Totally new to the saltwater aquarium

[Alva]

Hi

Excuse my ignorance but I have only just set up my tank.

I have bought a 75 gallon tank, and on advice from an expert was told to use Living Rock which I have done.

I have set everything up three weeks ago, temperature is correct, seasalt levels spot on, water is crystal clear.

My question is my living rock has started to have what looks like brown algae on it and I would really like to know if this is how it should be, or I have done something drastically wrong!!

I have no fish in at the moment.

Would really appreciate some early replies as I am slightly concerned!

Many thanks.

Alva

[weez1959]

Hi and welcome Alva,
The brown is perfectly normal and should go away on it's own in a few weeks. Don't rush to add any fish yet, let your tank mature a while longer.
What water are you using? Tap, RO/DI, distilled?
Do you have a skimmer?

[Alva]

Hi Louise

Many, many thanks for your quick response. Greatly appreciated.

I am so relieved to know it is normal!

I am using a skimmer and I bought ready made salt water.

I am desperate to put fish in as I hate waiting for anything, however, I am going to Scotland for a week in a couple of weeks, so I cant put anything in until I get back, which will mean it has been maturing for 6 weeks.

I thought I would just get a couple of clown fish to start with, as they are said to be hardy and apart from they are really nice, they are also at the cheaper end of the scale.

I have been reading up loads on the different types of fish that there are and can go together and I have kinda made my mind up what I am having and even what I am naming them.

I will definitely be posting on here though before I do anything for some moral support and help.

Thanks again, I will sleep better tonight now.

Alva

[weez1959]

Were you planning on fish only or will you be adding coral eventually?
Just my 2¢ but you should read up on all the stickys that Lee has posted, here's the link:

Marine Fish: Care, Health and Disease Treatment - Reeflands Forum
The post on Quarantining and the post on acclimation should be the first.

Also if you don't have a quarantine tank yet you should definately look into setting one up before your trip to Scotland (you lucky duck!)
That way it will be cycled by the time you get back and you should be able to buy your first fish as soon as you get back!

I can't begin to tell you the trouble, heartache, fish lives and money you will be saving yourself by quaranting all your fish before they go into the display. Most fish you buy look fine when you buy them and even do so for a few days or more after, then all of a sudden ich, velvet, brook or whatever appears and wham! your display tank is infected and everything you add after this will also get sick.

I know it sounds like alot of work but really it isn't and in the end you'll be happy you quarantined.

Another thing is that most fish stores will tell you what you want to hear once they've sold you your set-up, like you don't need to quarantine or you don't have to wait to add so and so, just be very careful and read read read before any purchase!

[Alva]

Hi

Thanks for yet more good advice. I will go get my quarantine tank today. I am wanting to have some corals as well as fish.

I know what you mean about the fish shops, I have been in the same shop and seen different marine people and they have all given me different advice!

I will definitely read the site you put on. I would rather take my time and hopefully have as much success as possible.

I have been doing loads of reading and surfing, which is how I came across this site, and I am so glad I did.

Alva

[weez1959]

Good luck! and keep us posted on your progress.
If you read the sticky on quarantining, it will tell how to set it up properly and inexpensively...