New to Can Reef and SW

[Coralgurl]

Well, right now I love this hobby, I've taken over the tank...lol so here goes...
55 gl, 59 lbs rock-started with 20 lbs lr, added 10.5 and 29.5 dry rock 2 weeks ago,
skimmer, tunzal filter (no sump yet), vortech mp 10 and 40, koralia 750.

Livestock-1 of each bangaii cardinal, purple dotty back,blue green chromis and yellow tang(yes I know about the tang got him for algae), had a false percent clown but he jumped on sept long weekend.

Have a lrg frogspawn, green bubble, button, fox and pink goniopora coral. I liked the goniopora but read about it after so I'm worried, but so far is doing well.

Tank parameters are salinity 1.026. Ph 8.3, calcium 460, kh 8, phosphate 0.25, nitrate 0.
Lights - 2 t5s and LEDs.
I think the phosphates are up due to live rock, coraline algae is showing up, dry rock is flourescent yellow green right now.

Oh nd great clean up crew and unknown red crab, not sure what it is, no one has been able to I'd yet.
I will post pics later.
Thoughts?
Thanks

[Coralgurl]

Oops ... Tunze skimmer, fluval filter...

[Wayne]

Oh my the "T" word in a 55G

Better watch out who you tell that to there are a lot of expressive individuals who like to decide whats right and whats wrong.

Welcome to Canreef! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask on the board (or pm). This site has lots of questions beat to death, but its still alright to ask them. This site is about people helping people in this very beautiful and rewarding hobby.

As for the gonipora I had good sucess with reef roids, but many of them only last a year in captivity (some last much much longer though, so cross your fingers)

[FishyFishy!]

WELCOME!!!!

Watch out for the dreaded Tang Police!!! haha

[globaldesigns]

Welcome to this incredible, frustrating, wonderful, hair pulling hobby!

[Coralgurl]

I know, I've already heard from the tang police and know I will have to find him a new home eventually, he's awesome though, cheecky guy! I've just come through a rough patch with the tank and I'm by no means willing or meaning to stress or harm anything! Unfortunatley, we jumped in without much research, have made all the newbie mistakes but we've learned. I definitely appreciate all feedback, good and bad! Looking forward to chatting and meeting others, I don't know anyone with a sw tank so we've been on our own here. Like 2 lfs here, really helpful!

[Lance]

Welcome to Canreef.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

I know, I've already heard from the tang police

Just take there advice with a grain of salt, they (he if its who I think it is) are only looking out for fish that they themselves cherish and respect. Its good advice but sometimes its thrust upon you like a pot of boiling water

[Coralgurl]

Thank you for all the welcomes!!

No tang police yet and I won't disagree anyway, I do understand. I've done so much reading, my bf has become a reef widow, and I know there are many who are passionate about fish! I've got a thing for corals right now but the fish crack me up. Our chromis and clown used to race in the flow, back and forth across the tank, they were great buds! My chromis and tang always come to the glass, the tang says what the hell are you looking at and the chromis says feed me, feed me! Lol

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by Wayne

Just take there advice with a grain of salt, they (he if its who I think it is) are only looking out for fish that they themselves cherish and respect. Its good advice but sometimes its thrust upon you like a pot of boiling water

Oh yeah... these guys... They're also the "everything"-police. Like Wayne said, take them with a grain of salt... don't get dragged into the Debby Downer bickering battles. You've done your homework, you are aware, you understand. If the T-word isn't showing signs of stress, you're OK for now. It's actually more about swimming space for the tang rather than the actual tank volume. I see these guys who have tanks packed to the nuts with rock and coral to the point where there is little room to swim. It's not much better than a 55G at that point.

Now... I'm sorry to say... but you are in trouble here. You come on here and tell us of an alleged reef tank.. without pictures? Egad! Come on! Let's see that Beauty!

Don't stress too much about the goniopora. They are tricky to keep but the fact that a lot of people ignore is that they actually have short lifespans in nature (currently unknown but estimated to be less than 3 years on average), so who knows how old yours was before it was collected. Do your best, love it like your only child.

Glad to have you on board. Feel free to hit us up with some questions!