JayRandall
03-25-2014, 08:56 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm Jay. I bought a 90 gallon tank setup off craigslist about 10 days ago. It was set up with 2 CPR bak pak 2r+ skimmers, a fluval 405, a power head and water pump, and thermometer, and an 8 bulb t5ho Current USA lighting system.
Inside the tank was maybe 50 lbs of sand(not sure if it's LIVE sand, or just aquarium sand), and around 40ish lbs of live rock. For livestock it had a snowflake eel, scopas tang, three stripe damsel, pj cardinal, a lemon peel angel, and a bunch of striped mushroom coral, a bunch of hairy mushroom coral, some generic looking purple zoas, and a pencil urchin. Everything cost $100, but the tank looked so neglected and dirty that there was a ton of work ahead for me.
The eel was first to go. Didn't fit my long term plan and it was too difficult to catch in the first place to put it in again. The PJ Cardinal didn't survive assuming due to the shock of the move. I didn't hook the fluval back up since I know they are a nitrite(nitrate? Can never remember which) factory for saltwater tanks.
One of the first things I bought were some nerite snails, 10 to be exact. I wanted nassarius, but fountains in la mesa was out when I went. I think I need about 20-30 more snails to keep up with the film algae build up.
I noticed my scopas tang has some significant dorsal and pectoral(bottom right?) fin damage presumably from the eel.
Next thing I bought were a couple chocolate chip starfish then some clove and brain coral the same day. Got home, got everything acclimated, then later that night realized that the chocolate chip starfish are carnivorous. Fortunately the place I bought them let me return them the next day.
Just today, I got a small zoa frag and a small frag of Red Sea xenia. The lemonpeel angel is on it's way out the door tomorrow because it's picking on some of my new coral.
I really want a rbta and a pair of clownfish, but I'm concerns about the anemone's compatibility in my tank. At some point, I'd like to add a yellow watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. Before adding more fish though, id like to double how much LR I have.
The last 10 days has been a crash course so far in saltwater tanks, but overall it's been going well. I'm also considering a yellow tang, but I'm concerned about aggression with my current scopas tang.
I haven't tested my water parameters yet, but it is very high on my to do list. I've been getting my water from scripps which I know isn't perfect.
So that's my tank, about me. I'm a married father of 3, ages 3, 2, and 1 with a fourth on the way. Two girls, one boy. I'm a phlebotomist, my wife is a nursing assistant, my 2 daughters have cerebral palsy. Life for us is pretty busy, but I still find time for cooking and baking and being able to just relax and watch my tank.
I'm looking forward to getting more acquainted with these forums and expanding my reef keeping experience.
I'm Jay. I bought a 90 gallon tank setup off craigslist about 10 days ago. It was set up with 2 CPR bak pak 2r+ skimmers, a fluval 405, a power head and water pump, and thermometer, and an 8 bulb t5ho Current USA lighting system.
Inside the tank was maybe 50 lbs of sand(not sure if it's LIVE sand, or just aquarium sand), and around 40ish lbs of live rock. For livestock it had a snowflake eel, scopas tang, three stripe damsel, pj cardinal, a lemon peel angel, and a bunch of striped mushroom coral, a bunch of hairy mushroom coral, some generic looking purple zoas, and a pencil urchin. Everything cost $100, but the tank looked so neglected and dirty that there was a ton of work ahead for me.
The eel was first to go. Didn't fit my long term plan and it was too difficult to catch in the first place to put it in again. The PJ Cardinal didn't survive assuming due to the shock of the move. I didn't hook the fluval back up since I know they are a nitrite(nitrate? Can never remember which) factory for saltwater tanks.
One of the first things I bought were some nerite snails, 10 to be exact. I wanted nassarius, but fountains in la mesa was out when I went. I think I need about 20-30 more snails to keep up with the film algae build up.
I noticed my scopas tang has some significant dorsal and pectoral(bottom right?) fin damage presumably from the eel.
Next thing I bought were a couple chocolate chip starfish then some clove and brain coral the same day. Got home, got everything acclimated, then later that night realized that the chocolate chip starfish are carnivorous. Fortunately the place I bought them let me return them the next day.
Just today, I got a small zoa frag and a small frag of Red Sea xenia. The lemonpeel angel is on it's way out the door tomorrow because it's picking on some of my new coral.
I really want a rbta and a pair of clownfish, but I'm concerns about the anemone's compatibility in my tank. At some point, I'd like to add a yellow watchman goby and a pistol shrimp. Before adding more fish though, id like to double how much LR I have.
The last 10 days has been a crash course so far in saltwater tanks, but overall it's been going well. I'm also considering a yellow tang, but I'm concerned about aggression with my current scopas tang.
I haven't tested my water parameters yet, but it is very high on my to do list. I've been getting my water from scripps which I know isn't perfect.
So that's my tank, about me. I'm a married father of 3, ages 3, 2, and 1 with a fourth on the way. Two girls, one boy. I'm a phlebotomist, my wife is a nursing assistant, my 2 daughters have cerebral palsy. Life for us is pretty busy, but I still find time for cooking and baking and being able to just relax and watch my tank.
I'm looking forward to getting more acquainted with these forums and expanding my reef keeping experience.