Getting reef tank ready for fish- mandarin, flatworms, and other questions

[scubagirl12]

Hey guys, I just want to get some feedback on my 12g tank and get it in tip top shape for a possible fish or two in the next couple of months.

Currents Stats:
pH 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Alkalinity 3.75 mEq/L
Temp 75

Current Livestock:
Serpent star
Peppermint Shrimp
6 red legged hermits
2 astrea snails

Current Coral:
Fox coral
Xenia
Kenya Tree
Zoos
Platygyra brain
Floridia Ricordia
Red Mushrooms
Blasto merletti



QUESTION #1
I add trace elements once a week and am planning on buying some coral food this week. What do you recommend? Marine snow, cyclopeeze? I want something all around good for everything I have.

QUESTION #2
I also recently have had an outbreak of rust colored flatworms. I have increased the circulation in the tank. I have also given some of the smaller pieces of rock a freshwater dip in which the flatworms fell right off! BUT how will corals feel about a freshwater dip? Any other ideas of how to get rid of them?

QUESTION #3
I want a mandarin fish. I would prefer to buy one from another hobbyist who has trained it to eat other foods such as mysis. But can I not just keep the supply of pods up by buying them bottled or cultivating them myself outside of the tank? What else should I be concerned about? If you feel negative about my keeping a mandarin, what would you recommend?

QUESTION #4
I am about to move my tank. I have moved it before and am not too worried about my livestock. But now my tank is more mature and there are tons of feather dusters in the sand bed and coraline algae on the acrylic. I was planning on leaving a few inches of water. Will the algae and feather dusters die? What should I do about them? The move will take a few hours.

Thanks!

 

[cameron]

#1 - You don't need trace elements. Many of us run just fine without them.

#2 - Salifert Flatworm Exit will do the trick and you won't have to move a thing. Just be prepared for a few water changes. You could also try a Sixline Wrasse for a more natural approach.

#3 - Mandarine in a 12g isn't a very good idea. You really should have a fuge, but if you can get one to eat frozen mysis PE Mysis that a few fish stores carry is good stuff with a high protein percentage. You can try a little Seachem Entice to help hiim out. Personally, I would go with a nano fish such as a firefish rather than a mandarin as they are very hard to keep alive without a good fuge.

#4 - You will probably be fine if you can find something to keep the water moving on top such as a battery operated air pump and do your best to keep the water warm.

 

[dakota9]

#1 Do water changes instead of additives. 20% every two weeks will do much more than additves in such a small system

#2 Leave the worms unless they are visiually on EVERYTHING. If they are overtaking the tank, cut back on feeding. Theres a reason if they are disporprotionately too many.

#3 Skip the madrine please. Consider a blenny or goby instead

#4 Hope for the best. Your inhabitants are pretty forgiving. The featherdusters will survive for the most part.

 

[scubagirl12]

Thank you all for the advice.
You all have very positive remarks about the Flatworm Exit. Dakota, I don't feed much since I don't have a lot of livestock. But I have read that after all the flatworms die, they can release toxins. Do you try to scoop up the dead? And yes they are almost everywhere... thousands in a 12g tank.

 

[victor626nj]

What You Might Want To Do Is Get A Cheap 10 Gal Stick All The Corals In There After You Did And Then Nuk The Tank Being Its So Small And You Having So Many Flat Worms It Might Turn Out Bad But Thats Jmho

 

[scubagirl12]

I may do that Victor, thanks.

As far a possible future fish, here is what I like and I think they would be compatible with everything based on what I have read.

Ocellaris clown
Citrinus clown goby
Firefish or purple firefish
Yellohead jawfish

I think I would only get two. Would you agree that three would be pushing the bio load? Any of the above favored or other suggestions?

 

[lorenk]

I have a yellow clown goby and he is one of the family's favorite in my nano.

Can't go wrong with the clown. Two are nice to watch together.

 

[victor626nj]

i wouldnt get a fire fish they are jumpers but if you do they are nice to look at i like yellow watchman gobies

 

[cameron]

Scubagirl12;109233 wrote: Thank you all for the advice.
You all have very positive remarks about the Flatworm Exit. Dakota, I don't feed much since I don't have a lot of livestock. But I have read that after all the flatworms die, they can release toxins. Do you try to scoop up the dead? And yes they are almost everywhere... thousands in a 12g tank.

You can suck them out with a turkey baster in such a small aquarium. I would probably do it just before a water change so I could suck them up, squirt them into a bucket and continue until I knocked the population down a bit.

Vic man... you have a serious fear of fish jumping out of tanks. Many gobies are jumpers so you can seal up the top of your tank if you like.