Your water change is the same as in fresh water. Remove x amount of water replace it with the same amoumt, so you keep your salinity the same. I have a bunch of small starfish and one from the last group buy. Chocolate ship starfish are not reef safe. You should read carefully because some require a mature sandbed and some are pretty predatory. You are doing the right thing by reading. Also all starfish require a good drip period no shortcuts.
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- Thread starter Ryan88
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I buy all different kinds of snails. They all do something different. I don't like any hermits. They climb all over everything and make them close up. When your tank matures, I recommend cucumbers. Since I added them, my sandbed has never been cleaner.
I have 2 five gallon containers for your RO/DI water. If you need more water then that at a time, you'll have to bring some containers.
I have 2 five gallon containers for your RO/DI water. If you need more water then that at a time, you'll have to bring some containers.
Hi Ryan
I would second the avoidance of crabs. Nearly all are opportunistic omnivores and can't really be trusted. Yes, they are fun to watch, but, they will kill your snails and can damage corals, especially LPS if/when they walk on them.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/hermitcrabs.htm
As far as snails go, you don't wan too many. The recommendations that some mail order supply houses recommend is far too much. The poor animals end up starving to death. As far as snail recommendations go, I would try to get some stomatella snails from a fellow hobbyist. They will reproduce naturally in your system where other snails won't. They are generally not commercially available so try to get 5-10 and establish your own breeding colony. Avoid Margarita snails, they are often sold in the hobby but are a temperate species so they slowly cook to death. Nassarius snails are a favorite as well, as they can naturally upright themselves as most other snails can't (so if you see a snail upside down on the sand, you have to go in and flip them over, usually they can't do it on their own and will just lay there until they die). Nassarius will eat any left over meaty food. They specialize in carrion, not living flesh, so if you see some around a coral, the flesh was dead first. Astrea snails are nice, but are obligate herbivores feeding on diatoms and microalgae so you can't get too many or they will starve. Cerith snails are also good scavengers but require a deep sand bed. I would avoid Turbo snails as they get big quickly and can knock over corals as they get large. There are some mini turbo snails that are excellent, but these are generally not available in retail and is something that needs to be acquired through a fellow hobbyist.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gastropo.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gastroart2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/scottsh2ochgart.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
A pair of Cleaner shrimp would make a fine addition. They will mate and spawn will feed the tank. Best to get two. You could also get a pair of peppermint shrimp for the same rationale. Also don't get an odd number. The odd man out usually ends up dead.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/shrimp.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/cleaner.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hippolytidae.htm
I'm not a fan of the Coral Banded shrimp as I feel they can get a bit too aggressive.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm
I do NOT RECOMMEND SANDSHIFTING STARS, they will decimate your sand bed. They eat all the beneficial life out of it and then slowly starve to death.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sndsftstrfaqs.htm
I would AVOID STARFISH as well, no Linkia, no Fromia, any of the "classic" starfish. Their diets are not understood and they generally starve to death in captivity. Green Brittle star are commonly offered in the hobby. Avoid them. They are also called "Green Death" as they will eat most anything they can get a hold of... especially fish! Instead get a red serpent star (Ophioderma sp.) They are beautiful, beneficial and generally not predatory.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm
So that a few suggestions and some reading for you! Hope this is helpful!
