New To The Salty Side!

[nanoMama86]

Ok so I have started a ten gallon nano reef tank. I did live sand and two small pieces of live rock. I am using an aquaclear 50, a biocube skimmer one thats rated for up to 29 gallons, a nano powerhead, and the nano biocube uv sterilizer. I have the skimmer in a moded whisper HOB thats being driven by a cheap powerhead so the flow is low enough for the skimmer to be the most effective. I have the sterilizer in-line on the aquaclear with floss protecting the filter from the heavy particulates, kinda like a pre-filter. I am still cycling and am planning on adding 3 more pounds of live rock on Friday. Any suggestions on how to have a pair of clowns and some zoas and bubble coral and maybe some mushrooms down the line would be awesome!

 

[nanoMama86]

When is it ok to add my green chromis? Should I wait a while after I add my new live rock? I am getting it from a friends well developed five year old tank. Will it still need to cycle some more before I add fish? Steelhealr I know you get tired of answering the same questions and I have read everything you have written on this forum, but I am unclear on adding new live rock protocol with it being from an established tank. All i have read about is store-bought rock.

 

[nanoMama86]

A little miffed about not getting any replies! I shall press on with another question; Why does my water stink? My parameters are really good equipment all functioning well, I am puzzled! Is saltwater just stinky?

 

[lljdma06]

Sorry you haven't had a reply. I've been very busy with the start of the school year. Can I see a picture if the tank please? Where are you getting your LR from? Is it cured or uncured? By good stats what do you mean? My inclination is that you'll need more LR, which you're adding, but you may need still mote depending on what you want to accomplish with your system.

Oh & welcome!

 

[nanoMama86]

NanoReefBeginnings

Here is a video because I thought it would be simpler than try to explain everything...thanks!

 

[nanoMama86]

my video has a skip in it! I said my nitrites are between 0 and 0.5, and my nitrates are less than 10. I am getting my live rock from an lfs display tank. I have been a freshie for many years and man oh man i have MTS bad! So since I am a customer of long association he agreed to sell his LR from his display bc the amount I need will not harm his display. I want zoas, shrooms, and a four color anemone down the line.

 

[lljdma06]

Thanks for the video, that really does help a lot. A LOT more LR... That's what I think right now. It'll smell a little, but to me, it smells like a healthy ocean (but I'm from Miami). I'll get back to you later, though. I promise. I'm working now.

llj

 

[ALW]

Ok first 10g is really too small for chromis. Your tank should smell like the sea so if it smells any different then either the lr is uncured or you have had a lot of die off. Zoas and mushrooms will be fine in the tank but again its too small for an anemone.

 

[nanoMama86]

Thank you for your time lljdma06 I really appreciate your experience and your willingness to help me out. i smelled my salt mix and then the water and concluded that is the way sea water smells! I have only seen the ocean and never been in it. my stats have been rock steady for a few days now.

 

[nanoMama86]

Well I got some more live rock and my first fish! A really pretty bright green chromis! Starting to get excited!

 

[nanoMama86]

Ok stats have been perfect and tank is stable with lots of purple algae. When should I start to think about adding my first(gulp ) corals? I want to start with mushrooms?

 

[lljdma06]

Can we see a picture or video? Doesn't have to be great, just a basic one will do.

L

 

[nanoMama86]

Sorry I have not been updating but I have had a bad run of luck with a bone graft in my face. The nano tank has been chugging along nicely and i am just waiting to find some decent shrooms to put in.

 

[nanoMama86]

OK BIG NEWS!!!!! I got some corals! I got them from my next door neighbor who is breaking down his 80 gallon tank and moving. I got a load of new live rock and a small mushroom colony and a one head-two mouth frog spawn, and a purple bubble coral. The shroomies seem the happiest as they are completly open already but the bubble coral got bounced and bruised a little in transit and is tightly retracted. I put it on the bottom back right of my tank and the frog spawn in the top middle withe shroomies front left bottom. What can I do to help the bubbles recover? The frogspawn is acting a little miffed, but not too bad. I have a HUGE colony of 'pods crawling on everything so they will certainly get to eat. No fish in tank. NO ammonia, no nitrites, 0-20 nitrates. Skimmer set to medium. temp 81

 

[nanoMama86]

OK......so maybe ONE fish in tank! The little black and white striped one hitchhiked on some live rock apparently! Googled it and it is a three striped damsel! Good or bad?