First Fish

[DeeOooGee]

Well after one long month my tank finally has fish in it! I have a list of
desired fish, but the only ones they had at my lfs were the clown fish. I
didn't want to overload the tank so I bought 2 clowns to start with. I also
bought three (I think acorn) snails to help clean up.

My tank is the 46 gallon bowed front with 45 lbs of LR. My ammonia is 0
nitrites 0 ph 8.2 ~ 8.3 nitrates 10. I notice a lot of brown 'gunky'
looking crud that is floating on top of the LR. I thought this is die off
and at one time did clean it up a bit using a toothbrush (delicately
brushing them). I also rinsed the 'cured' LR when I first got it.

My question is this, how can I clean this up? Will the snails do a good
job? I doubt they will and would like to know of any other cleaners I could
use. I did notice I have some nice new coral growing off my LR (I also plan
on buying some anemones when my tank is established), so I know I should
stay away from crabs.

Thank you all
--

[DeeOooGee]

I'm assuming the "gunky looking crud" is detritus. I'm thinking I'd like to
just siphon with a turkey baster. It seems like an easy way. I just wonder
if it is something I'd have to keep doing every week? And if I get more
helpers, can I assume I'd get at least a 50% break in my cleaning of this
crud?

Thanks again

"DeeOooGee" > wrote in message
news:VtPpd.569178$mD.165488@attbi_s02...
>
> Well after one long month my tank finally has fish in it! I have a list
of
> desired fish, but the only ones they had at my lfs were the clown fish. I
> didn't want to overload the tank so I bought 2 clowns to start with. I
also
> bought three (I think acorn) snails to help clean up.
>
> My tank is the 46 gallon bowed front with 45 lbs of LR. My ammonia is 0
> nitrites 0 ph 8.2 ~ 8.3 nitrates 10. I notice a lot of brown 'gunky'
> looking crud that is floating on top of the LR. I thought this is die off
> and at one time did clean it up a bit using a toothbrush (delicately
> brushing them). I also rinsed the 'cured' LR when I first got it.
>
> My question is this, how can I clean this up? Will the snails do a good
> job? I doubt they will and would like to know of any other cleaners I
could
> use. I did notice I have some nice new coral growing off my LR (I also
plan
> on buying some anemones when my tank is established), so I know I should
> stay away from crabs.
>
> Thank you all
> --
>
>
>

[maddie]

I'm sure that the other members will correct me if I'm wrong; but I think
that the brown gunk is brown algae that is part of the normal cycling
process of a young tank. After a few weeks, this should go away.

Maddie
"DeeOooGee" > wrote in message
news:IaTpd.673323$8_6.143010@attbi_s04...
> I'm assuming the "gunky looking crud" is detritus. I'm thinking I'd like
> to
> just siphon with a turkey baster. It seems like an easy way. I just
> wonder
> if it is something I'd have to keep doing every week? And if I get more
> helpers, can I assume I'd get at least a 50% break in my cleaning of this
> crud?
>
> Thanks again
>
> "DeeOooGee" > wrote in message
> news:VtPpd.569178$mD.165488@attbi_s02...
>>
>> Well after one long month my tank finally has fish in it! I have a list
> of
>> desired fish, but the only ones they had at my lfs were the clown fish.
>> I
>> didn't want to overload the tank so I bought 2 clowns to start with. I
> also
>> bought three (I think acorn) snails to help clean up.
>>
>> My tank is the 46 gallon bowed front with 45 lbs of LR. My ammonia is 0
>> nitrites 0 ph 8.2 ~ 8.3 nitrates 10. I notice a lot of brown 'gunky'
>> looking crud that is floating on top of the LR. I thought this is die
>> off
>> and at one time did clean it up a bit using a toothbrush (delicately
>> brushing them). I also rinsed the 'cured' LR when I first got it.
>>
>> My question is this, how can I clean this up? Will the snails do a good
>> job? I doubt they will and would like to know of any other cleaners I
> could
>> use. I did notice I have some nice new coral growing off my LR (I also
> plan
>> on buying some anemones when my tank is established), so I know I should
>> stay away from crabs.
>>
>> Thank you all
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[DeeOooGee]

"maddie" > wrote in message
...
> I'm sure that the other members will correct me if I'm wrong; but I think
> that the brown gunk is brown algae that is part of the normal cycling
> process of a young tank. After a few weeks, this should go away.
>
I have a bio-wheel filter system running w/o the bio-wheels and a protein
skimmer. I wonder if this isn't enough air circulation. Yesterday after I
cleaned the bowl of my ever crappy seaclone skimmer, it started producing
small bubbles again. I could seem them everywhere in the tank for a bit.
Seemed to have good circulation judging from the bubbles (basically had to
shut it down to stop the bubbles... what junk!.

I also am thinking of getting 2 Stars.... I think one should be a Fancy
Serpent Sea Star.. I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail. Any other
Ideas? I read that these are detrivores, so this I believe could help.
Could I just buy them and let them work their wonders, or do I need to clean
the detritus first?

[DeeOooGee]

I meant to say "water circulation" not "air"

[KevinM]

"DeeOooGee" > wrote in message
news:c71qd.105899$5K2.85425@attbi_s03...
> Could I just buy them and let them work their wonders, or do I need to
clean
> the detritus first?


Well, yes, and no.
You see, at some point, after it has been through enough animals guts, that
detritus is basically inert (has no nutritional value left). Oh sure, there
will always be bacteria colonizing it, but animals cannot live by bacteria
alone.

I guess basically what I'm saying is...detritus removal is always going to
be part of tank maintenance.

Kev

[aburitojr]

>
> I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail
>
I wouldnt get any cucumbers. THey release a toxin when they die that
can be very harmful to fish.
__________________________________________________
Posted via FishGeeks - http://Aquaria.info

[Billy]

"aburitojr" > wrote in
message ...
|>
| > I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail
| >
| I wouldnt get any cucumbers. THey release a toxin when they die
that
| can be very harmful to fish.


I'm facinated by these creatures, despite the hazard they can present
if death occurs. Can anyone point me to useful info on keeping these?

[Pszemol]

"Billy" > wrote in message ...
> | > I also want to get a Sea Cucumber Tiger Tail
> | >
> | I wouldnt get any cucumbers. THey release a toxin when they die
> | that can be very harmful to fish.
>
>
> I'm facinated by these creatures, despite the hazard they can present
> if death occurs. Can anyone point me to useful info on keeping these?

I have two dull-yellow colored cucumbers from Florida and they seem
to be pretty hardy animals. They do not require any maintenance...
Just spend their time crawling on the sand surface tasting sand
particles with their crown and swallow the tastiest ones ;-)
Pretty interesting to watch how they feed, licking their "fingers".

I would risk the statement theses guys are much easier to keep
than the filter-feeder variety cucumbers (sea apples etc).
As long you have sandy bottom on the tank they will have stuff to eat.

BTW - sea cucumbers are distant cousins of sea urchins and sea stars.
They all have very similar body structure and way of life...

[Pszemol]

"KevinM" > wrote in message om...
> I guess basically what I'm saying is...detritus removal is always
> going to be part of tank maintenance.

Are you sure you are talking about a reef tank ?
I have read in many places vacuuming reef tanks is not recommended.

[Rod]

>
>Are you sure you are talking about a reef tank ?
>I have read in many places vacuuming reef tanks is not recommended.
>

Thats only if you are using a properly seeded DSB. If you are using crushed
coral, or a bare bottom the detritus will need to be removed.