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Alrite, about my protein skimmer. Should i be setting the skimmmer on high to get all the stuff from the LR. RIght now i have it on low. SO it is slowly skimming the water only. Im not sure, but my water is not crisp clear like i want it. What can i do about this?

I would run your skimmer 100%.The faster you get your water quality in check the more stuff you will save on your live rock.Some things just will not survive the cycle.As far as clarity some filter floss and some carbon in a HOB filter will do wonders.

Not sure what you are asking about high and low on your skimmer? As you just need to get it dialed in right, and then leave it at that setting all the time. You should be gettting some real dark green gunk in your catch cup on your skimmer. If it is clear at all, you need to adjust your settings on it. What you really want is a high output of air and bubbles, the tinier the better, and then a "moderate" water flow. Skimmers do not need to run 800 gals/hour of water through them. It is hard to explain how to set one up properly. But the main thing is, you have a collection cup, that has dark green/black gunk looking stuff in it, and it really stinks to smell it, kinda curls your nose hairs if you know what I mean. If your skimmer is too high, it will take extra water out as well, and then the gunk in the cup will be more clear and watery looking.

HTH....

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There is always a bigger fish...

Alrite, its been 2 weeks now. My tank's ph is stil only at 7.8. Should i still wait longer? This seems to be taking forever.

If possible, have the water tested at your LFS to make sure your test kit is correct. 7.8 seems a bit low, my tank is about 8.3 or so. What is your gravity at?



Dan

OK, this may be a mute question and may have already been stated, I just can't remember, and have too many threads to read yet, lol

What kind of substrate do you have? And what chemicals/trace elements/minerals, have you been adding, or better yet, what is everything you have added to your tank? What is your tap water ph? What salt mix are you using?

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There is always a bigger fish...

My gravity is not at the proper level. I think it is because i keep topping off my water. My tank has live sand. My tank consist of invertabraes, 1 damsel, and a maderin goby. i am not sure wat my ph of tap water is, but what is the normal?

Your gravity should be around 1.023 and your PH should be in the area of 8.3



Dan

should i go and buy more salt and just pour it in there? Is that a good idea and will it affect any of my stock?

That would be a very bad idea.

Rapid increases in salinity can be harmful to the fish, in that it will tax their internal organs trying to eliminates the salts from their systems. Your best bet is to increase the specific gravity through water changes, with a salt solution slightly higher. This will slowly increase the overall salinity in your tank, without shocking your fish.

John

Mix up new water at 1.030 and then do a water change. This will slowly up your gravity to where it should be.



Dan

And I wish you would have consulted us on the Mandarin gobie. As I fear you LR and tank size are not going to be good enough for him. As well, they are not very hardy when it comes to water parameters being off.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Thanks. i no about the goby. I will try to do the water changes to increase my salt level. When you top off your water with RO, is it suppose to change your salt sanity?

When you top off due to evaporation you simply use fress water. Salt does not evaporate. So as water evaporates the salt levels will go up slowly, then as you add fress water, it will drop again. This is why it's very important to keep the tank topped off all the time.



Dan

Are you suppose use RO water to top off the tank or regular tap water? My salt level is too high. What am I suppose to do to fix that?

Use RO water. To lower your salt level, remove a gal of water from the tank and then top off with RO water. Keep in mind that if you have a 10gal tank, removeing a gal of water will have a much greater impact on the tank then if you have a 100gal tank. If you remind me of the size, and your salt level I can give you an idea of what to remove.



Dan

My tank is a 55 gallon and my salt level is 1.030. How much should i remove?

Figuring you have about 50 to 51 gals of water in that tank, removing 2 gals of water from the tank, then topping off with fresh water will drop you to 1.028. Then wait a day and do it again, that will drop you to about 1.027. Do this until you get to the desiered gravity. Dont try to do it all in one day. The drop needs to be slow.



Dan

But i have to use RO water only or can i use regular tap water? What if i let the water sit in a bucket for a few days. Will that do the trick or RO water the only way to go?

Tap water can have phosphates, and this will cause a algea bloom. Your best bet is to keep using the RO water.



Dan

My just tested my water.

pH 8.2
ammon 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0

Is this correct? Iv seen Nitrate a like 10. Is there a problem with my readings?

It would be odd to have your nitrats at zero. You shoudl have a slight reading. Other then that your readings look good, and your cycle is complete.



Dan

Okay, my tank is doing well. Now I don't know what to do anymore. Is there anything that you guys reccommend that I would need in my tank as of right now? How would I know when I am ready for corals?

I would suggest you get your clean up crew in order. Snails, small hermits, shrimp, and a starfish or two.



