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Inedaan
07-06-2010, 04:18 AM
Well, here goes my first marine tank! After many years of longing and wishy washing, I finally took the plunge. I had been planning on getting a 14 gallon but I saw a 29 on major discount so I got it instead.

This was the tank after twenty pounds of live rock and sand:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4766842964_8be252fb06.jpg

A day later:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4766204679_397c6efce8.jpg

Inhabitant we noticed today (We think it might be a brittle star but we're not sure as we've only seen this tiny leg-like protrusion):

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4766239517_f9ee547971.jpg

So far I am just running everything stock with bioballs removed and false bottom in chamber one removed to fit the ebo jager heater.

Snaz
07-06-2010, 06:57 PM
Looks like a great start! Yes I would concur on the brittle star. If you have not done so already check out nano-reef.com also for lots of good nano and BC29 info.

lorenz0
07-06-2010, 07:00 PM
yep, rule of thumb on bio-cubes. upgrade your pump, fan, and ballests for your lights. I just ran into the loud fan issue on the bc14 and man is it annoying, let alone probably stressful on the fish

snow1
07-06-2010, 08:15 PM
Great looking tank so far, what are you planning to stock it with?

Greenmaster
07-07-2010, 01:53 AM
I'm here to follow and help if I can

Inedaan
07-07-2010, 05:12 AM
I will upgrade the pump on in in the next couple of days... Much of the information I find online seems to be about the 14G Biocube. Would the Maxi-Jet Submersible Utility Pump 1800 (475 GPH) and Perhaps a Powerhead in the tank be enough in terms of flow?

As far as the Fans/Lighting Ballasts... I was planning on ordering one of the DIY Nanotuner Kits, the one to add one extra PC to make it 108W and order the quiet fans with it and in the next month or two, as funds allow, order the Ballast Upgrade Kit.

And stock list... I have really wanted clowns since I was like 10, so I think I will get a pair of Perc/Oce or whatever they have at the LFS when I finally get around to that that tickles my fancy :) What else could I get in there... I have to admit the Blue Spot Jawfish is incredibly interesting but I am completely new to Marine so and I haven't exactly seen it on a best starter fish list. What would you all suggest to put in there with a pair of clowns? And I figured I would start with some Mushrooms or Zoa's or other easy things to keep alive once the tank is well and settled.

And, should I add more Live Rock do you think, it looks kind of empty to me...

Doug
07-07-2010, 11:05 PM
:welcome:


To Canreef


:mrgreen:

Inedaan
07-08-2010, 04:57 AM
:O There is all sorts of random things mysteriously showing up and Algae is trying to take over my tank! There is now atleast three Brittle Stars and I saw a group of like ten snails (One that was about 2-3MM big and then the rest were really tiny) wandering around...

Also, there is something digging burrows... The flow in the tank keeps blowing the sand down and covering this one hole in the Live Rock and EVERY morning, it has been dug back out? :question:

I put the Live Rock (LFS had it labeled as completely cured and ready to go) in on Sunday and the Ammonia went up to about .25-.50 about two hours later. Ever since then Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate have read zero, when should I start to put some CUC in there?

Greenmaster
07-08-2010, 05:18 AM
:O There is all sorts of random things mysteriously showing up and Algae is trying to take over my tank! There is now atleast three Brittle Stars and I saw a group of like ten snails (One that was about 2-3MM big and then the rest were really tiny) wandering around...

Also, there is something digging burrows... The flow in the tank keeps blowing the sand down and covering this one hole in the Live Rock and EVERY morning, it has been dug back out? :question:

I put the Live Rock (LFS had it labeled as completely cured and ready to go) in on Sunday and the Ammonia went up to about .25-.50 about two hours later. Ever since then Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate have read zero, when should I start to put some CUC in there?

Algae is a cycle that tanks go through... It's what is eating your Nitrate.
Nice that you got some free stars and stuff...
You got a camera so you can post the snails for identification?
You might want to stake out the tank at night with a red light and a camera to see what is digging... some stuff can be bad...
After you have identified what you can for hitchhikers your tank seems ready for your CUC and a small fish or two.

Inedaan
07-08-2010, 05:46 AM
Here's two terrible pictures of the miniscule snails... the big one seems to have gone into hiding :S

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4773750568_cbeb816b2c.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4773108903_0f2197aee8.jpg

Also you can see some of my lovely algae in this picture.

Greenmaster
07-08-2010, 06:19 AM
Are they a solid green or are there any markings that you can see?
Kinda hard for me to tell from the pic.

Inedaan
07-08-2010, 06:24 AM
They are cream with stripes that go from a light brown to almost orange depending on the snail.

Greenmaster
07-08-2010, 06:30 AM
Not sure maybe nerite snails?
if you could get a pic of one of the bigger ones that would be easier for ID

Inedaan
07-09-2010, 11:19 PM
I found something hitching a ride on the shell of one of my snails... Is this a Ciralonid Isopod? If so, is there anything I can do?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4778627750_c212735e18.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4777994715_b111945633.jpg

Snaz
07-10-2010, 02:17 AM
I found something hitching a ride on the shell of one of my snails... Is this a Ciralonid Isopod? If so, is there anything I can do?


