Can't resist any longer !

[jdnumis]

Congrats on the move. Yes keep it simple and be patient.

 

[watevadog5]

Obviously it's not happening anytime soon as I'm still going thru my cycle but are there simple corals I can grow using my simple marineland white and blue leds, my filter with carbon and bio balls? Assuming my parameters are on point...

 

[Pimentinha]

You can do mushrooms and zoas no problem maybe hammers, frogspawn. Did your friend have a reef on that set up?

 

[watevadog5]

If by he didn't take care of it and grew green slime then yes he was quite the reef keeper haha.

 

[Pimentinha]

Lol. Do a search on your lighting system and see if it's enough to grow corals. I know marineland makes some that are for corals and others that are for planted tanks. Maybe that's the one he bought!!!

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Marineland LEDs are not that powerful!! In this hobby you will not sometimes but always get what you payed for!!! Those lights are nice looking but can't keep up with a reefs real demands and will not give you the best colorings on your corals , in fact I used one of those for my fuge !! But tankwise it will give you washed colors at times ..... I would eventually find an alternate route with my lighting .

 

[watevadog5]

I figured they were nothing special but had to ask. Once cycle finishes and I can take care of the 3 fish my buddy is holding for me, I'll look to upgrade in parts. O the ideas I already have !

 

[Pimentinha]

I will tell you what... Don't buy any lights. By the time you are able to keep fish and a few easy to care for corals you will be so hooked that the only thought on your mind will be an upgrade to a 100+ gallon tank.
It might seem that I'm joking but I'm not ( ok, maybe a little).
I spent so much freaking $ on my 36G tank that I wish I hadn't. However, on my 120, it is worth every penny.

 

[watevadog5]

100+? I'm thinking 350! Who needs a living room couch haha. I know what you mean though. Its very addictive and already I'm thinking of how to upgrade. Luckily like I said I have patience and luckily I don't have tons of $ to spend or I'd turn half my house into a tank !!

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

It's a good way to think !!! Always bigger !!!

 

[watevadog5]

Ok so according to tests, my cycle is complete. I believe using the same filter media along with some of a buddies cycled water it helped it along tremendously. I have a decent amount of algea growing so I added 4 blue legged hermits, 1 turbo snail and 2 nassarious snails. Hopefully they are hungry. Looking to add my two clowns and damsel in a week or so!

 

[Pimentinha]

You can add the fish immediately. Just FYI in my personal opinion I don't like hermits on a reef tank. I know everybody says they are reef compatible and they are. They will just murder your clean up crew for their shells... And can also kill a coral if they sense it is weak or receding.

 

[watevadog5]

No corals yet, and not sure when I'm going to take that step. I think my lights need to be upgraded and I want to get my water changes done correctly before I attempt any. I will keep your advice in mind though.

 

[Pimentinha]

I remember thinking "I'm not ready for corals"...

I don't want to remember what happened next. Lol.


I know what you are saying.

Be responsible. We appreciate it.

 

[watevadog5]

Ok so Tuesday I will be picking up my 2 clowns and 1 damsel my friend has been holding. Snails and hermits did a great job cleaning algea. Going to add 1 more piece of rock. Wish me luck!

 

[Pimentinha]

Good luck. Keep us posted

 

[watevadog5]

Ok guys, got a question, just added my fish... I have a 54 led ( 51 white 3 blue) led light. When should I run all white, when do I run the blue? I have no corals, just 3 fish, 3 snails and 4 hermits.

 

[Pimentinha]

Blues are to simulate night time.

 

[watevadog5]

Ok, so I'll run those overnight. How about my whites? Run those all day?

 

[watevadog5]

considering my tank will get natural sunlight ( not direct) and the fact I have no corals, can I just turn on the blue overnight now and have the white supplemented by the natural light?