[reefman23]

I really would not get so wrapped up in the exact pH and all of that. I can honestly say that I dont know exactly what my pH is. I use dipstick-style 5-in-1 test strips and I check just to make sure that everything is in the proper range... that is it. You arent trying to keep unforgiving SPS species or anything like that so it really isnt rnecessary to nail the pH to any particular number. Also, remember that all of the parameters that we follow with reef tanks are ranges, a range of 400-450ppm Ca+, a range of 8.0-8.4 pH, a range of 7-11 dkh for alkalinity, a range of 1.023-1.027 SG, a range of 1250-1350 ppm for Mg, a range of 77*-82*F for temperature... none of these are an exact number. Also, most dont HAVE to be tested on a very regular basis unless you are keeping SPS and clams that are demanding Ca+ users and thus you need to monitor the Ca+ and Mg levels.

I also wouldnt suggest all of these water changes while the tank is so new. You're tank will find it's own equilibrium with time.

BTW, that green leaf is most likely a macroalgae and are usually beneficial.

Anyways, I hope that helps.

Jesse

[Fishy]

Thanks. I wouldn't have gotten so wrapped up in the details except so many animals have died. People suggested it was the water chemistry so I was trying to figure out why. I think I will go back to weekly water changes instead of twice a week since it takes 2 hours to make RO water and another hour to make the saltwater the next day and then half an hour of more work; I'm low on time. I plan to go back to Mr. Coral on 6/16/08, and I just dread having a third batch of snails and a second batch of corals die. If the snails die this time, I'll have to give up on them. But, the algae is having a field day!

Also, how do you guys affix corals to the live rock? My live rock is full of hair algae now. Should I toothbrush off a section and then use the reef epoxy? I also got some reef glue but it says you have to use it out of water which doesn't work for me. I used the reef epoxy for my first two corals, and two of them just came off (luckily the dead ones anyway). The epoxy doesn't really stay put!

[TimSchmidt]

Generally they should get enough from the water column. If you "feed the tank" you should be fine. Turn off any skimmers and almost if not all power-heads and feed the tank. Wait 5 or 10 minutes and then turn everything back on. They should make sure it eats. Just don't over do it as uneaten food will just cause more water quality issues. Go with which ever testing method you prefer. if you get live stock from generally one store I'd take some of your water and ask them to test it. Only reason being is if they are happy with it, then the live stock you get from that store should be ok as your water is similar to their water. Just make sure you put a powerhead and the top of the water is agitated for a while (10 minutes or so) before testing. Honestly I would just do 1 gallon or so water changes at a time in your case and for the make up water I would just use one type of salt and nothing else. Mix it in a bucket with a power-head and a heater. When it's mixed up and the specific gravity and temp match your tank I would then use it. Keep that up for a month or so.

I say that only because all aquariums are ever so slightly different. I have my temps a bit lower than others. 76.7 degrees fahrenheit while others swear by 78.5. Constancy is key in your aquarium, keep your parameters stable and you will be amazed at how it will take care of its self.

[Ritsuko N]

[Fishy]

I've been using RO water the last few weeks and put in phosphate remover so the phosphate is now low. My test kit won't measure lower levels accurately though (I guess I need a different one). I'm not reading any nitrate. All the snails have been removed or rotted. There is some hair algae but I wouldn't say it's a ton. It is starting to grow over one end of the zooathid colony so I guess I should try to pluck it.

[TimSchmidt]

Well all seems to be going well now. You may want to try one turbo...just to get the hair algae in check. Besides, since it's so big you should be able to catch it when you don't need him anymore.

[Fishy]

Well, I have great news and not-so-great news.

First, for the not-so-great news. I have two surviving corals. The zooanthids are doing pretty good although it looks like the ones closest to the light may be dying while the ones hanging over are more open. My starburst polyps were/are my pride and joy, fully open, very happy. But, when I came home yesterday, they had fallen off the live rock and landed on their soft parts on the substrate. The purple reef epoxy came un-stuck. I kneeded up some new. It was sticky while dry but once I put it in to the tank to try to stick the corals back up, it really doesn't stick. I toothbrushed off where I was sticking it and tried to get the coral to stay but it kept coming off. I'm afraid I touched the tender parts of the coral trying to get it on there. There's now so much epoxy that it's gaudy but I have it wrapped around the rock the polyps are on so hopefully it won't come off again. The epoxy is still holding on the zooathids but the other two corals' (the ones that died) epoxy never stuck. I bought some reef glue but after I got it, I read it can only be used to set out of water for sticking coral to little things out of the water. About half the polyps opened this morning but only partially.

