Strider's 55 gallon reef learning exeriance.

**hockeyhead019** · 02-10-2013, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Strider199

It took around 5 weeks to get to this point hockeyhead.

Gotcha, sorry I assumed you started the tank when you started the journal haha

**Strider199** · 02-10-2013, 09:24 PM

No problem Hockeyhead.

**Strider199** · 02-12-2013, 11:26 PM

I tried feeding my new stock today. It's always tough waiting for the new arrivals to get hungry enough to actually eat what you give them. I waited a day because in past experience I've found that new fish are too we'll say shy, to get out there and actually eat what you present before it hits the substrate and rots away.
I'm glad to report that the firefish ate every flake in his sight. To my surprise the yellow tailed Damsel took longer to engage with the food. The Skunk cleaner shrimp was priceless. Talk about a busy body. That shrimp was every where in the tank grabbing all it could.
It's a relief to see every one eating. This reminds me of the days trying to feed wild caught discus. You hover too close to the tank or move and they hide. The food hits the bottom and wastes away.

Speaking of waste, tomorrow I'll be going back to that Burlington reef store and getting a dozen blue leg hermit crabs and a few Nerite snails.
If there is a better choice of scavenger/algae control please let me know. I'm early into my research and appreciate the experience of those that have been where I'm at.
Thanks in advance.

**Cliff** · 02-12-2013, 11:36 PM

Halloween hermit crabs are a lot less aggressive than blue leg hermits, at least in my experiance they are.

I would suggest starting off with less hermits. Just to give you a idea of how much these guys can handle, I have 4 of them in my 120 gallon with about 12 snails and two emerald crabs and they keep the tank clean. I actually started feeding the crabs pellets as I was concerned they were not getting enough to eat. Unless you got a lot of algae, you might want to start off a little slower.

Don forget to place extra shells in the tank so they have shells to grow into without killing each other for them.

**Strider199** · 02-12-2013, 11:50 PM

I haven't found any Halloween hermits in my area yet Cliff.

Ok instead of 1 hermit per gallon I will start with 4 and see where that goes. The algae is starting to grow on the live rock but most of it is green/brown at this point. It's not slimy nor does it look like it has air bubbles in it. I have read about extra empty shells of various sizes which this store carries.
Question comes to mind; do the empty shells need to be cured or just rinse in r/o water and add?

Thanks for the speedy reply and consumption rate of my proposed scavengers.

**Cliff** · 02-13-2013, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Strider199

Ok instead of 1 hermit per gallon I will start with 4 and see where that goes.

That 1 hermit per gallon rule is just about as accurate as 1 inch of fish per gallon rule.

It's a lot better to base you clean up crew one what you have to clean up along with the amount you have to clean up. On the last two tanks I set-up from scratch, I actually added my clean-up last because it took a while before I felt I had enough algae in the tank for them to get enough to eat.

I only soaked the shells in RO water for a few days and carefully checked to make sure there was no coatings on them before adding them to the tank.

**Strider199** · 02-13-2013, 12:51 AM

Thanks Cliff. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

**glarior** · 02-13-2013, 04:23 PM

Looking good.

Where did you get the LR from?

**hockeyhead019** · 02-13-2013, 06:43 PM

If you're getting crabs such as emeralds make sure you don't get a ton but if you do try and have 1 male to a lot of females... the reason I said don't get a ton is they'll fight, at least mine did like cats and dogs lol I'm not sure if it was a lack of food issue or what but just something to keep an eye on

**Strider199** · 02-13-2013, 10:53 PM

glarior; my LR came from BigAls down the road in Hamilton Ontario. It was advertised as Bali rock, very porous. They keep it soaked with some major water circulation which I'm sure is why it didn't stink up the living room.

I didn't buy any emeralds Hockeyhead. I bought 4 blue leg hermit crabs and two snails. The snails are huge but until I look them up I cant name them. Went on the lfs owners preference. After acclimating them, I released the hoard and seconds after they hit the live sand I could tell the difference. Man are these critters hungry.

Thanks for the heads up on the emerald crabs Hockeyhead. If I do find some around here I will stick with 1 in this tank. I dont need the stress. lol