Utah Reefs Homepage
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - New here and new to reef keeping
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

New here and new to reef keeping

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
ajsahm View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: August 09 2012
Location: Roy UT
Status: Offline
Points: 154
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ajsahm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: New here and new to reef keeping
    Posted: August 09 2012 at 1:59pm
Hi all!

My name is Lori and I just started my first tank the end of June.  It is a 29gal Biocube.  It has cycled and I have Two clowns and a 6 lined wrasse.  Oh and some hermit crabs.  I am looking forward to adding come corals.  I have a couple hitch hikers that are multiplying and two frags i bought that also have doubled in size.  So it seems all are growing well but so is ALL the algae.  It seems the hermit crabs only eat the green algae.  I have purple, redish purple, bright green, brownish green, and brown.  I have been testing my water and taking my water in to be tested and all looks wonderful.  So i am needing a cleaning crew but am not sure what eats what.  This is really a learn as you go project.  Smile

75g - In the process of building
Back to Top
tfmreefs View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 29 2012
Location: Heber City
Status: Offline
Points: 1496
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tfmreefs Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2012 at 2:11pm
Welcome! I have had better luck with snails more then hermits, but i have a bunch of turbo snails and they dont leave the glass and they do a great job, and i have nassarius snails for my sand. The turbos also take care of my rocks but you will want to be careful due to the fact that turbo snails are like bulldozers!
"The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese."
Back to Top
lskurys View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: September 01 2011
Location: Roy Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1129
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lskurys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2012 at 3:24pm
Welcome.  I am glad that you have been having fun.  We had a 28 gallon JbJ tank and snails worked pretty good for that.  Are you using any micro algad in a refuge?  I think that the bio cube had place in the back for it but not sure.   Also having a timer for your lights and maybe getting your light down to around 4 hours a day untill you have your algae under control. 
 
We are in Roy also so if you ever want to stop by and talk salt you are more than welcome.  I think I could even hook you up with a frag or 2. 
 
 
220g , large elite aquatics sump. 3 Radion Pro Gen 3 lights 3 Mp 40's
Back to Top
jwoo View Drop Down
Presidency
Presidency
Avatar

Joined: April 29 2009
Location: Alpine
Status: Offline
Points: 3603
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jwoo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2012 at 3:30pm
Welcome! The 29 Bio is a great tank! We have one that we've had for a few years and man does that think always look awesome.
None at the moment
Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront
Back to Top
Shane H View Drop Down
Presidency
Presidency
Avatar

Joined: March 09 2003
Location: Brigham City
Status: Offline
Points: 7921
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shane H Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2012 at 4:00pm
Welcome!  I think that is the perfec tank to start out!
 
1) Can you tell us how frequently you are feeding and how much? 
2) What lighting do you have an how long is your day light cycle?
3) Do you have any supplemental circulation in the tank?  Another pump other than the standard return(s)?
 
I think the advice you have received "more snails" is spot on. 
 
Good luck!
Back to Top
Molli View Drop Down
Guest
Guest


Joined: June 28 2012
Location: Bountiful, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 1109
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Molli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2012 at 4:11pm
Hi Lori ! 
 
I am just a couple of months ahead of you with this hobby and I also have a Biocube29.  There are lots of helpful people here and lots of advice!  Welcome!  My first clean up crew members were also hermit crabs -- my algae was the brown stuff and they ate all of it in less than  day!  It was amazing!    Perhaps if they were given other algae choices they would have been pickier!  I also have snails now -- about 3 different kinds of snails.  My snails seem to be keeping the green algae in control more than the hermit crabs.
Back to Top
1stupidpunk View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: June 10 2011
Location: clearfield
Status: Offline
Points: 1172
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 1stupidpunk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 09 2012 at 4:48pm
Well adding more snails will help keep the amount of algae growing to a minimum... reducing the amount of nutrients that is allowing the algae to grow in the first place would be much more beneficial long term. I started out with a biocube and had alot of nuisance algae (mostly hair algae to be specific) the entire rockwork was covered, it was bad. I wasnt sure why i had so much as my phosphate levels always showed as being low. Someone explained to me that they are showing low because all the nuisance algae is consuming it to grow... After adding some phosban, increasing circulation, and slightly decreasing photoperiod (but not in the refuge if you use it) my hair algae slowly vanished!
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.281 seconds.