What in the world do you guys use in the water to stick the rock or whatever the coral is on on to your live rock? The epoxy is just not working. I want to stick some mushrooms and zooathids on parts of the live rock that aren't flat so it really has to stick. The flat are on top would be great but apparently the lighting is just too strong for any corals (yet, I was told they needed the strong light). Thank you so much for any help!

The good news - the third time's the charm with the snails. I went to a different store and got one huge cerith snail, two margaritas, and two nassarius snails. Unlike the last two batches of snails, these guys were very active in the bag. I went back to work with them and brought them inside (120 degrees F in the car!). That store guy said all he ever does is float and dump, and I should do that! I decided not to. I floated for about 30 min while doing other animal/fish chores, then drip acclimated for an hour, then re-floated in ziploc bags for 20 minutes. This time, I checked the salinity, pH, and temperature of the snail's water versus tank water. When I started, my tank pH was 8.02 but the water in the bags was pH 7.93 in one and pH 7.90 in the other! So much for store water being the perfect 8.2! It was too low! The salinity in my tank was 1.024. The two bags of snails were 1.026 and 1.0245. One was pretty high! After drip acclimation, the snails were at pH 7.96. I had to do a water change to allow for the drip so I made 2.5 gallons of new saltwater at a pH of 8.16 and 1.024 SG. I lifted the snails out in to the tank. They moved right away! For the first time, I had moving snails in my tank! The margaritas and huge cerith are very slow. The nassarius, or one of them anyway, thinks he is speed racer! His foot is four times the surface area of his shell. I had no idea they were that fast! He's been in the sand with snorkel up, sliding down the glass like an amusement ride, and driving around. So, I think my previous snails died from acclimation problems (changes) and not from the tank itself.

Anyway, now that I've got that down, how many snails should I have in the end? The tank claims to be 12 gallons but it's really about 8 gallons in the tank and 1 gallon in the filter. I have five snails. Should I get a few more? Which kinds? This new store guy said bumble bee snails eat corals, and yet the coral store guy sold me one last time (one of my victims).

I know you're all very busy but I really would appreciate any help. I asked if a firefish would eat the little tiny feather duster worm I have in the fish section a few days ago and got no response. Thanks.

[Ritsuko N]

How many snails should you have?


Enough to keep one step ahead of algae on the glass and the rocks and anything else. I suggest adding one every week or so until you no longer have algae issues and any that you do have can easily be remedied with glass cleaning magnets. I usually like to do about a snail per 1-2 gallons depending on the snails. Obviously 12 Turbo Snails in a 12 gallon tank is insaine. But a couple of cerith, a couple of Nasssarious, a couple of Margarita snails and a half dozen Astreas shouldnt be too terribly much. I like diversity too as some snails work on glass better than other and some are better at keep the sand bed stirred and tidy. Bumble Bee snails have mixed reviews. I have had them in a tank before and found them to be exceptable although they seem to be primarily nocturnal type snails. FWIT...they were in a 135 gallon SPS/Clam tank, so...YMMV.

I would wait a couple of weeks minimum before adding another fish to the tank if I added any more at all. If you do add another one then I think a Firefish would be an excellent choice for such a small tank. No there should be no issues with it eating feather dusters, at least I have yet to hear of such an issue until reading this thread. This doenst mean Im correct though so I would do some serious research in the mean time and see what info you can scrounge up.

As for glue...I thought I already answered this but I guess I didnt. I use Sally Jo's Reef Glue Gel from www.garf.org. It cost a bit more than your typical run of the mill super glue gel at the grocery store but it works exceptionally well in my experence and I have used it to glue hundreds of coral frags over the last several years. If there is a better glue...Im all ears!!!

[TimSchmidt]

Congrats on the snails! I too have not heard of a firefish being problematic with feather dusters. But they do jump so make sure a lid is on. For epoxy I use "AquaStik" Stone Grey Epoxy Putty. "For Underwater Use". I wouldn't get the bumble bee snails. I have no personal experience but I have read too many posts about them being problematic for me to have any in my tank, especially when there are so many great snails out there.