[bguile]

Hello all,

My first tank is up and running. I have a 12g Nano Cube with LR, 2 True Perculas, and 2 Emerald Crabs. The livestock was added Friday, 2 weeks after the tank cycled. I have noticed some cool things growing on the rock but am a little concerned over one thing. On some of the rock I am noticing a rust colored short moss like growth which seems to be spreading. Is this good or bad? I also noticed some organisms that looks like a tube with stringy tentacles at the top. What are those? I cant seem to find out what they are.

Now for the suggestion part:
When feeding the fish, do most people use some type of feeding tray to keep the food from ending up all over the tank or do they just sprinkle it in the tank. It seems that the pump in my tank takes the food for a quick spin around the top of the water before it violently blows it straight down to the substrate where the clowns dont eat it. Does anyone recommend a way I can feed the fish efficiently without contaminating half the tank?

Thanks in advance for taking time to respond.

[patsfan1130]

Originally Posted by bguile

Hello all,

My first tank is up and running. I have a 12g Nano Cube with LR, 2 True Perculas, and 2 Emerald Crabs. The livestock was added Friday, 2 weeks after the tank cycled. I have noticed some cool things growing on the rock but am a little concerned over one thing. On some of the rock I am noticing a rust colored short moss like growth which seems to be spreading. Is this good or bad? I also noticed some organisms that looks like a tube with stringy tentacles at the top. What are those? I cant seem to find out what they are.

Now for the suggestion part:
When feeding the fish, do most people use some type of feeding tray to keep the food from ending up all over the tank or do they just sprinkle it in the tank. It seems that the pump in my tank takes the food for a quick spin around the top of the water before it violently blows it straight down to the substrate where the clowns dont eat it. Does anyone recommend a way I can feed the fish efficiently without contaminating half the tank?

Thanks in advance for taking time to respond.

Sounds like diatom blooms which is perfectly normal for a newly setup system. a pic would certainly confirm this.

A lot of people (including myself) shut down any pumps/filters to feed. this prevents any food from getting sucked up & blown to kingdom come.

Mark

[bguile]

Thanks for responding so quickly. Hope this pic helps. I can try to get a closer one if needed.

[Reefland]

It looks like a diatom bloom to me; pretty normal to see in a new tank and as lonk as your maintenance routine is sufficient, will reside with due time.

Regarding the feeding, I would definitely not put that much in the tank. I like to leave all my pumps running when feeding the fish and distribute very small amounts in an area of high current that will move the food throughout the structure which helps make sure everyone gets their serving. If you are noticing a lot working to the sand that is not being eaten, your feeding too much. Try to feed smaller amounts that the fish can manage, 2-3 times per feeding if that is what is needed to prevent it from landing on the bottom before getting consumed.

Scott Z.

[bguile]

Thanks guys. I'll take those comments into consideration. I noticed something else tonight when I got home, I think it might be the green bubble algae growing on the highest rock . It has a little stem with the bubble at the top. Looks like a small balloon for the little white critters I saw crawling on the rock also (there were a lot of them too). I'm hoping this is all normal. Also, do you think I should add another Emerald crab and place him on the highest rock? My other two never seem to climb all the way up there to eat the algae.

I really appreciate you guys for helping me with all this.

[farewellnite]

yeah thats perfectly normal dont worry

[salttanker]

What type of water are you using? Before I bought an RO/DI system, I was using tap water and never could get the diatom problem to go away. After installing the RO/DI system, I don't have anymore blooms at all now. It is more expensive, but well worth it in the end.

Mike

[bguile]

Yeah...I am using tap water. Going to start using filtered water if that would help. I have one for the drinking water in my home, just didn't think to use it for the tank.

[salttanker]

Since I have changed to RO/DI, my algae problem has almost been completely eliminated. Even if you use RO (drinking water), this will be a big help for controlling the diatom blooms in your tank. Also, I do 5-10 percent water changes each week to help control the environment as well. HTH

Mike

[bguile]

cool. I'll give that a shot at my next water change.