R2R LIVE SALE 3/5/22 SAT - Aqua SD 15th Year Anniversary LIVE SALE - Discounts, Games, Freebies, Fun!

[tbrown]

@TnFishwater98 Don't drink the fish water, it's bad for your guys (unless you want to lose weight).

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

My number one advice: You can usually score some pretty amazing deals during the after sale after live sales.

 

[flashsmith]

Failure is the only real way to learn in this hobby. After that if you stick with it you'll figure it out.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Fish and corals thrive if fed more frequently in captivity. Feeding a variety of foods and live phyto 4-5x daily has made a world of difference in coral and fish health and growth, and has cut fish aggression dramatically. But nutrients in = Nutrients out, so be prepared with efficient filtration, skimming, and be ready to do regular water changes.

 

[Seamore2001]

GIVEAWAY QUESTION
Give us some advice that potentially saved your tank or something you found extremely helpful when caring for your tank!
Let's help each other out! I know we have a big community here in the forums, from people who are beginners who just started their tank not too long ago to experts who have been doing this for years and years, let's pass on the knowledge!
The winner will be selected at random! As long as it is useful advice!
Closes in 20 minutes!​

1. Regular water changes are the easiest and most important thing you can do to keep your tank healthy. They wash away a multitude of sins. Always keep 5% to 10% pre-mixed in case of emergencies.
2. Go slowly. That's for everything. Go slowly starting your tank (plan it out), go slowly stocking it at the get go, go slowly adding new fish and corals.
3. Research every new addition. Nothing sucks like adding something to your tank and having it eat or sting something else.
4. Carefully research each new piece of equipment. It really stinks to spend big money for the latest most popular thing that everyone is talking about, only to discover it's the wrong size, it doesn't work for your situation, or you just didn't need it.
5. Less is more - which is a really funny thing to say here in a live sale - but less fish reduces bioload. Less coral (or better spacing between corals) reduces unwanted interactions and allow them to more fully grow out.
6. If you really want many different kinds of corals - SPS & LPS & softies & nems - consider multiple tanks so you can specialize.
7. Never put Xenia in your tanks unless your a masochist. Ask me how I know.

 

[steveschuerger]

Make sure you have enough room when you buy them

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

deleted. Not the nature of this thread

I dont appreciate this deletion. I want advice..not actions!!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I saw a few persons purchase clams this weekend. Things to know . . . .
Clams can be rewarding and colorful but there are a few precautions:
Temperature not to exceed 80
Ca not to exceed 450
Ph not to exceed 8.3
Alk not to exceed 11
Salinity best at 1.025
Nitrate not to exceed.8
Moderate water flow
Good lighting

Maximas are the second smallest of the four groupings, only reaching sizes of up to 12". Their shells are less symmetrical than the other three groups, and grow small, close together scutes on the outside of their shell. Maximas are slightly pickier than Squamosa and derasa family of clams in which they require a hard, rocky surface to attach to and will move around until they find a spot they approve of. They are the most widespread of all tridacnid clams. And, because they often live in shallower waters, they can be pickier about water flow. maxima clams typically will not do well with simple linear water flow. Gyre effect is best.
Additionally, clams require nitrates of at least 2 ppm, or they will starve. Clams under 4 " still require supplemental feeding of zooplankton, phytoplankton and bacterio plankton about twice a week. At smaller size, they require feedings daily for healthy growth and survival. While getting a baby clam can be much cheaper, and you get to watch it grow, remember you will need to dedicate time every day to feed it. Over 4", you can relax on feeding. Many reefers don’t feed their clams at all as the tanks waste and the clams zooxanthellae are plenty to keep it happy. But, because they do require some nitrates and dissolved wastes in the water column to consume, fish keepers with low bio-load tanks should expect to still feed once or twice a week to make up for having fewer fish. This is one area where having a heavily stocked tank is actually extremely beneficial and directly benefits your inhabitants. Clams filter tons and tons of water daily, so they will act as a nutrient sink in even the most overcrowded tank.
As for lighting, this is a place where most owners fail. Clams need intense lights, and typically high quality, powerful LEDs or halides are recommended. But, young clams under 2 inches are easily damaged by light. All sized clams need to be properly acclimated to intense lighting. Starting your Tridacnid low in the tank and lowering the intensity of your lights is a good way to start. You can ramp your lights up and move the clam higher little by little every week until it is fully acclimated.

