Dec 20, 2014 5:32 pm

I think your rocks are all lined up too neat. Maybe make an arc, or separate them into a sort of taller pile and a shorter pile (not totally separate, but like 2 hills that meet in the middle).

by **meh (1454)** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 9:44 am

I had it like a curve and i think I will rescape this afternoon.

The only good thing animal that was in this tank was the hermit crab. I removed the anemone and pest starfish

by **Crazygar (18140)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 9:46 am

Can you show me the picture of the "little white anemone?". ensuring it's not an Aiptasia as they are bad for your tank. One thing about Live Rock, always a surprise in each pack.

Yes, re-arrange the rocks to ensure flow. I made the mistake on my first SW attempt to build a mound and I paid dearly for it.

Gary

by **meh (1454)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 9:53 am

The anemone wasn't white it tan and has been destroyed. The little white creature actually 4 of them were a starfish that are pest like pond snails in FW. I will be testing my water today.

As for the little crab he is doing very well and he keeps me content for now haha

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by **Crazygar (18140)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 9:54 am

My youngest Daughter was a huge fan of our Hermit Crabs. At one point, she asked if the tank could be just for them. LOL, they are amusing but ensure loads of empty shells or they'll evict snails out of their own shell when it comes time to upgrade.

Gary

by **meh (1454)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 9:58 am

Yes I was thinking of that as a problem. Now as for a stocking list which I have been thinking of as of late here it is

2 x Regular clownfish
I like the classic look of these fish

I am not sure how much more I can put in. I would love a watchman gobby pistol shrimp pair or a cherub angel. Just have to do more searching

by **Crazygar (18140)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:06 am

Nix the Cherub Angel. With 2 Clownfish in the tank that is a bad idea. What I had in my 35GAL SW;

2 - Black Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
5 - Azure Damselfish (Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
1 - Algue Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
1 - Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto

The rest were inverts and corals. This was overstocked BTW, I wouldn't suggest doing the mix but showing what could possibly be done.

Gary

by **meh (1454)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:09 am

I think I am going the route of slowly filling her up and understocking. I enjoy inverts and I can get a great deal on (I forgot the name

) the yellow shrimp with a red back and a white stripe and those just fascinate me. But as of now all I am worried is getting the cycle done and getting a good CUC

by **Crazygar (18140)** » Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:12 am

I have some nice Feather Dusters (Tube Worms) which provided my Daughter endless hours of watching along with a Serpent Star named "Octo-Brain". The inverts WERE the stars of the show...

Gary