New Aquarium

onazip

This has been an exciting week. After thinking about this for 10 years, I took the plunge. And this morning I saw a little wormy thing digging in the sand. I've been up and running for 4 days. Just Live Rock & Live Sand. I wonder where the wormy guy came from? He's about a half inch long and kind of peachy color in front fading to a darker brown in back. I think he's got a bunch of little legs too. Almost looks like a mini centapede.
I'm greatful to find this sight. It solidified some choices including a protein skimmer addition. I'm hoping to see some brown algea soon. And hoping to get a few hermit crabs & snails.
I know this is a small step, but, holy cow, I can't believe the joy it's bringing to me and the kids. Maybe the wife'll come around after the fish arrive. (hopefully before the snow arrives).
Thanks to all for the great posts and threads!

onefish2fish

sounds like a bristle worm? and sounds like it hitched on your live rock. unless their numbers get completely out of hand or you find HUGE ones, they are a good natural addition to your clean up crew ( CUC )
personally, i dont like crabs to be a part of my CUC, including hermits as i find them unpredictable. i like a mixture of different snails and maybe a shrimp or two, but thats just me. depending tank size, i may eventually get a sand sifting cucumber.

what size tank is this? reef or FOWLR ( fish only with live rock ) lighting? sump?

welcome to the forum.

Reefing Madness

onazip

It's a smaller tank, about 27g. I got a marineland reef light in hopes of making a home for reef and fish. I'm not crazy about the crabs, but being a neophyte, I was going on the advise of the pet shop near by. I have a canister filter from marineland. I understand I'll need to rinse it often, but the powerfilter/biowheel I originally had was WAY too loud for my wife. The tank is in the same room as her computer.
Any thoughts on temperature? I'm hovering around 78 degrees.

Reefing Madness

Nothing wrong with that temp at all.

onefish2fish

76-78 sounds good, just try keeping it steady. being a smaller tank, with lights it may rise fast, which may pose an issue.

the canister filter would prove best run empty and let the live rock in your tank be your "filtration"

do yourself a favor and skip crabs then, atleast to begin with, they can always be something added down the line if the desire is there. i also suggest scarlet hermit crabs if thats the route you go there. i just dont like them because ive had them kill snails for their shells, but the scarlets seem to be the best behaved. i would also skip on getting a cucumber, this tank isnt large enough for one.

do you have fish considerations or not yet?

onazip

Having 6 & 9 years, that choice has been made for me. They can't wait to have their own "Nemo". But I've read damsels are a good start.
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onazip

Do y'all mean I should turn off the canister filter and just run skimmer and trust the live rock & live sand??
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Reefing Madness

Yup, pretty much.

Reefing Madness

Damsels are pretty much jsut down right mean. And if yoiu plan on getting another small fish, they usually chase the new fish to the point of youi wanting to remove the Damsel. And that, is a feat in itself.