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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / November 2004First Fish
Well after one long month my tank finally has fish in it! I have a list of desired fish, but the only ones they had at my lfs were the clown fish. I didn't want to overload the tank so I bought 2 clowns to start with. I also bought three (I think acorn) snails to help clean up. My tank is the 46 gallon bowed front with 45 lbs of LR. My ammonia is 0 nitrites 0 ph 8.2 ~ 8.3 nitrates 10. I notice a lot of brown 'gunky' looking crud that is floating on top of the LR. I thought this is die off and at one time did clean it up a bit using a toothbrush (delicately brushing them). I also rinsed the 'cured' LR when I first got it. My question is this, how can I clean this up? Will the snails do a good job? I doubt they will and would like to know of any other cleaners I could use. I did notice I have some nice new coral growing off my LR (I also plan on buying some anemones when my tank is established), so I know I should stay away from crabs. Thank you all I'm assuming the "gunky looking crud" is detritus. I'm thinking I'd like to just siphon with a turkey baster. It seems like an easy way. I just wonder if it is something I'd have to keep doing every week? And if I get more helpers, can I assume I'd get at least a 50% break in my cleaning of this crud? Thanks again > Well after one long month my tank finally has fish in it! I have a list of > desired fish, but the only ones they had at my lfs were the clown fish. I [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Thank you all I'm sure that the other members will correct me if I'm wrong; but I think that the brown gunk is brown algae that is part of the normal cycling process of a young tank. After a few weeks, this should go away. Maddie > I'm assuming the "gunky looking crud" is detritus. I'm thinking I'd like > to [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >> >> Thank you all > I'm sure that the other members will correct me if I'm wrong; but I think > that the brown gunk is brown algae that is part of the normal cycling > process of a young tank. After a few weeks, this should go away. I have a bio-wheel filter system running w/o the bio-wheels and a protein skimmer. I wonder if this isn't enough air circulation. Yesterday after I cleaned the bowl of my ever crappy seaclone skimmer, it started producing small bubbles again. I could seem them everywhere in the tank for a bit. Seemed to have good circulation judging from the bubbles (basically had to shut it down to stop the bubbles... what junk!. I also am thinking of getting 2 Stars.... I think one should be a Fancy Serpent Sea Star.. I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail. Any other Ideas? I read that these are detrivores, so this I believe could help. Could I just buy them and let them work their wonders, or do I need to clean the detritus first? I meant to say "water circulation" not "air" > Could I just buy them and let them work their wonders, or do I need to clean > the detritus first? Well, yes, and no. You see, at some point, after it has been through enough animals guts, that detritus is basically inert (has no nutritional value left). Oh sure, there will always be bacteria colonizing it, but animals cannot live by bacteria alone. I guess basically what I'm saying is...detritus removal is always going to be part of tank maintenance. Kev > I guess basically what I'm saying is...detritus removal is always > going to be part of tank maintenance. Are you sure you are talking about a reef tank ? I have read in many places vacuuming reef tanks is not recommended. >Are you sure you are talking about a reef tank ? >I have read in many places vacuuming reef tanks is not recommended. Thats only if you are using a properly seeded DSB. If you are using crushed coral, or a bare bottom the detritus will need to be removed. > I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail I wouldnt get any cucumbers. THey release a toxin when they die that can be very harmful to fish. __________________________________________________ Posted via FishGeeks - http://Aquaria.info | > I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail | > | I wouldnt get any cucumbers. THey release a toxin when they die that | can be very harmful to fish. I'm facinated by these creatures, despite the hazard they can present if death occurs. Can anyone point me to useful info on keeping these? > | > I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail > | > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I'm facinated by these creatures, despite the hazard they can present > if death occurs. Can anyone point me to useful info on keeping these? I have two dull-yellow colored cucumbers from Florida and they seem to be pretty hardy animals. They do not require any maintenance... Just spend their time crawling on the sand surface tasting sand particles with their crown and swallow the tastiest ones ;-) Pretty interesting to watch how they feed, licking their "fingers". I would risk the statement theses guys are much easier to keep than the filter-feeder variety cucumbers (sea apples etc). As long you have sandy bottom on the tank they will have stuff to eat. BTW - sea cucumbers are distant cousins of sea urchins and sea stars. They all have very similar body structure and way of life... |
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