Hello ya'll, back in college i had a 100 gallon and 150 gallon salt water, but that was years ago and in a college haze! I was lucky. knew nothing, hardly ever changed the water and didn't ever have a lose in 5 years till the great lionfish massacre in which 1 fish was left lying on the bottom of the tank with 6 fish in him, basically busting his gut and 1 tang half in half out fighting for its life! Well that was near the time i was moving across the country, so the survivors got donated back to local pet shop!
So now I have a 7 year old boy and want him to appreciate the mircale of a salt tank! 6 weeks old! Started with live sand and coral base! 25% live rock, and 75% non live to start! Somehow seemed to have cycled in about 2 1/2 weeks! All levels close to zero since them with 2 yellowtail damsels in since day 2(yes i know i need to trade at least 1 in, they're kinda aggressive) on week 4 i added a chromis, 4 turbo snails, 6 scarlet leg hermits, 2 emerald crabs, and a coral banded shrimp! 2 weeks later, no spikes in parameters and all seem happy! I plan on keeping it mostly a invertebrate tank with feather dusters and smaller fish, maybe 1 or 2 medium fish!
How long should i wait to safely get some bigger feahter dusters, urchins, conchs, etc! I know slow is best!
Thx for the advice!
ryan
PS! I own a home in tampa florida! What are thought about collecting some lil guys from sand bars down there and shipping them back up? Feasible, dangerous? How?
So now I have a 7 year old boy and want him to appreciate the mircale of a salt tank! 6 weeks old! Started with live sand and coral base! 25% live rock, and 75% non live to start! Somehow seemed to have cycled in about 2 1/2 weeks! All levels close to zero since them with 2 yellowtail damsels in since day 2(yes i know i need to trade at least 1 in, they're kinda aggressive) on week 4 i added a chromis, 4 turbo snails, 6 scarlet leg hermits, 2 emerald crabs, and a coral banded shrimp! 2 weeks later, no spikes in parameters and all seem happy! I plan on keeping it mostly a invertebrate tank with feather dusters and smaller fish, maybe 1 or 2 medium fish!
How long should i wait to safely get some bigger feahter dusters, urchins, conchs, etc! I know slow is best!
Thx for the advice!
ryan
PS! I own a home in tampa florida! What are thought about collecting some lil guys from sand bars down there and shipping them back up? Feasible, dangerous? How?
