newb questions:

[Luke]

1. What is the difference between LPS and SPS i know one is harder to take care of than the other... and one requires more light than the other...

2. we have a 4 bulb t5 for light.. would that be enough light to sustain either coral?

3. Currently our tank is cycling... after its done cycling, we are able to add to it? is there a specific order we should add livestock? ex: inverts.. fish... coral

4. as previously mentioned, tank is currently cycling... from what i understand it should take aprox 6 weeks to completely cycle... i bought half "cured" (from the store on bruce & charleston) live rock and half dry rock for my tank
would that speed up the cycle? its been a week today and i havent seen any ammonia or nitrite increases both are at zero... but my nitrate is starting to increase it seems... (went from 0 to 5)...

i hope #4 makes sense... i feel dumb for not understanding completely... thanks for any help!

-luke

[Luke]

should have mentioned... tank is 32 gallons aprox (36x12x18) if that makes any difference to the answers...

also.. how much does it cost to become a supporting member?

[iap]

Large polyp stony. Such as chalices and acans. Just large polyps. Small polyp stony. Acros millis and the such. The branching type. Altho monti's are sps but not branching. More plating.

The lights could be fine depends on the watts of the bulbs. And if they have individual reflectors.

To speed up the cycle you should add a large raw shrimp to a nylon baggy and let it rot in the tank to kick in the ammonia spike.

After you are done cycling I would add some inverts for the clean up crew. Snails and hermit crabs to clean up the algae that will come along with the cycle.

Hope that helps some as I'm still new to this as well.

[iap]

And it's 15$ to become a member. I think 25$ for the family.


Also if you added cured rock you may not see a cycle. But to be on the safe side add the raw shrimp so that you will have an ammonia spike and see how fast your tank gets rid of it.

[tomgl]

how much does it cost to become a supporting member?

iap is correct on price. We are having some Paypal and bank issues at the moment. Contact Vegasfish for help with membership.

[Luke]

And it's 15$ to become a member. I think 25$ for the family.


Also if you added cured rock you may not see a cycle. But to be on the safe side add the raw shrimp so that you will have an ammonia spike and see how fast your tank gets rid of it.

i added half cured and half dry.. and i added some of the bacteria in the bottle stuff that smells horrible.. (dont recall the name of it)

under the direction of the fishtsore i added 2 damsels... which should create enough ammonia for the cycle right?
ive since read that the practice is cruel... and wont do it again... would have done the shrimp had i known better.

[tomgl]

Any fish. I have used Chromis to help the cycle. Where are your levels?

[Luke]

last night i only tested ammonia nitrite and nitrate:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5.0

cycle is a week today...

ill test everything tonight when i get home

[tomgl]

If the ammonia and nitrite are still zero I would say do a water change and get a cheap first fish. I don't agree with the six weeks to cycle, I have had tanks cycle in day or days with cured live rock. What are you using for filtration? As long as the ammonia and nitrate are zero fish should survive. I have seem fish in over 30 on nitrate with out any stress. Just take it slow when adding. Aged tanks are better for reefs IMO.

[Luke]

i have 2 damsels in there now.. a blue and a domino...

[tomgl]

Thats good a very hardy fish. When your ready try some soft corals, polyps, Zoes. When your comfortable get an LPS. For SPS start with some Digis and work your way up. My son got his first soft coral from Mike (Thegreatauksociety) when he was nine and has slowly built up a mixed 40 gallon reef in his room over the last four years. Now he is thirteen and telling me how to do things.

[Luke]

thats good a very hardy fish. When your ready try some soft corals, polyps, zoes. When your comfortable get an lps. For sps start with some digis and work your way up. My son got his first soft coral from mike (thegreatauksociety) when he was nine and has slowly built up a mixed 40 gallon reef in his room over the last four years. Now he is thirteen and telling me how to do things.

are 4 t5's capable keeping those corals?

[spslover]

Yes maybe some SPS but not much LPS and softies... Yes very easy. Also the damsels.... You may want to take those out when you start getting good fish and they are mean... from my experience but some people keep them.

I have seen some people keeps caps with T5 but I don't know how well they do. I have even seen people keep clams.. but me it didnt work. I believe sps should b e kept in MH only.

[spslover]

Double

[Luke]

Double
double what?

[tomgl]

We use T5's on my son's tank and he has acros and clams. We just use good bulbs (ATI, ULV) and quality fixtures. What T5 fixture are you using?

[spslover]

I mean double post... sorry... Also theres your answer for some sps with t5. Tom what type of sps do you have maybe that way he can have a better idea? Millie, torts ect? That Way I know what to frag for him (for free). Also I am sure its best if each T5 has individual reflectors... But I am not 100% sure it seems Tom is the man to ask because he has done it with success.

[Troylee]

T5s over a 30 gallon should be good enough for any coral or clam in that tank IMO. How tall os 12" or so???

[spslover]

Well I know when I had a 40 gallon I used T5's... I kept a couple SPS but most died and my clam just made it before I got my lights.

[tomgl]

With the t5 four bulb I would do
Blue +
Fiji Purple
Aquablue
Blue +
or
Blue +
Fiji Purple
65K Daylight
Blue +

First set would be more blue and the second would be more of a 10K look.

[five O]

I would pick fish that you like when you start adding more fish. It's a real pain the rear end to get fish out of a tank sometimes. Esp since you have a smaller tank and you will quickly find your self running out room.

[Luke]

T5s over a 30 gallon should be good enough for any coral or clam in that tank IMO. How tall os 12" or so???
18 or 19 inches..

[tomgl]

What kind of T5 do you have Current, ATI or Tek?

[Luke]

coralife... two of the dual bulbs... no idea what kinda bulbs are in them...whatever came i guess

[Luke]

both are 36 inches

[tomgl]

I think that fixture will be good for softies and some easy lps. I would upgrade for sps and harder to keep lps. You may find your lps need to be higher up on the rock work than with other lamps.