Newbie looking for advice

[lereve]

Ok so I have been trying to work on my own a little bit off and on for a few years with a basic fish/adiinvg inverts tank. I am a student and have very little money and have worked slowly but I guess that can kinda work ot my advantage anyway right?

so the tank I have would be:
25 gallon tall eclipse setup (I'm pretty sure it's a cheapo way to go but it's what i can afford)

I have about 25 pounds of live rock that seems to be doing pretty well, (very many little white bulby clump things that kinda look like a sponge, also quite a few small white fans, and I have noticed every now and then these gray and white striped worm things) All of these are everywhere on the rocks it seems to be in very good health. I rarely have high levels of nitrates/nitrites (I have yet to learn how to be specific on any of these) There are also fairly large amount of little spots of red (which I'm assuming are corraline algae) I had a problem with green hair algae but I blame that on my brother who was taking care of the tank while i was living in the dorms. he fed the fish WAY too much,and it seems as if I am not really having that much of a problem any more

I have cycled the tank with a percula clown and a couple of damsels for about a year now and just recentally got rid of them (not wanting territorial fish in such a small tank) and got myself a firefish (basic red/white) a very small yellow watchman goby and a single blue/purple striped mushroom.

My first question would be about the mushroom. I'm just curious about basic habits so I don't kill the thing (it's beautiful) During the day when I turn the light on it seems to spread out alot and gets quite large and in the night it kinda shrinks up. Is this normal? If not does this mean I need ot move it a little closer to the light? Do I need to feed it specifically or is it going to filter feed. I have it in an area that I would say is mild current and about 1/4 the way up from the bottom of the tank.


The fish seem to be fine with frozen brine shrimp that I fee devery other day

The lighting is kindof wierd, there is a place for 2 lights but one of the lights fusing is screwed up or something so I can't get it to go on either, I cant remember the exact specifications of the light I use (lost the box) but it is quite a blue light. I would like to fix the other light and get some white to balance the spectrum out a little more but I have no idea how to fix the other setting. Any suggestions?

I also had "live sand" that I got but at the same time I got a chocolate chip star and I fear it may have eaten all the life in the sand (we all learn slowly right? )

I am more than glad to accept suggestions and insight on what I can do with such a small tank

Thanks all for your time

David Jones

P.S. I was thinking of trying to find a mithrax crab to work on anymore hair algae that grows? Does it actually help and will it hurt anything?

 

[Mouse]

If i told you you could propagate shrooms with a blender i think youll agree that yours are doing fine. Very hardy, and can sometimes become a pest if populations are left unchecked. Sounds like you have it all under controll. I wouldn't worry too much about the sand bed as the rocks will re-seed it in no time. Try and get a good poulation of Pods going and keep up with the reading. Nice one chap.

 

[Cruzan277]

Lereve,
Sometimes having a little bit of cash is the best thing for this hobby. Its those guys that have alott to blow and rush to fill thier tanks without letting it get matured are the ones that have most of the problems. Try to get that light fixed. The coral you have chosen is a good start, one of the first ones I got. Had one now I have 12. You dont need to feed it. I would also try and get some other diff kinds of food. Brine shrimp although the fish will love it, its nutritious value is very low, If you want you can soke it in some vitamins, that should help increase the nutrition value as well as keep your fishes immune system in good order. Other than that your doing great. Keep it up, and remember take your time, rushing will only bring you more trouble than its worth.