first coral

[rick2010]

I recently started my first reef tank and it has cycled and been running for several weeks now. I bought my first livestock today which included a sally lightfoot crab, several hermit crabs, and some N. Snails. I also got my first coral for free! It is a small chunk of brown star polyps that have taken over his display reef. I just finished acclimating them and I was wondering about how long it will take them to open up? They are in strong current and moderate light. Thanks from a newbie.

 

[rick2010]

when i got back from dinner they were all open, 9 polyps total and I was watching the tank for a few minutes and a damn hermit crab fell on them. they have not been out since. When they were out they appeared to be happy.

 

[hfurtner]

Hi Rick,
I`m new in this too, started a 29 Gal ( actual 20G ) biocube on Jan.01.08.
I can`t help you with much Info than what i read in here, but I would like you to have a little feedback about our success and failures over time.
I see you got a coral, nice. I`m a little shy to put one in mine yet, because I have still some brown slime from a bacteria ( using tap water, Britta filtered and 3 days old). I think with these marine systems it is not as forgiving as the freshwater tanks, I use to have.
I have 22 Pounds of Live Rock and 20 Pounds of Live sand in my system and since 4 Days the skimmer made for that specific tank.
I think also that the coraline algae is not realy picking up to grow much. I have Cal. and Alk. Buffer added every day and have it tested for 460 Calcium. That should be good for the growth but the only thing real growing is the amount of little creatures in the sand.
In my Tank I have one Yellow Fin Damsel, one Banded Coral Shrimp, 8 Blue leged hermits, and since yesterday 6 Snails of not yet exactly specifide type. I guess some kind of Turbo, but not mexican I remembered. Also I have a small anemone, Pink Tip Atlantic ( the cheap one). I`m not sure how it is doing because it is very much moving around to find a perfect spot. amd sometimes it curles up all the way at night to a little dot.
What kind of water do you use and how much water changes do you do?
whats you water parameters?
I hav not the cal. and alk test kit here but,
PH 8.3
Cal.460 ( tested at LFS)
Alk.? (LFS was out of test fluid that day)
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Salinity 31
hope you have as much fun with your system as I do. I just need to get some color in there.

 

[mr_X]

I also got my first coral for free! It is a small chunk of brown star polyps that have taken over his display reef.

first- are you absolutely sure you want these in your tank? if the've taken over his tank, they'll most likely do the same to yours!

give them a few days. they are very easy to take care of.
i've noticed with my green star polyp, if i keep them under strong current, they grow very long polyps, and if they are in a low current area, the polyps stay short, like a golf course. :wink:

 

[hfurtner]

Interesting to me would be in what timeframe we are talking. When will they double in size by what time, given the right conditions, though.?
That would also be a nice indicator for the corals and the fish, just as a guide to newbies.

 

[mr_X]

hmm..mine aren't as invasive as other people's reports, however, i've heard horror stories.
i have these ugly plays in my tank. they grow at a about a polyp a day. that should give you an idea of what might happen 8O

 

[hfurtner]

I saw a nice documentation from a contest winner here in this forum, was 2005. Nano build off...
gave me a lot of "aha I see" reaction.
can`t find it back, though.
I think my filtration is not working properly and by reading, that is the most important part of the whole thing.
In fact of putting the skimmer in the first chamber of my Filterchambers I can`t get the filter mesh cartridge back in it`s original space. It lays now flat on top of the carbon sack above the bio balls. the water still passes over it but it seems to me some get`s straight to the bioballs without prefiltering. i also don`t know how much water is actually getting filtert by the skimmer Gal/H?
The water looks a little yellow, but my actinic light is out, because the Ballast quit working.
The brown slime is coming back strong every day over the days period and looks bad in the evening and much better in the mornings.
Some input to that Mr_X, please.
Thanks.

 

[mr_X]

i would remove the bio balls completely. you don't need them if you have live rock to hold your bacteria. also, make sure that sponge is washed out regularly. it can build up alot of gunk in just a couple days. i use filter socks, and i change them out every 3 days, if i don't, by the 4th, they are clogged up.
is your carbon new?

 

[hfurtner]

Carbon is in since about 2 weeks and is a full bag, say 3/4 cup.
Are You talking about the sponge after the bio balls?
I rinse the prefilter cartridge in the shower, using the massage setting and don`t rub the mesh. So it doesn`t get holes in it.
I can see lot`s of Bubbles coming out of the rock, because in the evening the brown slime hold them back like balloons.
Thanks for the input Mr_x.

 

[hfurtner]

looks like I successfully invaded another persons post, sorry Rick, hope you gain some insight from it still.

 

[hfurtner]

ok counted 110 balls, now the water is full of fine airbubbles because the waterfall in the back creates some air intake. The anemone is now free floating and looks like it is on a search for a new place or whants to get away from all that?

 

[hfurtner]

Just checked out your setup with the link you have, very nice, but to busy for my like.
but I can see that the snails I have are the same as yours, at least from their looks of shell.
The plumbing looks interesting too. I would say specialized.

Things are calming down, the bubbles going away, slowly.
I repositioned the skimmer with the suckers to the back wall, so I get my prefilter back in place. I`m not convinced of the skimmer still, it makes a nice foam froth in the night to morning but now it`s like making bubbles in clear water, no foam...
lets see, I think we have another period of patience to go through.

 

[rick2010]

I don't mind you stealing my thread! lol Its great to hear from other newbies as well as the seasoned pro's. There are about 10 polyps on a piece of shell the size of my thumb nail. they all seem healthy and the reason I got them was to see if I was capable of keeping a coral alive! So far I have had no problems with algae, the shop owner told me to get a Sally Lightfoot crab and I will forget what algae looks like.

What kind of ammonia tests are you guys using? I have the red sea test kit and the ammonia test always shows up blue. The color chart goes from yellow to green. I triple checked the instructions and I am doing it properly. The test worked fine when the tank was cycling and now it always shows up a different color.

 

[hfurtner]

Hi I have the one from API and have no Problem with it.
I only have a problem with the color charts, to realy determing what color my test result is matching. But so far with most of these test where you want to be ant 0, it is only important to see the color matching with 0. So everything else is telling you that you not where you want to be. but I have not heard of your problem, that you have a Color that is not on the chart?
I will assume you have the right chart thought, for saltwater...
Anyway who trust an Egyptian......Saidi...
could it also be that you have something in the water that could interfere with the test? Chemicals or some reading very high, so ammonia shows wrong result?

 

[mr_X]

i disagree with the sally lightfoot. he will remove your small fish at night, before he removes your algae. don't trust that LFS.
in the beginning i used an "Aquarium Pharm" test kit, but i haven't checked ammonia in months.
i'd have to suggest "salifert" test kits for accuracy though.

 

[hfurtner]

I need one for my nitrate, and Cal/alkal.