Just started up a tank and I have a few questions.

[Claic Yuzolt]

As stated above I have just started my 29 gallon salt water fish tank. Its been up and running going over 2 weeks now and I had a few questions.

I have just added live rock about three days ago and coming from Petco it had green algae all over it and it is starting to die off and turn brown. Is this the live rock dying or should I have removed the algae to begin with?

Also, I noticed (after researching what they were) several brittle worms all in my rock when it is late at night. Is this a bad thing? If so what do I do?

The first thing I want to add is a anemone and a few clown fish. Now when can I add the anemone and how soon after adding the anemone can I add a clown?

The last question would be, do I need to add shrimp, brittle stars, or snails into the tank before adding the anemone? When can I add those?

Thanks a lot.

[ckusnierek]

Congrats on the new tank and WElcome to TRT!!!

First on the algea. I would have removed it first. It's most likely dying because there are no nutruients feeding it in yoru new tank. Now that it is dying it will generate nutruients for new algea to grow (a bad thing)

Second, Bristle worms. It's personal opinion some like them some don't. I do they will make quick work of anything that might die in your tank.

Third, Anemone. Your not going to like this but you will need to wait 6-9 month before getting one and on top of that you need INTENSE lighting T5ho or Halide. Just a guess but I'm guessing your tank hs PC or Nornal output flourscent. In that cake there will be no anemone in yoru future and if you do put one in it will not last for long

Last question, I think I answered it above. No anemone at least for a while So add the cleaners first.

On the bright sode there are many low light (assuming you have low light) corals out there the clowns will be more than happy to host. Hairy mushrooms, hammer,frogspawn, torch, toadstool leathers....

Good luck to you with your new tank!

[Claic Yuzolt]

Originally Posted by ckusnierek

Congrats on the new tank and WElcome to TRT!!!

First on the algea. I would have removed it first. It's most likely dying because there are no nutruients feeding it in yoru new tank. Now that it is dying it will generate nutruients for new algea to grow (a bad thing)

Second, Bristle worms. It's personal opinion some like them some don't. I do they will make quick work of anything that might die in your tank.

Third, Anemone. Your not going to like this but you will need to wait 6-9 month before getting one and on top of that you need INTENSE lighting T5ho or Halide. Just a guess but I'm guessing your tank hs PC or Nornal output flourscent. In that cake there will be no anemone in yoru future and if you do put one in it will not last for long

Last question, I think I answered it above. No anemone at least for a while So add the cleaners first.

On the bright sode there are many low light (assuming you have low light) corals out there the clowns will be more than happy to host. Hairy mushrooms, hammer,frogspawn, torch, toadstool leathers....

Good luck to you with your new tank!

Thanks a lot!

Well dang lol. I was really looking forward to getting an anemone and having my little clown fish living in it ha ha.

At what time should I add the cleaners and which are the best? How many should I add?

[jenglish]

^not too much to add to the above.

Nems need a stable mature system, 6 months or a year old and bright light. A clown may take to a hairy mushroom or really anything to host. Mine host a patch of xenia and a leather finger.

[SCHEITHE]

personaly i like my toad stool for my clown fish. also with toad stool you dont have to get better lighting. but then again it's me.
here is my toad stool.

[Claic Yuzolt]

Originally Posted by SCHEITHE

personaly i like my toad stool for my clown fish. also with toad stool you dont have to get better lighting. but then again it's me.
here is my toad stool.

Wow thats awesome! I thought that was an anemone. Can you give me picture examples of the types of things my clown fish will get together with?

How is your rock so pretty? Mine looks kinda white but brown with algae on it.

How long should I wait before adding one of the toad stool etc?

Here is my live rock. It looks horrible compared to yours lol. How should I go about cleaning it without killing it to make it nice looking like yours? I have no idea what curing live rock means thought I did but I dont. By cured does that mean it becomes nice looking with the colors? How do i make this happen to mine?

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by SCHEITHE

personaly i like my toad stool for my clown fish. also with toad stool you dont have to get better lighting. but then again it's me.
here is my toad stool.

Thats a frogspawn, not a toadstool.

[Loverotties]

My clown hosted on one of my fuzzy shrooms.

[adamthe55galreefer]

hi im 14 to and i have 4 torches [3 normal and one long t plate coral] place them near the light brown alge is a phase that you go through

in a new tank it goes brown/green/coraline at least this is what happend to me

[adamthe55galreefer]

if you want to get rid of your alge forget cleaner shrimp and buy a lawnmower blenney

[adamthe55galreefer]

he will eat that in two days

[adamthe55galreefer]

is that a window behind the tank and als curied rock is well umm JUST SMELL IT IF IT SMEELS OF ROTTEN EGG IT IS NOT CURED AND IF IT SMELLS PLAIN THEN IT IS CURED

[Claic Yuzolt]

Yes that is a window but behind that is like a pretty big balcony and then a huge hill so the sunlight shouldn't be a problem and I'm going to buy some curtains to cover it up.

If it is already cured then how do I get the rock to become the nice looking color?

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by Claic Yuzolt

Yes that is a window but behind that is like a pretty big balcony and then a huge hill so the sunlight shouldn't be a problem and I'm going to buy some curtains to cover it up.

If it is already cured then how do I get the rock to become the nice looking color?

Let the tank run with no fish or any ways of phosphates getting into the tank (fish food, fish poo, invertebrates, etc) for a couple weeks and leave the lights off and the algae should die off, then your rock should over time get the purple (corraline) algae and over time it will look better. Takes a while.
By the way leave the lights off for those couple of weeks, the lights feed algae.

[Claic Yuzolt]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Let the tank run with no fish or any ways of phosphates getting into the tank (fish food, fish poo, invertebrates, etc) for a couple weeks and leave the lights off and the algae should die off, then your rock should over time get the purple (corraline) algae and over time it will look better. Takes a while.
By the way leave the lights off for those couple of weeks, the lights feed algae.

So until I start adding fish I should keep the lights off? Does that not affect the tiny organisms on the live rock?