 

[tbrown]

7. Never put Xenia in your tanks unless your a masochist. Ask me how I know.

I'm guessing because you're a masochist!

 

[Salty716]

While aspastia is an unwanted anemone and BTAs are wanted anemones, they're both anemones, so consider that in a smaller system, or you might end up with an anemone tank.

 

[CWoods]

Don't impulse buy, especially during a live sale.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

what is funny...this is all of the advice someone would probably get in a few weeks of searching the forums. Do I have any advice suggestions on dosing...how about some Kalk discussions?!?>

 

[tbrown]

Always build or buy a frag rack before participating in live sales on Reef2Reef, especially if you participate in multiple sales at the same time.

 

[billyocean]

I saw a few persons purchase clams this weekend. Things to know . . . .
Clams can be rewarding and colorful but there are a few precautions:
Temperature not to exceed 80
Ca not to exceed 450
Ph not to exceed 8.3
Alk not to exceed 11
Salinity best at 1.025
Nitrate not to exceed.8
Moderate water flow
Good lighting

Maximas are the second smallest of the four groupings, only reaching sizes of up to 12". Their shells are less symmetrical than the other three groups, and grow small, close together scutes on the outside of their shell. Maximas are slightly pickier than Squamosa and derasa family of clams in which they require a hard, rocky surface to attach to and will move around until they find a spot they approve of. They are the most widespread of all tridacnid clams. And, because they often live in shallower waters, they can be pickier about water flow. maxima clams typically will not do well with simple linear water flow. Gyre effect is best.
Additionally, clams require nitrates of at least 2 ppm, or they will starve. Clams under 4 " still require supplemental feeding of zooplankton, phytoplankton and bacterio plankton about twice a week. At smaller size, they require feedings daily for healthy growth and survival. While getting a baby clam can be much cheaper, and you get to watch it grow, remember you will need to dedicate time every day to feed it. Over 4", you can relax on feeding. Many reefers don’t feed their clams at all as the tanks waste and the clams zooxanthellae are plenty to keep it happy. But, because they do require some nitrates and dissolved wastes in the water column to consume, fish keepers with low bio-load tanks should expect to still feed once or twice a week to make up for having fewer fish. This is one area where having a heavily stocked tank is actually extremely beneficial and directly benefits your inhabitants. Clams filter tons and tons of water daily, so they will act as a nutrient sink in even the most overcrowded tank.
As for lighting, this is a place where most owners fail. Clams need intense lights, and typically high quality, powerful LEDs or halides are recommended. But, young clams under 2 inches are easily damaged by light. All sized clams need to be properly acclimated to intense lighting. Starting your Tridacnid low in the tank and lowering the intensity of your lights is a good way to start. You can ramp your lights up and move the clam higher little by little every week until it is fully acclimated.

Winner

 

[ADAM]

I dont appreciate this deletion. I want advice..not actions!!

Plus it’s a sponsors thread/forum, they’re the judge and jury.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Many of us will introduce these corals and wonder- Why are my new corals and existing sliming or releasing Mucus?
This will occur if there is rapid fluctuations from water parameters and if you introduced them under bright lights. Other causes will be low water flow, enzme issues due to improper or no acclimation causing them to lose slime or suffocate in it.
This mucus is a defense mechanism against desiccation. Corals coat their body with mucus, keeping in moisture to withstand severe environmental conditions. They can also release mucus under submersed conditions for several other reasons such as UV radiation, sedimentation, high temperature and low salinity.
This mucus is also used to clean themselves off , such as emitting sand on themselves or even after feeding.

 

[tbrown]

Always invite @BroccoliFarmer if you want to have a rousing and exciting debate on tax law.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

@TnFishwater98 Don't drink the fish water, it's bad for your guys (unless you want to lose weight).

Although daring a drunk dude to take a shot of skimmer water for $20 bucks is definitely worth losing a friendship over!!

 

[Synna]

Research what type of dips work best for what type of coral.
Bayer vs Coral RX, Reef Dip.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Recommended parameters:
Temp 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrate < .10
phos < .04
Ammonia < .03
mG 1300
Alk 8-11
CA 400- 440