Hey guys I'm new to the hobby and just bought a 34 redseamax aquarium. The previous owner gave me his water, some live rock, and some live coral (not much at all, maybe 4 little pieces of coral). I've had the tank running for a week now and all of a sudden living organisms have started appearing. Yesterday I noticed about 3 baby starfish come out of nowhere. Today I looked and starting noticing a lot of baby snails. Also, I look at the back of my tank and noticed lots of very very very small shrimp I think. They could also be little snails. Not sure, but they are very small and you have to get up really really close to even see them. Anyways, my questions is, what does this mean? Is it normal? Do I have anything to worry about? Please, give me your opinions.
New Tank: LFS guys kind of scared me..................
- Thread starter AJimmy419
- Start date
- Location
- Franklin Square, NY
the start of something good..all good signs.
- Location
- Staten Island
These are probably stowaways from the live rocks. If you are raising corals, be sure that the starfishes are reef friendly or you will find out the hard way.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Right, your live rock is settling in.
Like it was said earlier, you have Copepods, Asterinia and Brittle Stars.
- Location
- Franklin Square, NY
New Tank: LFS guys kind of scared me. They recommended turbo snails. Thoughts.
Hey guys. I have a new tank with the live rock, water, and sand, from the previous owner. I wanted to buy the clean up crew, and the LFS guys recommended getting the Turbo Snails. I got 15 of them at a $1.50 a pop. Now everything i read about the "clean up crew" said if you are going to buy snails, get the these other 2 kinds. Like the nassarius and asterea (not sure if i spelled those right). Just wondering if these were okay snails for my 34 gallon Red Sea Max. Remember that these were the first things I put into my tank. Thoughts anybody? Oh yeah, is there a specific way I should be putting these Turbo Snails into my tank?
Hey guys. I have a new tank with the live rock, water, and sand, from the previous owner. I wanted to buy the clean up crew, and the LFS guys recommended getting the Turbo Snails. I got 15 of them at a $1.50 a pop. Now everything i read about the "clean up crew" said if you are going to buy snails, get the these other 2 kinds. Like the nassarius and asterea (not sure if i spelled those right). Just wondering if these were okay snails for my 34 gallon Red Sea Max. Remember that these were the first things I put into my tank. Thoughts anybody? Oh yeah, is there a specific way I should be putting these Turbo Snails into my tank?
What to add first, "clean up crew" or coral? LFS guys said to add coral first.
I went to the local fish store and they told me different advice from what I've read on the web. The LFS guys said to get about 5-6 piece of coral for my 34 gallon Red Sea Max and then start adding the "cleanup crew guys" because he said that there isn't any food for the "cleanup crew". I'm not sure he realized that this tank had already been running for 7 months with the previous owner, and I just transfered it over to my house. He only left me with his water, live rock and sand. But I'm not sure if that matters. Maybe he knows what he's talking about. So, question is, do you agree with his advice or not?
I went to the local fish store and they told me different advice from what I've read on the web. The LFS guys said to get about 5-6 piece of coral for my 34 gallon Red Sea Max and then start adding the "cleanup crew guys" because he said that there isn't any food for the "cleanup crew". I'm not sure he realized that this tank had already been running for 7 months with the previous owner, and I just transfered it over to my house. He only left me with his water, live rock and sand. But I'm not sure if that matters. Maybe he knows what he's talking about. So, question is, do you agree with his advice or not?
Are hyrdometers junk when testing your water? LFS guys told me so. Opinions?
The LFS guys told me that the hydrometers are junk and they don't really work. Is that true? He showed me this long glass rod that he says is perfect. But its like $75 and I don't really want to spend the money on that. Thoughts?
The LFS guys told me that the hydrometers are junk and they don't really work. Is that true? He showed me this long glass rod that he says is perfect. But its like $75 and I don't really want to spend the money on that. Thoughts?
- Location
- Wheatley Heights, NY (long island)
+1
- Location
- Garden city
I just drop them in ! Never had a problem
Sent from my iPhone using Reefs
Sent from my iPhone using Reefs
- Location
- Brooklyn
You can search for threads on this topic and the others. They are pretty common questions.
and yes, they are crap. get a refractometer.
and yes, they are crap. get a refractometer.
- Location
- Yonkers, NY
Well, that probably was a refractometer they had shown you. I personally use DEEP SIX hydrometer. It is pretty good IMO, but not as good as refractometer.
By all means avoid BioCube Nano Reef Oceanic Bio Cube MINI HYDROMETER - it does not work well!
By all means avoid BioCube Nano Reef Oceanic Bio Cube MINI HYDROMETER - it does not work well!
- Location
- Flushing, NY
Mexcan turbo snails are fine, they're just a little bulky and may knock things over. Astrea snails eat the same thing (thin film algae on the glass and rocks) but are smaller. nassarius snails will eat leftover foods and don't really touch algae
- Location
- Brooklyn
I suggest going to fishtown or some other place and getting a 'clean-up-crew' package. It's a diverse assortment of snails and hermit crabs. If you have live rock, they will have plenty to eat in the interim before you buy fish.
Id personally avoid Emerald crabs. but thats me.
Id personally avoid Emerald crabs. but thats me.
- Location
- Flushing, NY
What you want is a refractometer. They're available for like $20-40 usually.
Here's one from a vendor of ours
http://saltwatercritters.com/refractometers?b=1
Here's one from a vendor of ours
http://saltwatercritters.com/refractometers?b=1
- Location
- East Stroudsburg, PA
I wouldnt say hydros are crap just not as easy to use or as accurate as a refracto can be on the first shot. If using a hydrometer just be diligent with making sure there are no bubbles on the arm-- that will throw off your reading. Refractometers are great but hydrometers are ok too.
Just a note on the positives of a hydrometer. They dont need to be recalibrated like refractometers need to be every so often.
LFS will also do anything they can to make money off of you.
Just a note on the positives of a hydrometer. They dont need to be recalibrated like refractometers need to be every so often.
LFS will also do anything they can to make money off of you.
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
