Questions From a Newbie

[Monti-Man]

Originally Posted by angelic

Hello All,

I am pretty new to this world Aquarium/fish knowledge wise.

I have 2 Aquariums a 55 gal FW and a 14 gal nano(reef), a 29 gal nano in the makings to be a reef. Ohhh and I will be doing a 80-90 gal Reef once the aquarium is fixed and I get the proper lighting.

I am pretty *duh* so I hope everyone can have patience while I struggle this out.

My man is in the business so to speak( not gonna get into details because I am ere about me and my interests) this is a hobby for me and his knowledge is not in reefs or a lot of diff kinds of fish. Anyways I want to do this stuff and learn without having to drag him into it beyond the basic set up and care.

That is why I chose this sight..You people actually seem to know something and are willing to share in a nice way!!!

I am pretty additcted but sadly I have little knowledge to feed myself the right stuff *laugh*

I have some soft corals most just very small frags. Kenya tree, pipe organ, green star polyp, Zenia (brand spanking new ), and a fan coral. 2 Mushrooms and waiting on my very first Zoes. A coupel of tube worms.

I notice you use short versions for corals here like sps and so on. What is the version for soft coral?

What are the best foods for soft coarl?

Why do some people use sand for base and others use crushed coral?

A question about tube worms, I have 2 tree ones..I got them today, one is not coming out? How do they like to be placed in the aquarium if anyone can help me?

One more question then I will lay off for a day or so *L*

Why so much live rock? Is there a purpose or is it just because of the critters it has?

Thanks to all!!!!

We'll welcome!!!!

Okay now to answer some of your questions.

Best food all depend on what you have. Most are filter feeders so things that are very very small in partical size. cyclopeeze, phytoplankton and of course good ol fish poop

Sand or crushed coral is a personal choice. Sand is much better imo as it is less likely to trap fish poop,left over food etc which then in turn leads to high nitrates which then leads to nasty and ugly algae outbreaks.. Crushed coral also is not workable if you want to get a wrasse or goby who live in the sand.

Now are they tube worms or tube anemones? Are they in a hard tube? or soft?
Most like med to low flow and are filter feeders as we'll unless it is a tube anemone then they have been known to eat fish but will eat larger frozen foods such as mysis.

Live rock is your biological filtration. That is what keeps your system free of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate. It is bacteria which then breaks down all of those things and keeps your tank healthy.

General suggestion on live rock is 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per gallon.

I am sure if i missed something someone else will chime in and correct me or add to it.

Welcome and enjoy your new hobby/addiction