Am I doing this right?

[lilreefgirl]

I need to know if I'm doing this right.
I still dont have my tank set up - the last steps are drilling the tank and building the stand.

I picked up about 50lb+ of LS, very live, very smelly.
I also picked up about 20lb of LR, also very live, very smelly.

I put 15lb of the LR and only about 5lb of the LS in my 10g (that already had 15lb of dry sand) with a koralia 1 and a heater. (I also added a cheap Top Fin HOB filter - not sure why, but I thought it might help) The tank has an incandescent light - should I leave it off?

I put the remaining 45lb+ of LS, 50lb of dry rock and about 5lbs of the LR in a large rubbermaid bin with a Koralia 3 & a heater. (seeding the dry while I am waiting to get the other things done with the DT)

I separated everything because it all wouldnt fit in the big rubbermaid container.
It smells like hell! (how long will it take for the smell to go away?)

Should I be doing anything with it? (it will probably sit for at least a few weeks before it can go into the tank)
The live rock also has things on it that I am worried might be soft corals - I dont have a proper light set up for the 10g. I do have a used Coralife 48" pc unit, but it would be pretty much overkill on the 10g!
There may also be some snails in there, I am not sure if they are live or dead, but they were buried in the LS - one was on top attached to a piece of rock, so that one appears to be alive. I put that one in the 10g.
Please let me know what you think I should do...thanks!

I have added some pics of both "set ups" so you know what I'm talking about.

 

[VAreef]

Usually the more smelly it is the more dead that is on it. That is good for a cycle. Not good for an established tank. I have had mushrooms etc live through a cycle. They don't need special light or anything either. If they live then they are fine.

 

[lilreefgirl]

Usually the more smelly it is the more dead that is on it. That is good for a cycle. Not good for an established tank. I have had mushrooms etc live through a cycle. They don't need special light or anything either. If they live then they are fine.

Is that what that thing is? :)

 

[VAreef]

that looks like either a shroom or a polyp. Either is pretty easy to keep and will most likely live through the cycle. If it has tons of little tenticles its a polyp. if its more smooth its a mushroom.

 

[Bifferwine]

It's definitely a mushroom. It may or may not survive the rocks curing. If it doesn't, no big deal. They are one of the most common corals in the hobby.

 

[lilreefgirl]

if its more smooth its a mushroom.

Definitely a mushroom then, it looks pretty smooth - no tentacles.

Any thoughts on what else I need to do? Should I be doing testing and water changes etc or just leave it alone?

 

[VAreef]

eh just leave it alone. It's hard to kill a mushroom. and grats on your first free coral.

 

[lilreefgirl]

Okay, tell me if I'm seeing things, but I think my latest hitchiker is a tiny little starfish. It is no more than 1/2 an inch wide, sitting on a bubble algae. Looks like it might be light in colour with a bit of brown on it, but too small to get a good picture of. Will the little guy survive?

 

[Bifferwine]

Probably. The little hitch hiker starfish are very common and very hardy.

 

[dcantucson]

The Starfish is probably a mini Brittle or more likely a Asterina starfish if it doesn't hide in the holes of the live rock.

 

[lilreefgirl]

That is so cool.
Can anyone give some advice or suggestions about the setup i've got happening?

 

[lilreefgirl]

The Starfish is probably a mini Brittle or more likely a Asterina starfish if it doesn't hide in the holes of the live rock.

Okay, I got a picture of the little guy:

I also tested the levels this morning (same levels in both tanks)

SpecGrav - 1.022
PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0

I am sure it is too early for stable reading.
Suggestions? Advice?

Thanks!! :)

 

[Bifferwine]

It can take a few days for ammonia to show up, if it shows up at all. I say to give it a week. If everything is still reading zero, then you should be good to go.

 

[lilreefgirl]

Thanks Biff,
I now have brown gunk (algae?) on the glass and along the top of the sand. Good/bad??
When I put this rock and sand into my display when it's ready, should I be rinsing it? It is very dirty!
Thanks!!

Oh, also wondering if I should set up my skimmer in the larger container, it might be difficult fitting it in, and honestly, I'm not 100% sure how to use it! ( bought it used )

 

[lilreefgirl]

Found 2 more starfish - that makes 3 so far. Im pretty sure they are Asterinas - good call dcantucson! :D

 

[VAreef]

I'd personally pull those startfish out. They can multiply like crazy. Rinsing the rock won't hurt at all. I usually shake mine off in a bucket of RO water to kinda clean it and hopefully get any hitchhikers off.