Livestock progression

As a noob here with a just-getting-started tank (although we used what I think is really good purple rock and Caribbean reef sand, so it's got a head start), I'd really appreciate hearing the opinions of those who know (you all!) regarding livestock progression.

I've got a Red Sea 650 in which I put four clowns yesterday to start things off. I want to end up with a solid, stable, healthy tank, obviously. My LFS guys will be coming by every two weeks for the next year to monitor water quality and take care of the tank, so I'm not doing this solo. I want to do it right.

That being said, what are your opinions regarding stocking the tank? A fish a month? Corals after X number of months? I keep hearing at least 6 months for an anemone, what about clams? My LFS guy says "slow and steady wins the race," and I believe him. How slow? How steady? Thanks in advance!

Dallaswinefan

Hello!

I am finally getting my dream of a reef tank off the ground. It might sound a bit lame to call it a dream, but it really is. I have planned, shopped, loitered at the LFS, read and read and read, and lurked on the interweb forums for between 10 and 15 years. I had a FW tank for most of that time, but didn't want to get a SWT until I could do it right.

So I finally reached a point where I had space and funds for a Red Sea 650. I love it! I really want to do it right. Take my time and build a tank that my grandkids can enjoy some day. Here's a pic of the tank and of it's initial population:





Dallaswinefan

Clowns

Hi all. I've dreamed for many years of having a reef tank. It's finally happening, and I was beyond thrilled to get my first inhabitants yesterday: four clowns. They are beautiful and fun to watch.

Here's my question: they seem to spend most of their time in a small clot in one specific corner of the tank. It's a big tank, a Red Sea 650, and I'm just wondering: do clowns normally huddle in a corner rather than roam or hang out in the LR?

Thanks!

Snowy Saturday

Morning all. Going to say hi to Denise before she crashes in between 16 hour shifts, then off to my old house I was renting. Fixing one window and door latch, then handing the keys off and done with that dead horse to carry around.

I-71 was crazy driving home from the airport yesterday. It was just mixed snow, but some people must be driving on slicks or something. I put snow tires on the Sentra to ensure safe travel to the airport at the weird hours necessary.

Late to the party, but going to cook up corned beef today with rutabagas and parsnips and cabbage.

Enjoy your Saturday everyone. Coffee is on.

Looking for a magnetic reliable powerheads

I'm looking for 2 or more reliable powerheads that have a magnetic backing outside of the tank so it doesn't look so cluttered. It's going to be in my 120 gallon reef I'm setting up and I'm looking for something cheaper than Ecotech MP series's and I didn't really care for the Gyres so any other suggestions? Thanks!

Strange pink rock?

So this is week 2.5 of my first SW tank. It is a 5 gal tank with HOB filter and top fin power head. Live rock and live sand installed day 1. Ammonia levels are around 0.3 ppm, nitrites are 5.0 ppm, and nitrates are 50 ppm. I think I'm on the down side of the cycle, as the ammonia has been slowly dropping.

So this morning, everything was normal in the tank. After returning from work this evening, there is a small (almost sand grain sized) pink colored rock in the middle of the tank. The picture is bad, but the rock is vivid pink; and when the light is turned off, it is still pink.



Does anybody have a clue as to what this might be? No one touched the tank while I was gone, so it originated from the tank. Do I have a rare coral that magically started to grow in my tank? Some type of critter?

Thanks for the help!

Strange pink rock?

So this is week 2.5 of my first SW tank. It is a 5 gal tank with HOB filter and top fin power head. Live rock and live sand installed day 1. Ammonia levels are around 0.3 ppm, nitrites are 5.0 ppm, and nitrates are 50 ppm. I think I'm on the down side of the cycle, as the ammonia has been slowly dropping.

So this morning, everything was normal in the tank. After returning from work this evening, there is a small (almost sand grain sized) pink colored rock in the middle of the tank. The picture is bad, but the rock is vivid pink; and when the light is turned off, it is still pink.

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Does anybody have a clue as to what this might be? No one touched the tank while I was gone, so it originated from the tank. Do I have a rare coral that magically started to grow in my tank? Some type of critter?

Thanks for the help!