Slowly starting a salty tank

[Andrew_B]

Finally got my tiny float valve in from ebay. Rigged up a gravity feed ATO and I know now exactly what Thai was talking about that ATO is more important than a skimmer. Those 8-10 coffee mugs full of RO water daily would get a pita after a while.

Pic of the float valve in the sump


The water container. Its about 15L, so... roughly 3.5gal? On the far side is the nozzle near the bottom to the float valve, and on the front is a nozzle high up that I will hook up straight to the RO unit to refill it.

[Andrew_B]

Still cycling - keeping lights off as I started getting algae.

I have some pests too it seems. Some small Aiptasia I think, no bigger than a dime. Then I have some thing living in a porus rock and legs are moving in and out of random holes. The legs have the exact same pattern as this, but I have yet to see the whole body. http://www.mundofractal.net/wp-conte...11/12/ofi1.jpg Should I start getting rid of them now, or wait until cycling is finished? Best ways to do so?

[mgarrido]

Not a pest, it is mini brittle stars, they are part of the good cuc.

[Darbex]

Leave the brittle and take out the rock and nuke it. Check out KGKs tank on Marsh when you let aiptasia go uncontrolled.

[mgarrido]

Leave the brittle and take out the rock and nuke it. Check out KGKs tank on Marsh when you let aiptasia go uncontrolled.

I'm sure is not aiptisia, it should be another brittle star. Andrew's LR came from one of my display tanks with zero aiptasia.

[Darbex]

Oh well snap a pic of the aiptasia Andrew. If it isnt then disregard what I posted.

[eklikewhoa]

you have offended miggy, darby.

[mgarrido]

you have offended miggy, darby.

lol ... Nah... just don't want to see Andrew killing good stuff

[eklikewhoa]

where's the fun in that?

[Darbex]

Yeah I had no idea where he got it from and he said it was aiptasia.

[Andrew_B]

Sorry just got home from work - I'll try taking a pic of them

[myjohnson]

Lol, yeah ATO is a must. I don't think I can keep a reef tank if it wasn't automated. Put food and liglass on a timer and all you have to do is water change and clean the front glass once a week.

You can spend the rest of your time enjoying the reef. :)

[Darbex]

Yeah I wish I had a little frige that can keep cold items and dispenses them at set times. I dont feed pellets really. I feed Mysis, Pods, and Rods food.

[Andrew_B]

It's hard to tell. I can't get a good picture of them. They go back into their little pods every time I turn the light on. They're a light tan/purplish color with probably a dozen "arms". Some have little white tips and others are more feathery arms. Sucks being ignorant in the area, hard to explain, hah.

[eklikewhoa]

tube worms... feathers