Dan

Well, right now I have a crew. Here's what they are: Emerald Crabs 2
Scarlet Red Hermit Crabs 5
Blue Hermit Crabs 8
Zebra Hermit Crabs 3
Common Hermits 9
Snails 23
Sandsifting Star 1


What do you think? Anything else that i need? What would happen if i put an anemone that is what they say to be catious with in a reef tank? Is a condy anemone safe in a reef tank?

I didnt see it at the beginning of the thread, but I didnt look too hard.

What type of lighting do you have? It may restrict if you can even get an anemone.

Right now my light is a power compact 65 x 2 and 65 by 2 acntinic. Is this light suitable for anemones? Another question that i have. Where should i put my two power heads. I have one on the left side towards the top pointing the top water. My other one is on the right side like in the middle blowing towards the middle. Are these good spots?

Many people put them in the back corners, then point them to the front middle in a X pattern. I put one high, and the other pointing down a bit to get get more water movment at different levels. If you have dead spots, you can either add another power head, or change the direction a bit.

Dan

Man, algae comes back fast. I mean like a day or two only. Do you guys have the same problem as me? How do you guys deal with it? What kind of snails can sandsift too?

Nassarius Snails will sift sand.



Dan

Do you guys have bumblebee snails? What's good and bad about these snailS? What about hermit crabs? Which ones do you guys most recommend or have had the best luck with?

I have a few, hardly ever see them, and really don't know what they do, never looked them up. I got them by mistake once.

As for hermits, I have zebra, blue, and scarlet hermits. Stick with the small micro hermits, not the big ones.



Dan

What you guys think about this? I bought a signal goby like two days ago. When i first got it, it was sifting sand really good. Since last nite I cant seem to find it. Do you you guys think that it is dead? Or is it just hiding for a few days. I just seems wierd how it can just perish from the tank.

i think you should stop buying fish

Some times fish can hide real good. It could be gone for days before it shows up again. Some have been convinced they lost a fish. Then went out and bought a new fish, only to find they now have twe fish. Just watch for it over the next week or so.



Dan

That could be a possibility. How much does anemones cost? Not planning to get anything new right now. No money but just want to research.

Depends on the type. From $20 to over $100.

They can be almost any price, depending on the kind you get.

Dan

Well, what about the sabae and bubble tip? How much does those cost?

Again, it will depend on where you live, and where you go. I got my seba for $65, I've seen them for less. Shop around and don't buy the first one you see.



Dan

Ive seen Rose BTA's for around $100.

Thanks for the info. Does anyone know where i can get a cleanup crew for cheap? I;m looking for some more hermits and a few snails only?

If you order $60 of cleanup critters from etropicals.com shipping is free.

THANKS, i was just looking at that

No more spending money for me. I just bought a clean up crew from that etropicals. Man, what can i do to quit spending money on my tank? Hahahaha

There is no end to that. :88)

Dan

I know but i love spending money on my tank. I think i have already ask you this, but what is the best way to put my powerhead so that i can get the best current. I dont think understood you the last time. Am i suppose to put it on the back wall of the tank or the sides? I have two power heads

On the back wall is best IMO.Put them in an x pattern to cross cut each other.That will give you a good coverage of the tank.Also angle them upward to break the surface of the water to help with gas exchange.Although I did change the direction of mine after I added the overflow wich keeps the surface broken anyway.Now I have them set slightly down and the detritus has very little chance of setteling.

Well, my tank is looking a little better. What powerheads would be good for my 55 gallon tank long? I have two right now, but i think i need more circulation.

I guess it's a matter of choice. I use the regent ones from Walmart, they are about $20. I have yet to replace even one, other then a used one that had a worn impellor.



Dan

Man, $20 for a powerhead. I'll have to wait on that one. But does anyone know where i can get some empty shells for a good price online. I know that dr.foster's has it 12 for 5.99. I was wondering if you guys saw it somewhere else for a cheaper price?

Walmart usually has suitable shells for your tank back in their craft departement.

Typical WalMart fashion too..probably can get a giant sack for just a few dollars.

Thanks, ill surely check that out. Walmart always seems to have everything for a good price. Is the photoplankton what you guys feed anemones? I found this on the net. check it out and let me know.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=5011&inm=1&N=2004+6135+113565

Last edited by tangov559 at 05-Feb-2005 23:44

I add photoplankton to my tank but mainly for soem corals, and my feather dusters. My anemone gets blood worms. You can also feed them mysis shrimp. You can spot feed them if you wish. They will eay what ever you feed them, even if they don' tneed it. If this happens they will spit it back out a little later.





