atmmachine816

I have live rock in my 5.5 gallon tank and it does great. But I'm with gozer, not sure on how it would do in incadescent lighting. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...70&pcatid=9870 Maybe you have these around you, the 50/50 one would be good for your tank. Not just for your tank but it will just make your tank look better, just a suggestion not sure if you can find any.

Tom

I think they carry them here. I'll have to check when I go back later today.
Tom

atmmachine816

cool, hope they do, their not very expensive either.

Tom

What are you talking about? I had to pay about $30CDN at the store. I got home and found out it was a little too large, but I think I can make it fit if I take of the little vent and have some of it sticking out of the hood. It is a 5 gallon tall, not the usual long tanks, I'll have to see later.
Tom

atmmachine816

Really, even in stores there only 10$US so that should be 15CDN or a little more. Not sure why your's is so expensive. Hope you can get it to fit, if not can you return it?

Tom

Actually, $10US would be more like $8-9CDN since the exchange rate is good(for us). I can return it if I need too. I think there are incandescent bulbs that I can get that will do the same thing and only be something like $10CDN.
Tom

atmmachine816

O yea I forgot, CDN is worth more than US. Incandescent may say they do the same but they really won't since they just can't put out the proper spectrum but you have to make do with what you can.

Kevin

here is a nano skimmer for $30
its got some good reviews too

Tom

Where?
Tom

Kevin

oops
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...6&pcatid=14676

Tom

Well there's your problem. lol DFS doesn't ship to Canada sadly. I don't feel like getting it shipped to a PO box just on the other side of the border and then going and getting it. I would rather just be limited by the stuff the local stores have.
Tom

atmmachine816

Are there any online stores that ship to canada? Amazon.com?

Tom

There are quite a few online stores that ship here, just DFS doesn't. I also like that I have about 20-30 pet stores in a 30 min drive from my house and almost any of them would order something special in for me if I asked for it.
Tom

Tom

For stocking my nano, would you suggest the snails you suggested, or some crabs like hermits? I think they are all cool.
Tom

atmmachine816

I would say you could have both, just add slowly. I would get the blue legged hermits, they tend to be more peaceful and also have a few extra shells that they may move homes into so they do not attack and take the snails shell. I currently have 2 astrea snails and one blue legged hermit but plan on getting 2 cerith snails if I can ever find some. If you got two snails and two hermits I think you would be fine. You may be able to add two more snails later down the road, all depends on how your tank is doing. Adding small pieces of live rock would also help in filtration and hiding places for the hermits. Astrea snails will sometimes fall on their shell and can't get themselves up so you may have to help them out. It's only happened a few times for me when I first got them but hasn't happened since.

Tom

Since it is so close to Xmas, I would only get a few samll pieces of LR at a time, but slowly build it up, and I will check the stores next week since I am really busy this week. Thanks.
Tom

Tom

I was able to add the bulb after I mutilated the canopy, but the tank looks great. I realized that I really need a snail to get rid of the algae.
Tom

atmmachine816

ok sounds good. Try to get a few pieces of larger maybe a pound or two and mix it up, most of mine weigh a few pounds each.

Congrats on getting a new light, bet it looks a lot better.

Tom

I phoned a couple of places about the snails you suggested and they said that they won't be able to get those snails in for another couple of months due to the cold and they will let me know if they get any in. So I got a turbo snail for less then a dollar. I also got a small piece of LR that is about the size of a baseball, but about 1/2 a pound. The demon looks so good and the LR looks just as good. lol
Tom

Tom

I looked at the tank and the snail hasn't moved at all since I put it in there, is there something wrong?
Tom

Tom

Sorry to keep posting after myself, but I still have so many questions. Would I be able to have some mushrooms in the tank now that I have that little bulb in there? I can get a really good lead on some really beautiful stuff that is also really cheap(for here anyway).
Tom

Gozer_1

I've had new snails stay put for a couple days before. I wouldn't worry just yet. As for the Mushrooms, with your new light I'd say give it a try. Some Zoos would likely do well also. I have a fox coral that would do fantastic. They prefer subdued lighting. Here's a link to my tank thread. I have a picture of the fox there. http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/me...s-55-salt.html
Not sure if you've seen it or not.

Tom

It's very nice.
Tom

atmmachine816

Yea I wouldn't worry about your snail, but if it hasn't moved for a couple days take it out, if it smells rotten throw it away. I would watch the turbo snail, they get large and might produce too much waste for your small tank. Yea mushrooms, zoos, polyps are some basic corals you can get, just add them slowly. I would wait at least a month before adding the mushrooms and two for the zoos and polyps minimum since they are a bit more sensitive. If you add corals make sure you keep up on water changes because they will use calcium in the water and the new water will replenish the calcium. Just don't rush things, best to add things slowly. When you buy your live rock, make sure it is fully cured, otherwise it will send your tank through a mini-cycle and stress out your inhabitants putting them at risk.

Tom

Thanks, I'll go check the snail when I am done this. I know to add things slowly, I have read that many times. How do I tell if the LR is cured or not?
Tom

Tom

No, the snail doesn't smell bad, the little cover is pulled really far into the shell. So you think it is just 'scared'?
Tom

atmmachine816

If you have a reputable store you can ask them if they cured it. Usually if it doesn't smell rotten or foul it is cured. If in doubt, you can put a small powerhead and heater in a bucket and let it sit in there for a couple weeks then transfer it into your tank. I would just let the snail go for now, how long have you had it?

Tom

I'll phone them right now. I got it on Sunday.
Tom

They said it isn't cured. Which do I want it to be?
Tom

atmmachine816

You want it to be cured, otherwise it will re-cycle your tank making ammonia, nitrite, nitrate levels jump. Do you have a bucket that you prepare your saltwater in now before doing a water change? If so you could put it in there, or just monitor your water levels carefully for awhile, since it isn't too big of a rock it shouldn't cause a huge problem, though it could.

Tom

Wow, you just contridicted yourself so many times. lol But I know what you mean. The demon is doing fine and I added a snail shell(large SW snail) and it is hiding in there right now. If I add empty apple snail shells, would that be a good way of adding calcium for future corals? You don't know how much I thank you for all your help.
Tom