how soon can i have anenomies and mushrooms? - Page 2

Nereaga · 07-15-2007, 08:05 PM

Anyway of posting a picture just to make sure? Beware if it is an Aiptasia Anenome. Google Aiptasia and see.

Kasandra_jane · 07-19-2007, 10:53 PM

i tried taking a pic but it isnt coming out clear.. its imbedded down in the rock pretty good so its really dark around the whole thing.. but i went to the lfs where i bought it and they said it was probably a feather duster.. but it didnt look like the one they had.. so im not so sure

dustin323 · 07-20-2007, 01:18 AM

Yeah its probally a aiptasia pest anemone as Nereaga mentioned. Some peppermint shrimp should do the trick on clearing those up as they can cause a big problem spreading so easilly. You will definately want to hold off on purchasing an anemone anytime soon. You want a nice mature tank with excellent water quality first. I would wait at least 3 months before adding an anemone. As far as corals go once your ammonia is at 0, nitrItes at 0, & nitrAtes 10 or below you can start adding hardy corals. Like mushrooms, xenia, & other softies to start. You can actually throw as many corals in at once & it won't hurt the bio-load. However at first just test the waters with one cheap hardy coral.

First though you need to find out about your lighting. A T5 or metal halide setup would be best if your wanting anemones, SPS coral, or clams. The lights you mentioned hanging from a ceiling would probally be metal halide pendants. Now do be prepared for a steep price tag on lighting. For an anemone you must have top notch lighting. A T5 setup has the ability to be just as good as a metal halide system, some even claim T5s are more flexible than metal halides. It is all a personal opinon when it boils down though. For a 120 gallon tank be looking at around 800 watts + for lighting for an anemone. These setups can easilly run 1 grand or more.

Corals and anemones are fairly easy to take care of. However you must know what to provide them & have the right equipment & right water quality. What kind of filtration are you running? How much live rock do you have? You'll definately want to get 100 + pounds of live rock for a 120 gallon if you plan on making it a reef with anemones, corals, etc. This will also supply filtration for you and make the system as a whole function better & easier on you.

Kasandra_jane · 07-21-2007, 10:08 AM

currently i have 2 emporer bio filters and i have a filter on my powerhead.. right now i have about 50 pounds of live rock.. could i add the peppermint shrimp now? cuz my nitrites are at 1.0 mpg but my ammonia is none existent yeah i looked up the pest anenomies and it looked the exact same..o goody right lol..

well anenomies dont look to be in my near future,, but thats ok..

so do u need the metal halides or t5's for coral?

dustin323 · 07-22-2007, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasandra_jane

currently i have 2 emporer bio filters and i have a filter on my powerhead.. right now i have about 50 pounds of live rock.. could i add the peppermint shrimp now? cuz my nitrites are at 1.0 mpg but my ammonia is none existent yeah i looked up the pest anenomies and it looked the exact same..o goody right lol..

well anenomies dont look to be in my near future,, but thats ok..

so do u need the metal halides or t5's for coral?

No, you could have VHOs or Power Compacts. Which power compacts aren't nearly as good as T5s or metal halides. However they are decent & much can be kept under them. This is what I'm running on my 55g tank. 260 watts, I can keep about any LPS or soft coral. Honestly if I were you I'd try to at least get a decent priced hang-on protien skimmer first, since your thinking reef. By the way that little sponge filter on your power head is just gonna cause nitrAte problems, I'd take it off ASAP. I'd probally hold off on the shrimp as they can be quite sensitive. However some snails & hermits would probally be good to go. What are your nitrAtes at?

Kasandra_jane · 07-22-2007, 09:09 PM

i honestly dont know what my nitrates r at.. go figure.. the lfs told me to put that on to help with the filtering.. ill take your advice and pitch it//,, they also told me to get a flo deflector cuz it would be better for the circulation.. and i hate it.. it messes up my sand bed and ugh//..

well thats good.. sa protein skimmer would be a better item to buy first.. but i want to keep shrimp ans i heard if u have a protein skimmer they will not be able to molt properly..

u are being a great help.. i really appreciate it..

dustin323 · 07-23-2007, 12:45 AM

Sponge type filters will trap nitrAtes so easilly in SW aquariums & SW life is so sensitive to nitrAtes. So you definately made the right move taking it off. If we were talking FW it'd be a different story. You will need the powerhead for movement however if you have corals.

Protien skimmer would be great to get for a reef or future reef setup. Especially a tank of 120 gallons. If you are on a budget I would reccomned a Corallife super skimmer 220. This is what I am running & it dewfinately isn't the best, but depending on how much your willing to put out for a skimmer it can be great. As far as shrimp not being able to molt properly with a protien skimmer is not true. I think I've heard someone say that before, but its not true. I have a shrimp & he molts constantly and I run a skimmer 24/7. I believe why some people said that in the past is due to protien skimmers removing different things from the water. Which shrimp do need iodine to molt properly. However a skimmer will not take out that much iodine.

Kasandra_jane · 07-23-2007, 09:58 AM

alright// well thats really refreshing.. i might as well go on ahead and spend my money on a good skimmer.. that wAY i will be insured to have it for quite some time.. a protein skimmer will be next on my list of things to get.. i will buy one of those before i get anymore fish.. most definitely.. how much does a good protein skimmer run anyway?

dustin323 · 07-23-2007, 12:30 PM

Welcome to the expensive world of reefing. You could get a cheaper, but decent CoralLife super skimmer for around $200. You could get a a better one for around $400 all the way up close to a grand. I've always have heard good about these for the price. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~ER1417.html
Kind of wish I would have gone that route.

Kasandra_jane · 07-23-2007, 05:20 PM

lol alright.. the $200 dollar rought sounds good to me .. ugh.. i definitely dont want toi spend a grand on a skimmer.. lol o boy.. im sure maybe in the future when college is out of the way that might be the way i will go.. but definitely not right now.