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Innovative Marine Aquariums

Greetings, and random questions.


PaulBuxton

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Howdy fellow fishy folk!

 

I am just about to start my first ever marine tank (have kept freshwater on and off since childhood).

Due to space concerns and limiting the amount of water I have to buy (fitting RO filter not practical where I am) I am starting a 30 litre (8G) setup using a TMC 30l All in One tank.

 

Looking at it online it seemed to be a reasonable starter tank, and when I went to my LFS they had one setup with a nice little reef, and it was £20 cheaper than I had seen it online, so I have ordered one and should pick it up Tuesday! May get a powerhead for it after it has been running for a bit.

 

The plan is mostly Coral and Critters, with the option of a fish or two later.

 

Trying to plan things, I am looking at

3-4 Turbos

1-2 Dwarf Blue legged Hermits

1 Blood Red Fire Shrimp

 

In terms of Corals I am looking at

Candy Cane Coral

Ricordead Mushroom

Fire and Ice Zoanthids

Not sure on numbers of these.

 

Does this sound a reasonable starting point? Too many snails?

 

With the hermits do you get a handful of random empty shells and drop them in the tank, or are you more selective about figuring out the correct size it will need next?

 

 

Never having worked with corals, how do you go about handling/placing them? Do you just place the rock they came on at a sensible location, or should I be attaching it to the live rock somehow?

Looking at information on corals, it seems like a lot of them can be a bit aggressive towards one another, but when I see amazing photos them seem to be in quite close proximity! Where is the best place for info on what corals coexist happily.

 

I will post progress photos as I set things up.

 

Thanks,

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Howdy fellow fishy folk!

 

Hi, welcome to Nano-Reef.com!

 

Too many snails?

 

I'd add a couple Nassarius Snails, only get one hermit crab, and replace the Turbo Snails with 3 Trochus Snails.

 

With the hermits do you get a handful of random empty shells and drop them in the tank, or are you more selective about figuring out the correct size it will need next?

I would selectively pick three or so extra shells that are roughly the same size and just larger than its current shell. If it can't find a suitable shell it might take a snail's shell.

 

Never having worked with corals, how do you go about handling/placing them? Do you just place the rock they came on at a sensible location, or should I be attaching it to the live rock somehow?

Just placing them on a rock usually suffices. However, Turbo Snails often knock them down (larger hermit crabs can also overturn smaller frags).

 

Looking at information on corals, it seems like a lot of them can be a bit aggressive towards one another, but when I see amazing photos them seem to be in quite close proximity!

Some corals are more aggressive than others. Even if the corals aren't that aggressive (like zoanthids), it's still good to give them some room to grow.
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Thanks,

 

The snail options look good, I am a little concerned about the hermit crabs attacking the snails, but hopfully a selection of reasonable sized shells will do the trick! Any idea how often they change shells?

 

Do the corals bond with the surrounding rock once they have grown a bit?

 

 

Got my tank setup last night :), just need to be patient and let it cycle.

 

Are there any parasites/critters on live rock that are undesirable that I should look out for while the tank is cycling?

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The snail options look good.

A couple of Cerith snails would also be good. Maybe two of each type of snail.

 

I am a little concerned about the hermit crabs attacking the snails, but hopfully a selection of reasonable sized shells will do the trick! Any idea how often they change shells?

Yeah, some people refuse to keep hermits. I tend to keep at least one around. They can change shells every night, or stay in the same shell through numerous molts.

 

Do the corals bond with the surrounding rock once they have grown a bit?

Most will eventually grow over the rock that they came on, and grow onto the live rock (making it look like they were always there). Mushroom anemones might move off their rock on their own.

 

Are there any parasites/critters on live rock that are undesirable that I should look out for while the tank is cycling?

Aiptasia (and other pest anemones), flatworms, hair algae, most hitchhiker crabs...
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Thanks,

Glad you mentioned Aiptasia, looks like it can be a real problem, there was something that looked a bit planty on one of the rocks, cant see it now though. I guess I will need to keep an eye out, and it it starts showing up then get hold of a Nudibranch.

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