It's been running since the 10th, so 9 days today. Perameters today are..
Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0
Ammonia-0
Ph-7.9-8.0
Gravity is still a little high @ 1.023
Temp is maybe a little high @ 80.2 to 80.6
I am still working out stocking plans, so far I have Blue Damsel, turbo snail, two red legged hermits, and a cleaner shrimp. Shrimp molted the other day too....I was surprised about that. Oh and 5 or 6 micro starfish.
My live rock has some mushrooms, and various hitch hikers.
Let me know what you guys think.........What kind of semi low maint corals should I keep???
This is my first saltwater adventure.....I think I'm doin pretty good..





My allusive feather duster hitch hiker....dissapears any time I come close to the tank..lol

SG is fine at 1.023 and could go better with 1.024. Your temp wouldnt hurt anything where its at if it stays constant. 10 days enough for your cycle?

Low maint corals would be zoanthids, mushrooms, xenia, kenya tree coral, torch/hammer/frogspawn... just my opinion though

I would suggest reading the link I left for you, it will help with a lot of common questions and events youll have in your tank.
Read This

If your tank has not had a cycle yet then Id be worried about the cleaner shrimp. It may not make it through the cycle.

However on a positive note, your rock work looks really good. And once your tank is cycled you can add zoas and other soft corals to your tank slowly.

Probly not..my local expert who gave me the live rock says go for it and stock it. But I'm leary, he says with live sand/rock there won't be much of a cycle.
I'm going to let it mature before I get any $$ invested in livestock.

I would wait a good month, its probably best to take the fish and shrimp back well definitely the shrimp. Once you get a diatom bloom then you can start adding your clean up crew.

+1... take most stuff said from the LFS with a grain of salt. Don't just throw stuff in there. Give your tank time to get started. Patience is key with this hobby.

[quote name='treygarz' date='Oct 20 2009, 09:31 PM' post='2486615']
Patience is key with this hobby.
[/quoted]
I realize that. But I have given myself a head start by using established, cured live and active rock. And live sand.....and RO/DI water.
Going on 22 days now, and all tests are good... But I am giving it more time before I invest alot of $$$$ in coral, ect.

You should increase your salinity to 1.024-1.025 for corals especially if you are going to get something like a hammer or frogspawn.

Also I noticed that you put your heater in the display part and not in the rear chambers, how come? You should put in the third chamber with the return pump so you can have more room in the display.

It Is now.

We saw a little red bristol worm in my rock....

my tank cycled for like 1week and a half or so. i use cured live rock and bag live sand. its still better to probably return the cleaner shrimp. i put a damsel on mine also the next day. and it made it tru the whole cycle.

that puppy is well on its way!

Well, I have kept the shrimp in the tank..........I know, I know. But he runs around the tank, happy and healthy. He does this little dance and get's super excited when I feed the Damsel. He will pick up the food that makes it to the sand. I think he will be allright.
Plus there was plenty for him to clean off the rock......as it came from an established tank.......I mean years of establishement.

Micro star fish.....I got 4 when I grabbed my rock......now there are probably 10 or so..

Keep an eye on your cycle parameters, if your ammonia or nitrites rise, your shrimp probably won't like it, the damsel may not either, but those are tough little buggers.

I check it every other day. Have since I started it. It's been perfect so far.
What would you feed a Lawnmower Blenny???

Algea. I believe they really like hair algae. I also believe they get a bit too big and a little rowdy, especially for a nano from what I've read. No personal experience, so take that part with a grain of salt.

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.

I just now read on liveaquaria.com (some advice there should be taken with a grain of salt, some, the whole shaker), 5" in length, and have been known to "nip" at corals and clam mantles. Also a big no-no with conspecifics.

Also keep an eye on those starfish. Asterina I think, check the library, it says they may eat corals.

That would be an issue....I'm adding zoas soon........

So little update on this thread....tank is doing great! KKnock on wood... The shrimp has molted twice since I've put him in the tank. I've added GSP.....Nuclear green zoa's, bam bams didn't survive the trip.. Thanks to my wife. Long story. My mushrooms that were on the rock are going like crazy, perams are great. And I just added a super hot couple!!
This is Salt & Pepper.

Nice pair! good luck on the tank

nice rock scape, i like the cave like structure! rock looks great, nice branched pieces with coralline. nice fish as well. i wish i got black clowns instead of orange ones... o well... anyway, i got the same tank as you. i started it back in april, so i can help you along the process. there are a few suggestions i can make. once you get more corals, ur gonna need more flow, so i suggest adding either another hydor koralia nano, or a 1. also there are a few, easy things you could do to improve filtration as well

I have the Koralia 1on the intake side, so flow and movement is great. My GSP loves it. I did just order the InTank media basket. I will run Purigen and Cheato, also got a submersable led for the cheato. Don't think I will need my skimmer anymore.
I think I'm going to up grade my pump though..... I'll update with some pics too, my nuclear green zoo's have already added another polup..

nice, i got the cheato in the sump too, along with some LR. took out bio balls and ceramic rings as well

Nuclear green zoos.......

Reverse sunset monti.......

GSP........

My female clown..... So the tanks doing great!!!

hows the reverse sunset doing under your lights? i got some monti, theyre growing, but now as vivid

It's doing great. Growing well, I have him high in the tank too.