More Questions

[ironman58]

Sorry to be such a newb, but I'm doing tons of research and reading-I found a great deal on a brand new 10-gallon hang-on refugium on the 'net and it's on it's way. It comes with free chaetomorpha. Now do I put sand in there and maybe a chunk of live rock? It has everything BUT the light and live sand or rock. I have an old 36" flourescent I may try to use with it, if I can make it fit somehow...

My tank's cycling quite nicely, My ammonia level's dropped to zero and my nitrate's are down to about .5-The Algae cleaned up nice with the mag-cleaner I got-Once I start adding corals, what happens after say a year? Do they grow to the point where I have to "prune" them or clip them somehow? I saw a webpage selling pruning equipment and stuff. If so, This is a LOT like gardening isn't it? What do I do with the "clippings"-I KNOW these are real newbie questions, but I help people with weightlifting and exercise questions and I'd rather somebody ask me something stupid than do something stupid and get hurt...

It seems like this is a bit overwhelming, all this info! It's a bit intimidating too. Unfortunately, I can't come to the meeting, but hope to get involved once I get more experience. Right now, I'm just reading, researching and reading some more....
Thanks y'all!!
Gary

 

[james s_]

Ironman58;118696 wrote: Sorry to be such a newb, but I'm doing tons of research and reading-I found a great deal on a brand new 10-gallon hang-on refugium on the 'net and it's on it's way. It comes with free chaetomorpha. Now do I put sand in there and maybe a chunk of live rock? It has everything BUT the light and live sand or rock. I have an old 36" flourescent I may try to use with it, if I can make it fit somehow...

Fill it with live rock rubble/pieces. I used one on my 46 bowfront tank for awhile. It was good for pod/amhipod population,increased water volume but that was about it. You can use a cheap clip on light for the Chaeto. Buy the lamp at Home depot for around $5-6.http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html">http://www.melevsreef.com/fuge_bulb.html</a>


[QUOTE=]My tank's cycling quite nicely, My ammonia level's dropped to zero and my nitrate's are down to about .5-The Algae cleaned up nice with the mag-cleaner I got-Once I start adding corals, what happens after say a year? Do they grow to the point where I have to "prune" them or clip them somehow? I saw a webpage selling pruning equipment and stuff. If so, This is a LOT like gardening isn't it? What do I do with the "clippings"-I KNOW these are real newbie questions, but I help people with weightlifting and exercise questions and I'd rather somebody ask me something stupid than do something stupid and get hurt...[/QUOTE]I would wait on buying a pruning kit. In the first year you are going to spend more time trying to get things to grow rather then worrying about pruning them. What sort of corals are you interested in getting?


[QUOTE=]It seems like this is a bit overwhelming, all this info! It's a bit intimidating too. Unfortunately, I can't come to the meeting, but hope to get involved once I get more experience. Right now, I'm just reading, researching and reading some more....
Thanks y'all!!
Gary[/QUOTE]Alot of Info for sure,just take your time,,and add livestock as slowly as you can. Keep your hands out of the tank as much as possible.Sounds like your starting in the right place.

 

[sweetpea]

Asking questions is the best thing you can do right now. Never feel bad about asking for second or even third opinions, either. Reefers pour their hearts and souls into their tanks, and no question is a stupid one as long as it's asked! Welcome to the obsession!

 

[cameron]

I would avoid the sand for now and stick with chaeto and rubble.

This hobby can have a steep learning curve and it never seems to end which is a good thing IMO. Just hang in there, go slow and buy the best equipment you can afford when it is time to upgrade. Patience pays as does reading the forums from time to time.

 

[ralph atl]

don't worry about missing a meeting, actually, when is it? ...........anyway.............your best bet is rubble rock (which is good porous live rock that has broken up into.....rubble!) & chaeto. The rubble rock will help give you more surface area for bacteria for nitrification and help with your pod population. The chaeto will help remove nitrates & phosphates & increase your pod population. Anyway, the game is back on............