Cheers,
Michelle
I would second the avoidance of crabs. Nearly all are opportunistic omnivores and can't really be trusted. Yes, they are fun to watch, but, they will kill your snails and can damage corals, especially LPS if/when they walk on them.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/crabs/hermitcrabs.htm
As far as snails go, you don't wan too many. The recommendations that some mail order supply houses recommend is far too much. The poor animals end up starving to death. As far as snail recommendations go, I would try to get some stomatella snails from a fellow hobbyist. They will reproduce naturally in your system where other snails won't. They are generally not commercially available so try to get 5-10 and establish your own breeding colony. Avoid Margarita snails, they are often sold in the hobby but are a temperate species so they slowly cook to death. Nassarius snails are a favorite as well, as they can naturally upright themselves as most other snails can't (so if you see a snail upside down on the sand, you have to go in and flip them over, usually they can't do it on their own and will just lay there until they die). Nassarius will eat any left over meaty food. They specialize in carrion, not living flesh, so if you see some around a coral, the flesh was dead first. Astrea snails are nice, but are obligate herbivores feeding on diatoms and microalgae so you can't get too many or they will starve. Cerith snails are also good scavengers but require a deep sand bed. I would avoid Turbo snails as they get big quickly and can knock over corals as they get large. There are some mini turbo snails that are excellent, but these are generally not available in retail and is something that needs to be acquired through a fellow hobbyist.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gastropo.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gastroart2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/nutrientcontrol.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/scottsh2ochgart.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/algaeconMar.htm
A pair of Cleaner shrimp would make a fine addition. They will mate and spawn will feed the tank. Best to get two. You could also get a pair of peppermint shrimp for the same rationale. Also don't get an odd number. The odd man out usually ends up dead.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/shrimp.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/cleaner.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hippolytidae.htm
I'm not a fan of the Coral Banded shrimp as I feel they can get a bit too aggressive.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm
I do NOT RECOMMEND SANDSHIFTING STARS, they will decimate your sand bed. They eat all the beneficial life out of it and then slowly starve to death.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sndsftstrfaqs.htm
I would AVOID STARFISH as well, no Linkia, no Fromia, any of the "classic" starfish. Their diets are not understood and they generally starve to death in captivity. Green Brittle star are commonly offered in the hobby. Avoid them. They are also called "Green Death" as they will eat most anything they can get a hold of... especially fish! Instead get a red serpent star (Ophioderma sp.) They are beautiful, beneficial and generally not predatory.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brittlestars.htm
So that a few suggestions and some reading for you! Hope this is helpful!
Cheers,
Michelle
Your quite welcome Ryan! Just remember to take things slow, you are solely responsible for all the lives in that box of water and there is much to learn. You should know the needs, care requirements (diet, shelter, tank conditions) and be aware of compatibility issues and researched the natural environment of any life in your care. Going fast leads to frustration and losses in both in money and in life. Take it slow and learn as you go and you will have a hobby you can enjoy for a lifetime. I hope you make it out to a club meeting if you haven't already. It is great place for learning, fellowship and fun. You should definitely go to the NJ Frag Swap:
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=1
and there is one in Hudson Valley on October 11th. I will definitely be at this one. If you go, make sure you say hi, most of the folks there know me.
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/ind...Itemid=26&topic=11828.msg113607;topicseen#new
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=91&Itemid=1
and there is one in Hudson Valley on October 11th. I will definitely be at this one. If you go, make sure you say hi, most of the folks there know me.
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/ind...Itemid=26&topic=11828.msg113607;topicseen#new
Edwardw771
NJRC Member
Hey Michelle we need you around here more often your very knowledgeable. You coming on Sat? Sorry to Jack your thread.
TOMORROW!!!
Tomorrow I will be going up to trop. And if they dont have what I would like then Ill just take a ride down to AO. Heres what Im looking for tomorrow!
1) stomatella snails
2) Nassarius snails
3) Cerith snails bc Ill be buying more sand tomorrow for the tank.
4) Cleaner shrimp
5) emerald crabs
6) Peppermint shrimp
7) hermit crabs
8) Porcelain crabs
Thats 8 options that Ill take with me tomorrow, I should get a variety of stuff
So I can do the same transfer I did with the clown fish right? I used the float method with him.
Tomorrow I will be going up to trop. And if they dont have what I would like then Ill just take a ride down to AO. Heres what Im looking for tomorrow!
1) stomatella snails
2) Nassarius snails
3) Cerith snails bc Ill be buying more sand tomorrow for the tank.
4) Cleaner shrimp
5) emerald crabs
6) Peppermint shrimp
7) hermit crabs
8) Porcelain crabs
Thats 8 options that Ill take with me tomorrow, I should get a variety of stuff
So I can do the same transfer I did with the clown fish right? I used the float method with him.
In my experience, shrimp tend to be more sensitive to acclimation.
I'd use the drip method.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=19
I'd use the drip method.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=19
Yeah alright, it sounds stupid but that liveaquaira didnt really help bc Ive looked at it before. Plus tomorrow Im worried about replacing the water in the tank. Maybe Ill just get a bucket of normal freshwater from Trop, it should be RO. Anyway we'll see what goes on, but I would like some info on experiences with the drip method please?