Yes it is a Cirolanid. I think the best thing to do is hit it with the vice-grips as seen in the background of the second picture and dispose. I would not worry to much as these things are natural and just one of many hitchhikers that might pop up in a reef tank.

Inedaan
07-16-2010, 05:34 AM
Couple questions for all you knowledgeable and nice people out there...

One of my Turbo snails has Cyano growing on his shell. It is the only place in my tank it is, it appears to be going away on it's own but... Should I try and get it off him?

Secondly. I have the stock pump running in chamber three, I added a Maxi-Jet 900 for extra flow since I had one laying around, but when I added the Maxi-Jet the temps in my tank would shoot up to 82-83 During the day when usually they don't break 80. Should I just get one pump for Chamber 3 that does significant flow, or get one that runs cooler thank stock but about the same gph and get a second powerhead for elsewhere in the tank?

Inedaan
07-21-2010, 10:58 PM
This being patient thing is just killing me... I have since I added two fish to the aquarium. Nice Green Chromis, a lot of the people who have seen them said they were rather plain.. :( I like them quite a bit though, subtle but gorgeous :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4802605426_1c022b6881.jpg

Also, in the last little bit found two hitch hikers in my tank. I have searched and searched but I just can't find out what they are exactly. They are in such odd places to try and get pictures of or see and they just hide when I try.

Mystery #1
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4799833560_d978fce16c.jpg
He is kind of in the middle of that pictures... Some kind of thing with a shell that opens up and has little things that come out and clamps shut real hard real fast when anything goes near it.

Mystery #2
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4801978573_0918d0402e.jpg
Those tentacle like things with the darker white ends ONLY come out at night and slowly over the course of a minute or two go away when the lights come on, and I can't really see anything on the rock where they come from, any help?

Oh, and I've been getting a lot of this look :redface:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4799202235_1f5015831b.jpg

She thinks this tank is the worst thing that has ever happened... Ever

Greenmaster
07-22-2010, 12:26 AM
I would say the shell thing is some type of clam or mussel and the dog is jealous. Looking good man :D

Inedaan
08-04-2010, 04:25 AM
Just a quick update... I have since added two little hermit crabs to my tank and an Orange Spotted Goby and I think (It was just labeled Pistol Shrimp) Tiger Pistol Shrimp to my tank. I have all sorts of random things popping up out my Live Rock I would love to take pictures of, but the Pistol Shrimp thinks that I did an absolutely terrible job of putting sand in my tank and has spent the last 24 hours completely changing the scape in that regard and my tank a bit of a sandstorm!

Also, the Orange Spotted Goby is a bit interesting... He likes to move the Hermit Crabs into one particular corner of the tank anytime they come anywhere near one of the several entrances to what is turning into the extensive tunnel system his friend is digging :)

Inedaan
08-14-2010, 07:28 PM
While watching my tank this last couple days I had noticed I had a Crab that had been making himself a home in my Live Rock. I had largely ignored him as he was tiny, then the other day he tried to steal some food from one of my Hermit Crabs who ended up ripping off three of the little crabs legs... Now this morning he attacked my smaller Hermit Crab so I decided it was time for him to go, in the process of getting him out I managed to rip off one of his Pincers...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4891759534_18aed98ae7.jpg

He is now sitting in a cup of water missing three legs and a Pincer, does anyone have any use of him before I just end his existence?

Nevermind... Went upstairs and wasn't paying attention and a dog found him and ended him....

Inedaan
08-18-2010, 11:35 PM
Soo... I am about 90% sure I have Dino's :neutral: I have this darker brown algae (mainly on the sand bed but a little on the rocks) that has long stringy things coming off it and near the top of the tank it is full of bubbles. I read that a Blackout is an effective method of dealing with them, but here is my question. Right now I have a Green Chromis, Two Hermit Crabs, Three Snails, Peppermint Shrimp, an Orange Spotted Goby and a Tiger Pistol Shrimp and a bunch of random hitch hikers that I don't care one way or the other about. If I were to do say a 5-7 day Blackout, would I just turn off the lights cover the tank and leave it be, or would I want to feed the fish/Inverts at all during this time at all?

Inedaan
09-07-2010, 01:34 AM
Soo... A quick update and also a question... I had to take out the two Green Chromis as the one was picking on the other and absolutely everything else in the tank (Except the Pistol/Watchman). He would attack the Hermit Crabs, the snails, pretty much anything that wasn't dead. After that I put in a Firefish, who was great! He kept going over and checking out the Pistol's little burrow and the Pistol would always chase him off clicking away, but never harm any came... Until today... When I got up everything was all fine, went to work, came home and the Firefish was dead half-buried in the Pistol's front lawn being munched on by the snails.

Can anyone recommend an interesting fish that will occupy the open water in my tank? My Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp are amazing but the one just sits still and the other is out of view 90% of the time. Thanks :)