Just want to say HI

[NU-2reef]

hey all,

I would be the new guy. Im very new to the whole reef tank thing and find everything absolutely fascinating. ive done some reading, even as far as purchasing several books before the purchase of my first starter tank. i decided to go with th Biocube 29 gallon for its simplicity.

overall im quite pleased with the tank. the cycle just came to an end about 2 weeks ago and all water parameters are at par. Fortunately my domino damsel made it throught the cycle and is in good health.( LFS convinced me that damsels were a good fish to cycle with. Little did i know. i was actually scolded by Ocean aquatics(lfs) for having fish in the cycle period. Anyway i learned that lesson and will never listen to that lfs again nor will i be purchasing from them.Morons. Idid educate myself further mostly by reading threads on this page as well as many books.

Im at a point where the tank and I are ready to add some corals or mushrooms and anemones. I understand, as im told, that im quite restriced to what i can have in my tank due to lighting.

So what i would like to know is a few recommendations on hearty corals for my tank. Ive been contemplating some pulsing xenia and some ricordia mushrooms to start along with a bubble tip anemone.

The fish i plan to add later on will be peaceful ex. false perc+ firefish+ goby but of course research will tell me what is compatible.

any suggestions?

i will post pics as soon as i figure out how to compress pics into the 97 kb size file currently my pic is 340+kb wish me luck

[bmshehan]

welcome!!
i cycled (still cycling) my tank with fish and everything is going great. i know otty did too- he's the one that told me to. his 265 is doing great also. i know several people that have. that doesn't seem like as big as a mistake as you thought...
i'm a newbie too so this is just heresay but i heard to watch adding mushrooms, they supposedly spread like wildfire.
good luck with everything!!!!

[cuttingras]

Welcome to 3reef! I'd think again about the anemone, they need light and lots of it!

[Otty]

Welcome to 3reef. You will always get two or three side of anything to do with sw. Mostly tree huggers will tell you not to cycle with fish but that is a good way to keep the bacteria stable during the cycle instead of it spiking then dropping off if you use dead matter.
Just take your time and don't get in a rush.

[NU-2reef]

thx for the great advice guys i truly appreciate it. as of now im not going to add or change things in the tank.

i have removed 2 larger pieces of LR due to major aiptasia growth, they were small but i can imagine the potential. so i am bleaching the rock to eradicate and am planning to neutralize with a baking soda + water solution and futher rinsing, its a long process but it needs to be done.

Approx. how long could it take for the rock to be re seaded and live again? This is the first bleaching process with LR so any of your experienced suggestions would be great. kinda thinking of scrapping the rock to purchase another.

Hopefully these Pics turn out. let me know what you all think.

[cuttingras]

Originally Posted by Otty

Welcome to 3reef. You will always get two or three side of anything to do with sw. Mostly tree huggers will tell you not to cycle with fish but that is a good way to keep the bacteria stable during the cycle instead of it spiking then dropping off if you use dead matter.
Just take your time and don't get in a rush.

<~~~~~~ IS a tree hugger

[NU-2reef]

just thought id update the pics. my other post was a bit small so lets try this again. By the way let me know what you think

[bmshehan]

i am finishing up the process i think you are describing right now and also have some more rock in the bleaching phase. otty had me do this process that he used with every rock he has in his tank and it works great, i think tangster uses it too:
3 days 50/50 bleach water
3 days freshwater soak (i do a water change every day, probably unnecessary but can't hurt!)
3 days 2 lbs. baking soda soak
3 weeks drying out
absolutely no need in throwing this rock away, unless you want to throw it my way! once the rock is completely dry, simply dump it in your tank. if you have any more questions, ask otty or tangster, they know the routine

[NU-2reef]

Originally Posted by cuttingras

Welcome to 3reef! I'd think again about the anemone, they need light and lots of it!

Just curious because my lfs says im only to get soft corals, if this is so what type am i able to put in my tank. Mind you my lighting is only a 10000k PC with actinic. Any good web sites for softies with my system to read up on.

And yes i do want to upgrade my lights but the upgrade costs near $800 just for the new canopy with lights in (mh/actinic/moon). For that much invested id rather start a newer bigger tank.

And about anemones can i even get one to host with my set up??? Or would you all recommend better light for these such as MH

[NU-2reef]

Originally Posted by bmshehan

i am finishing up the process i think you are describing right now and also have some more rock in the bleaching phase. otty had me do this process that he used with every rock he has in his tank and it works great, i think tangster uses it too:
3 days 50/50 bleach water
3 days freshwater soak (i do a water change every day, probably unnecessary but can't hurt!)
3 days 2 lbs. baking soda soak
3 weeks drying out
absolutely no need in throwing this rock away, unless you want to throw it my way! once the rock is completely dry, simply dump it in your tank. if you have any more questions, ask otty or tangster, they know the routine

this is some great info very useful. Im so glad to have found this site. i wont discard the rock thx for advice. had no idea i was supposed to dry the rock so THX. another thing,when bleaching are you using saltwater, r/o or just fresh tap? i assume it dosent matter