Questions About My 29 Gallon, Can U Help!?

Not sure if anyone has tackled this portion of this question and although a few people on here may be able to asnwer more indepth but I will try to help.

My question to you is what exactly did the LPS tell you to expect to happen to your live rock? The purple you see is most likely coraline algae which is a good algae. This will eventually grow more throughout your tank but it will take much longer than one month. Also if your rock is "live" than there is already things growing on it. its filled with copepods and tiny inverts as well as benifcial bacteria that will not only help your tank cycle but wil be your main source of biological filtration.

As far as the Xenia, do as other have said and take it out until water paremeters are stable, but once you put it back, understand that it will also take much longer than a month for the Xenia to grow. (although Xenia is one of the faster growing corals. As far as placement, Xiena a not really picky, they like moderate to high flow and generally are placed towards the top of the tank. (mine is right underneath my powerhead) And the pulsating you seen in the store, they may eventually replicate in your tank. Just give them time. However it is not neccasarily a sign of bad health if they don't pulsate.)

One last thing, I agree with anpgp and hurley when they apoligize for the rudeness of others. I hate when people bash people that are asking for help!!! some people with experience forget the purpose to extend an arm is to lend a hand, not to flex a muscle.

I would say you did a few things right. For instance using premixed ro water was very smart and will probably keep your phosphate levels in check while your tank cycles. Have fun!!

 

http://www.3reef.com/forums/members...icture5882-my-29-gallon-live-rock-3-31-10.jpg

just wanted to post the URL to a pic of the tank.

 

You have a ways to go on the live rock. you want atleast triple the amount you have. You already have enough Live rock just get less expensive dry rock.

 

Sorry it's taken me a while to get back to your reply! okay the LFS guy said that the purple on the rock would bloom into something with our coralife T5 light we bought. We got some LR that was set up in one of their tanks for over 2 yrs to help with the cycling and filtration, but here I am now...the tank has been set up since march 2 2010. my clean up crew and peppermint shrimp are all doing fine and have been in about a month as well. My nitrates are still high after a 25% water change we did four days ago. Before I added the chromies in 2wks ago my water looked fine. Added them the nitrates shot up and they died. My LFS is big on commission i found out recently so they really aren't helping me!!! how will i know when my tank is ready for fish? all we do is let it run and we thought it was cycled apperantly it wasn't.

 

Here, you should check this out. I wrote it up after helping you out and got one of the mods to make it a sticky thread under the newbie section. It should help you get through the cycle and everything else.

Newbie Guide

 

The reason you are seeing nitrates is because your tank is still cycling. When you added fish to your aquarium you added a new source of ammonia. Ammonia is produced from not only the uneaten food but also the fish waste. (to high ammonia will kill your fish). the ammonia is then converted into nitrite and then the nitrite is converted into nitrate.

Your clean up crew are much more hardy than your fish.
If you ammonia is low nitrites are low but only your nitrates are high then you are nearing the end of your cycle. If no ammonia is present then you should be safe to add fish again. if your ammonia is high then use carbon/ammonia remover.

If it is just nitrates that are high than be patience. and do another water change in a few days. this will reduce the nitrates.

Double check that you have a good source of chemical filtration to insure to remove some of the harmful toxins.