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29gallon newbie
- Thread starter timdmb
- Start date
i havent tested for phosphates however i havent used tap except for the initial fill, i had planned on buying a reef test kit at some point, maybe ill do that as well this week, ive been topping off with distilled water, i know its to be expected to have this dark brown/reddish/tan algae in new tanks, i guess ill just minimize the lighting again and see if it helps, iwas keeping the tank lit approx 9-10 hours a day maybe ill cut it back to about 6hours a day and see how that goes.. JR... the name def makes it, sea turd is hysterical ill do some reading on both and see where i end up, i figured after i did my routine cleaning and stuff id add something this week, so ill get the tank all clean and do a water change for the new addition, any other suggestions are welcome thanks everyone
SEA TURD,LOL ;D I would let snails and crabs do all the maintenance. Sea turd are very good sand cleaners. I wouldn't get any stars cuz they all eat fish giving any opportunity. If you don't believe me, ask Ronnie, LOL 8hrs photo period should be good for now.
Do you have a current pic? I would guess you still have some phos. in the water, but it will not hurt the fish. What is your current status with exporting nutrients ... water changes, skimmer, filter ect? When you add the bioload it is is going to add nutrients to the water. I would suggest doing a water change before adding fish. I have found in getting my tank cleaned up that regular water changes are the most important thing you can do.
the tank has been up for about 2 months, ive really just begun doing water changes about 2.5 gallons every two weeks, (29 gallon tank with about 8 or 9 gallons in the sump) im skimming (was pulling out a decent amount of skimmate, about quarter cup every week or so), theres essentially no bioload yet, i have 5 snails and a couple small hermits cleaning up, pictures to come, but there has really been very little change since the last pic i posted i believe, since vaccuming the water has cleared
The sand sifting star will most likely starve in such a new tank. They need a mature sand bed to feed from. You can try supplementing him with some frozen foods but this rarely works.
As for fish and corals I would wait a couple more weeks to give your bio filter a chance to catch up. Keep feeding the tank and checking your levels. If they are still at zero than add 1 or 2 small fish. At that time you could also add a small coral frag or 2 also.
As for fish and corals I would wait a couple more weeks to give your bio filter a chance to catch up. Keep feeding the tank and checking your levels. If they are still at zero than add 1 or 2 small fish. At that time you could also add a small coral frag or 2 also.
panmanmatt said:
I disagree with the above statement about the star. I have about 12 LBS of sand in a 70 gallon tank (Just enough to leave bare spots of glass in some spots. At most a dusting in others). I got my Sand Sifting Sea Star when my tank was 1 month old. He's doing just fine...
I think instead of money on spent feeding star, a small refugium could be set up - where a population of fauna could reproduce and replenish your sandbed...(thereby feeding your star) and will also provide some nitrate export (via the pruning of macro algae).
Alternative critters that help the sand bed could be a combination of cerith and nassarius snails, polychaete worms, mini stars, conches or cukes. Or all of the above.
I do agree with matt though - a 29 gallon may be a little too small for one of these stars (even if you do set up the refugium). Hopefully it'll work out for you, but if it doesn't - consider an alternative to the star in the future. If it were me, I'd try the nassarius snails and cerith snails. The nass are leftover food eaters and the ceriths are algae eaters - both live in the sand...Good luck!
Alternative critters that help the sand bed could be a combination of cerith and nassarius snails, polychaete worms, mini stars, conches or cukes. Or all of the above.
I do agree with matt though - a 29 gallon may be a little too small for one of these stars (even if you do set up the refugium). Hopefully it'll work out for you, but if it doesn't - consider an alternative to the star in the future. If it were me, I'd try the nassarius snails and cerith snails. The nass are leftover food eaters and the ceriths are algae eaters - both live in the sand...Good luck!
Congrats Tim, The tank is looking great ;D
if you want to do a fuge let me know..
you can make one with a 10g tank for about $25 and it's supper easy.
is looks something like this:
I'm changing stands as soon as I get my new sump/fuge done and I'm giving
this one to Danny for his frag tank so you can see it in person soon I hope.
if you want to do a fuge let me know..
you can make one with a 10g tank for about $25 and it's supper easy.
is looks something like this:
I'm changing stands as soon as I get my new sump/fuge done and I'm giving
this one to Danny for his frag tank so you can see it in person soon I hope.