Dan

Is a long tenticle anemone the same as a sabae? Or are they differnt? Does these anemones do well with percula clowns?

tenticle anemone, such as a condy? As far as I know, no clowns will host with these. And they are a different kind of anemone, just like a carpet is a different kind.



Dan

Does a feather duster know how to move on its own like anemones? Or do they just stay whereever you leave them at?

Feather dusters don't really move.

They can move a bit, but not a whole lot. Mine moved about 5 inches or so and then latched on to a rock.



Dan

The feather dusters can move, and they can un-attach and re-attach when they want. But, if you un-attach them, you can damage them, so do not attempt this action. Feather dusters are actually worms, that build an encasement, or tube, around themselves. The "feather duster" part you see coming out of the tube, is just a part of them, that is used to collect foodstuffs. The larger part, or the body, never comes out of the "tube". If a feather duster moves, it usually means it is in a spot that does not get enough current, or it is not recieving enough food. However, as they grow, they will grow in ways that they can continue to attach themselves to something, and not just grow their tube up into open water.

HTH...

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There is always a bigger fish...

Okay, what do you guys feed your anemones? I know they say meaty food, but what do they mean by that? Like, just meat, or is there something that is consider meaty for tanks. Like the name of it. I heard that micro verts are used to feed em too.

I feed mine mysis shrimp and blood worms. You can spot feed it with a stick, or you can just let it catch it's own food, it's up to you.



Dan

I feed mine all kinds of different things. From Spectrum pellets, to small peices of beef heart. Just take into consideration, the size of what you feed. The larger it is, the less it will get digested. The smaller it is, the more it will get digested. As the anemone takes the food into its "mouth", it begins to digest the outside of the piece of food. If the food is not completely digested in a couple of days, it will excavate it out, and then you will have a piece of food that is rotting in your tank. So, if the foods are small, they will get digested more, and more likely digested completely. I feed mostly the Spectrum pellets, as they always get completely digested. I have had a RBTA split that only gets this for food. I feed the Spectrum to my corals with large "mouths" as well. They grow quicker than most other people's that I know.

HTH.....

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There is always a bigger fish...

I have two clowns and an long tenticle anemone. Both of the clowns are hosting the anemone, but they seem to be fighting. What is the cause of this? Both same sex or something or is this someting normal?

It's not likely they are the same sex, because when Clownfish pair up the larger of the two, will become the female of the relationship. Unless of course they were previously paired with other Clownfish, and both had the female roles in those relationships. I believe once they are female, they are female for good.

Yep, clowns are unics, the larger will become female, then next largest is male, the rest are no sex. If the largest is removed, the male becomes female, and teh next largest becomes male. Once female, they can not change again.

Dan

My clowns are still very young, they are barely a half and inch or an inch long. Are they old enough to change sex already?

You know, I don't recall ever reading at what point they sex. I'll have to look around when I get a chance.



Dan

For a clownfish to change sex two requirements must be met. First the fish must be physically mature (12-24 months old) and must have an environmental cue to transform. The cue to become a female is the lack of a female in the environment. The cue to become male is that a dominate female is present in the environment, but the environment is lacking a male. The cue to remain sexless is that the environment has an existing dominate female and male pair.

My clowns never fought until i got an anemone. They only fight when one is trying to get to the anemone. the other one is not letting. Is this a sign that they are both the same sex?

Most likely they are fighting over the anemone. As for the same sex, probably yes.

As to what sex they are? How large are they? if they are small, they are most likely both males, and they will not right hard. One, the more dominant one, will eventually turn female, and they should stop fighting and share the anemone. If they are both large, then they are most likely both females. If they have both already changed to female, then one may eventually kill the other, if your tank is not large enough for them to share it.

You might want to get another anemone for them, as this will create a second territory for one of them.

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There is always a bigger fish...

How many anemones would you guys recommend for my 55 gallon tank. Right now i have a long tenticle and a hatian. I am planning to get a rose bulb online pretty soon.

Anemones get rather large. I think your already have a lot for a tank that size. Do a lot of reading, some dont get along with each other.



Dan

Thanks. Can someone tell me how to hatch brine shrimps? Like what i need and the supplies. Step by step how to do it and what i need and how long it will takE?

Do a google search for hatching brine, there should be any number of sources for you to read.

Here is a link that should help. Seems easy enough

http://home.earthlink.net/~photofish/BrineShrmp.html

Dan


Dan

My long tenticle anemone moved. It is not planted in the sand. It only opens when i turn the light on. Is this normal? It seems like its not comfortable or something. I can see the bottom of the anemone. Is this normal?

They will move to where ever they feel comfortable. water movment, lights, etc, will all effect it.

Dan


Dan

My long tenticle anemone is getting stringy. What does that mean? The anemone is dying?