Got my detritivore kit today

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I received my detritivore kit today from Inland Aquatics. Everything was intact and alive as far as the larger critters go. The smaller stuff like mysis shrimp I couldn't tell very well as they are really small. Now that they are in the tank I was going to wait a month before buying my first fish. Carpenter Flasher wrasses. You think that is long enough? It would be actually two months before the fish gets in the tank as I quarantine for a month. Maybe longer depending on how long it takes me to find two females and a male in good health. I realize some people take up to a year before adding fish, but I don't think I can wait that long. The tank has been set up for two months as of now and is a 55 gal 4"DSB 50 lb Liverock 20 gal sump 10 lb Liverock.

Any input appreciated

Bryan

 

[ChrisRD]

I have a similar sized system and I got a kit from IA. Within two months the system was full of life. Seemed like enough time for some good populations to get established. Of course, probably the longer you wait the better...

I fed the critters with some small sinking pellets a couple of times a week during that time period as there was no other food going into the system. Seemed to work...

 

[Anonymous]

Next time - go to your LFS and collect a bag of the rubble/sludge on the bottom of their live rock holding bins. It's free (from most places) and you'll get all the critters you need.

Detrivore kits are a rip off.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Well, Jim,

That would seem to be the sensible thing to do, and I would if it were not for the fact that I live in South New Jersey which sucks in the area of fish stores. The store closest to me is a chain store that sells everything from fish to birds to Lizards. They know absolutely nothing and their tanks are full of Ich. Their Live rock tanks are always empty and there is nothing on the bottom.

The next closest store is 1 hour away. Really nice, seem to know alot, but they are still behind the times. While I was there getting my tank drilled, they sold a volitans Lion to someone with a 20 gal high and told him to just keep throwing feeders in there with it. I asked them for some sand and was told that deep sand beds are useless, just get a bioball system and throw some of walt smiths stuff in there.

Enough, suffice it to say that I have been in every fish store within 2 hours of my house, and I am stuck getting stuff online.

Bryan

 

[ride928]

What part of NJ are you from? I can recommend several good stores which are both very helpful and reasonably priced. I live in Toms River.

 

[Anonymous]

I live a bit farther south than Millville/Vineland, in Cedarville, I have heard of Toms River, but haven't been there

 

[ride928]

If you're ever in the area, check out Fishtales or Rt 88 Pet World in Brick. They are both very good. You could also check out Tropiquarium in Long Branch. They have the largest fish room on the east coast. I wouldn't recommend buying fish from them as they always seem to have unhealthy livestock, but their corals are great. Great selection at good health with decent prices. In Toms River, check out Aqua Oceans. It's a very small store, but the guy knows his stuff and his prices can't be beat. Hope that helps if you ever travel North a little.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think detritivore kits are a rip-off. I got all kind os added critters that were not present before. I bought fresh LS, got a cup of LS from several freinds, and got the sludge from the LFS.

Get all of that stuff, it's all good. You can't have too much diversity!

Louey

 

[ChrisRD]

I'll second what Louey said.