Still Learning! (New Questions!)

[Iconz]

Alright gang, I've got a few more "newbie" questions for you all... Sorry ahead of time for this being kinda long.


LR:

- If you buy "cured" LR, do you still need to preclean it and run it through a curing process?

- Can you cycle your tank just by inserting LR or LS (or both) into it?

Water:

- After preparing your SW, is there a waiting period on it before it can be put into the tank?

- When you top off your tank, should it be topped with SW or will fresh RO/DI water do fine?

SPS corals:

- With my tank being 16" deep, and me using 4x24 T5 Lighting, can I keep SPS?

- Do they need to be kept near the top or will it matter?

Fish:

- It looks like I'll be getting a pair of False Percula Clowns. I also understand that Anemones are difficut animals to keep. So, what would be a good coral for this type of clown to host in? I've got the charts of which Anemones they'll host in, but not other corals. What would work here that wouldn't be terribly hard to keep (since I'm a newb). I've heard hammerheads or torchs...

- What other fish would do well in my tank?
- Could I keep more than 1 pair of Clowns?

Introduction order:

- Once my tank has cycled and I have it aquascaped, do I begin by introducing corals first or fish first?

Feeding:

- Is there a good food chart somewhere as to which fish/corals eat what?
- Do you all have a recommendation on a site where I can read to figure out what to feed and how for each animal?


THANKS A TON for taking the time. I know I'm asking alot, but I have spent 6 hours today researching on most of these questions, and I find it best to get a more specific answer for my question(s). And BTW, don't feel obligated to answer any or all of these. I don't wanna take up tons of your all's time! I know everyone here is busy!

Thanks!
-JD

[RHAPALA]

dang he has asked many of the same questions i was wondering

[graphixx]

allright lets take these one at a time:
LR: if its cured you do not need to go through the curing process again. And cyclilng you can put your sand in there you dont have to buy live sand. if you can get a couple of cupfulls of sand from and allready established tank and put in your tank that will do. and you can drop a piece of cocktail shrimp in the tank and that will help kick it off.
Preparing SW, you want to make sure that it is completely mixed. most people stick a powerhead int he bucket for a bit to make sure its mixed and then add it to the tank. you want to make sure the salinity is the same and the temp is pretty close too. And adding top off you DONOT want to add saltwater. when water evaporates the salt does not. just top off with RODI water.
and with sps corals yes you can keep them with t5's. some may have to go to the top and some can go mid range. just make sure if they are highlight or med light sps.
As for an anenome, you can keep an anenome with your lights. but you want to make sure your tank is stable. anenome's require very good water quality. as long as you have good light and good water you can keep an anenome. and I would not mix clown species they are very aggressive towards diff species.
you could add like a 6line wrasse or a lawnmowerblenny but keep the fish small, look into diff gobies like watchman or panda gobies.
and in the cycle process you can add a clown, they are a very hardy fish and work great for cycling a tank. when your parameters level out and the tank stabilized you can start to add stock. it really doesnt matter what you add but dont add too much at o ne time you want to do this gradual so the tank does not overload and crash. and as for feeding fish and corals you can go to like foster n smith or marine depot live and most of their items have feeding instruction on the specific critter. I hope I got all your ?'s answered.
GREG

[carpenterwrasse]

Alright I'll tell you how I did it right or wrong someone can correct me....

When I bought lr I rinsed it with some sw I had extra just to rewet it from the trip nothing major.....If your putting lr and ls from an astablished tank it will cut your cycle time down but you still need to watch it.....

Yes wait about 48 hours before you add sw to your tank to give it time to mix well....A combination of sw and ro/di water I do a little of both you just need to watch your salinity....

lights and corals you need one of the more experinced guys to answer you there.....

fish...I was told that more than 1 pair can be kept in a large enough tank..I was also told that more than 1 maroon clown is difficult...I have 2 maroon clowns in a 75 with no problems...they were put in at the same time so they came in together...The one clown likes my xenya and the other hangs out in my poylps...I have tried several different anemones with little luck...
I don't think it really matters which one goes in first.

George

[graphixx]

**** also there is noooo such thing as a dumb question. That is why we are all here ...... to learn from another and enjoy this hobby. And its no burden at all. Me personally, I am more than happy to help you guys anyway I can. I have allready been on the phone with 2 other members of the forum helping them. You guys have my # USE IT if you need help. :D

[carpenterwrasse]

I don't have it I mustn't be one of the lucky ones

[graphixx]

GEORGE!!!!!! You do too!!!!! I gave it to you like a week ago!!!!

[lReef lKeeper]

all questions were answered so i will just tell you what my clowns hosted in before i got the anemonies. they stayed in a XL toadsrool leather, and a colony of anthelia (clove polyps).

[graphixx]

yeah clowns arent really too picky in what they host in. I have had them host in xenia, torch coral, hammer coral, giant frilly shrooms. But it truly is amazing to watch them interact with an anenome!!!!

[lReef lKeeper]

oh yeah, and they hosted in my frilly mushrooms too

[Sweetpea]

I did it again... spent so much time typing that everyone has beat me to the punch! Plus, when I clicked submit, I had been bumped off and had to log in again! :(

I will reiterate the point that we are all happy to answer questions and help out!!! :)

[Iconz]

Thank you guys so much for aiding as my crutch in this introductory phase! Its amazing how friendly you guys really are!

-JD

[graphixx]

JD, that is no problem buddy that is why we are all here. Your at the funnest part in your reefing career!!!! I love helping new guys and watching how their tanks turn out. Its awesome!!!!!

[lReef lKeeper]

BTW ... i just thought that this should be mentioned.

if you purchase captive breed perculas ... it may take them no time to host, but it may also take them years to host. thee reason for this is that in a captive raised clownfish ... they have no need to host and have no idea that they are suppose to because they have been raised in a controled enviornment. in the wild ... hosting is a neccesity for thier survival.
i think that clownfish are the ONLY fish species that i would WANT to buy a wild caught speciman (because of thier natural hosting (sybiotic) relationship with anemonies).
Greg, i am with you on that last post of yours. i haven't been into it as long as you have, but it great helping out and seeing others tanks grow because of collective advise that you were a part of. its great !!

[hummer]

this is a great thread i saved it to my favs. im one of the new comers greg been talking to . thanks again all of you you chated, and posted,and talked to me in person. all the thanks in the world aint enough:):):)p.s CR rocks