Homer's tank, week one

[Triatik]

Hello all,

My 90g with 180 lbs argonite sand and now about 55 lbs of live cured rock are in and beeing arranged. I have found some critters: three hermits, one shrimp that remains too hidden to tell what it is. Also one glass anemone ( Aiptasia ). At least it fits the description on the Hitchhiker FAQ page. I have a few questions.

1. Do I leave my lights on? I have two Ultra-actinics 65w, and two MH 5500 at 175w.

2. Do I clean up the rubble, small pieces of rock that fell off and lay on my sand? Some are quarter size and others as big as two inches long.

3. What all should I test for after one week? So far I checked the salinity (1.023) and temp. 79-80.

[Triatik]

One more thing:

Do I feed the tank anything?

Thanks, Homer

[Alice]

Small pieces of rubble tend to accumulate detritis around and under them. Detritis is good tank food as long as it can get into suspension, if not, it makes a mess. Personally, I didn't like the "grunge" look and pulled the little bits out. The larger pieces I put in the sump to have ready for frag attachment.

If you've put a detrivore kit in your tank or are trying to build up the sandbed population, than yes, you need to feed it a bit. A pinch or two of flake food (make sure it gets wet so it will sink to the bottom) or a pinch of the sinking pellets two-three times a week would work fine.

~Alice

oops, you should run your lights but you can use about half the photo-period you'll use when you get corals in it. Just time it so the lights are on during your viewing time.

[ 07-14-2001: Message edited by: Alice ]

[lil Anemone]

Bump up that Salinity towards 1.025, you want natural strength sea water, which is closer overall to 1.025-1.027, also add some more live rock too when u can, I got 120 lbs. of live rock in my 65g tank, its your best filter, the more rock, the stronger your filter, I dumped a lot into my sump too.

[Triatik]

Thank you Alice and lil Anemone. Things look good this morning. I will order a detrivore kit from Inland Aquatics and start feeding as you recommend. Also, will up the salinity.

Homer

[Spanky]

Originally posted by Homer:
Also, will up the salinity

Homer, remember critters can take going down in salinity a lot faster than going up. Take it slow.

Jerel