New 30gal setup

Nice update and a very interesting read!
 
Thanks Bishop!

I'm guessing that the warfare against the glass anemone worked as there is no sign of them this morning. So for now I'm claiming victory until onother one raises his ugly head.
 
Still no more anemones tonight, but the ammonia test did show a slight increase so perhaps the cycle is finally starting to kick in. Keep your fingers crossed.
 
if you dont mind me asking, how much did you spend on live rock? I'm just getting into setting up a SW tank, and was wondering what that goes for.
 
The cost of live rock can vary widely between different stores and different kinds. My base rock (non-living) was $1.99/lb. My Fiji Live Rock from one store was only $5.99/lb and basically the same stuff at another was $15.99/lb and labeled as "Show Quality". While it does have a lot of growth and color, it doesn't look any better than some of the stuff I got for 1/3rd the price. I also have some Tonga Branch that I paid $9.99/lb.

Do a lot of searching and there is even some listed on Ebay that I believe some people have had luck with.
 
Shock! I came home from work and did what I normally do now; ran downstairs to look at my pretty tank and see what is happening in it. Imagine my surprise when I found everything covered in a brown dust and not one, not two, but four new glass anemone. ARGH!! I know the brown dust is diatom bloom and will go away, but dang it's ugly. Am I right in assuming that this means my nitrates are raising or does it really have nothing to do with the cycle. I'll post pics and do some tests after dinner.
 
Sorry the glass anemones are back. I think I saw the batch of rock they had with it. Knock on wood but none of the rock I bought there has had any troubles with it. The diatoms are just part of the cycle unfortunately. One of those things you'll have to wait out.
 
Thanks Grin for the reassurance that I'm still on the right track. Needless to say it is frightening to see such a change happen literally "overnight". I figure the anemones are part of the hobby and I'll deal with them as I have to. I'm hoping I can keep them under control till I get some cleanup crew in there and then maybe they'll help.

I did the water tests. Here is where we stand now.

Ammonia .50
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
PH 8.4

I thought I would post some before and after pics of my diatom bloom for those that have never/or are just set up a tank so they could see what it looks like. I'm also having a huge problem with bubbles. It is like they are multiplying in the water. Is this something I should expect with the bloom?

BEFORE
clearrtside.jpg


AFTER
diatom1.jpg


BEFORE
cleartank.jpg


AFTER
diatomtank.jpg
 
Gotta love the diatoms!!! They are a sign that your tank is getting ready for fish!!
 
Thanks jojo! Do the diatoms cause excess bubbles? It's like they are just rising out of the sand or something. I have a powerhead that puts out microbubbles once in a while, but today was the first day that I saw bubbles clinging to stuff in the tank. Before they always just disipated.
 
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