2 months in and need insight
 

Well I'm two months in to my first tank and everything is going fairly smooth. I had a good cycle had a diatom bloom that came and went (having another small one right now) and all my numbers are good.
Aquapod 24 with maxijet900 return and koralia 425
Ph 8.3
Salinity 1.024
Temp 79
Nitrate/nitrite 0ppm
Ammonia 0ppm
Calcium hardness 120ppm

I have currently a CC with four turbos and an Astraea, red reef hermit, fire shrimp, sand siftin star (may remove) and a black ocellaris. Currently have one zoa frag (8polys) and a nice green toadstool leather (two inches in diameter). Today I noticed some whitish growths underneath some of my rock and I can't findour what they are. They look like little pistachios with a small funnel type thing at the end. So far I've only seen two of them. What are they and should I be worried?

Looks like some type of sponge to me. If so, they're good.

That's what I'm hoping they are but what's weird is they look like they have a mouth or a spout on top. I'll just watch them I guess unless someone says otherwise.

I was thinking a sponge or possibly a worm

Pineapple sponge. Completely harmless, but will get to monumental numbers if your tank has excess nutrients. Also calcium should be WAY higher.

I second Pineapple sponge

I third it

I think they are called tunicates. They are great for your tank and will grow in darker places. They tend to come and go over time depending upon what's in your water column. Nice little tank filters.

BTW, I think that there are approximately 72 gazillion (this is a scientific number) species of tunicates so don't worry too much about precise ID.

Google pineapple sponges.

Whew that's a relief, if my calcium is too low should I be dosing with something? My corals are open and showing great color and life. Each of them opened up after being about 5 minutes in my tank. They seem to be happy with everything and I don't want to throw it out of balance.

I think you've got your terms a little mixed up. The things you are testing for are carbonate hardness (kH) and Calcium. kH should be between around 7 and 10. Ca should be around 400 (little higher or lower doesn't really hurt but most reef keepers shoot for around 440).

There is no way your kH is 120 nor is your Ca 120. What test kit are you using?

Oh you're totally right, I meant carbonate hardness. It was an api strip I believe (I ran out and threw out the container). When I converted it online it said it was at about 6.7. I can't believe I confused those two :p

First, get rid of the strips. They can be used for ball park readings but aren't going to do you much good. Don't worry about the confusion. BTW, I just looked it up and kH can be measured in 'calcium carbonate equivalents' which can be in the range you noted. I have no idea what that is but in the hobby, most people either measure kH or meq/L. 6.7 is on the low side but I wouldn't trust that reading off of a strip.

You can get an excellent and very easy to use titration test kit from Salifert. Even API is better than a strip.

What salt are you using and how often are you changing water?

I'm using the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals, doing a 15% water change every other week. Now that I'm out of the strips I'll get some better testing supplies. Just gotta get paid tomorrow first.

If you're using Reef Crystals and doing those water changes, I'll bet you that your kH is around 9 and your Ca is over 400. You don't have anything that's really using them up so your parameters are most likely spot on. Out of curiosity, what lighting are you using.

P.S. From what you're saying, I think you're on the right track to a successful tank. Go real slow and things will work out nicely. You should post a full tank shot.

I'm using a Current USA marine orbit LED since this is my first reef tank and I just want to do some soft corals for now. I have some other tanks that I'm working on (re doing my sisters for her so it's something nice to look at) but this is my main tank.

First off, welcome to Reef Central! Good aquascape; but don't know how long that starfish will survive in new tank. It may starve. You been to FAOIS yet? I lived in St. Pete for 8 yrs. & LOVE that place!

Haven't been there yet, haven't gone that far south. There's a few local shops that are just opening up so I've been going there, prices are quite good. I wasn't too sure about the star when I got him but the guy at my LFS said he would help stir the sand so I grabbed him.

Hey guys I added a toadstool coral about 9 days ago, for the first 5 days it was fully extended and great color. Since then it hasn't extended. It's not curled up its flat but the polyps aren't extending. It's slightly paler now on top so I'm not sure if it's going through its wax phase. I've moved it into a little higher flow and higher lighting hoping that makes a difference. Is this something I should be concerned with?

I wouldn't be overly concerned, it's probably just shedding. If you post a picture, it'll be easier to diagnose though.

This is the best/clearest photo I can get through my makeshift viewer (clear acrylic overflow box :p) ..let me know if this helps at all.

As long as it maintains its color and doesn't get blotchy or start shrinking/decomposing I wouldn't worry too much. If it's still like that after a week, then I'd worry. Higher flow was the right call, but I'm not sure I'd give it more light. I may have missed it, but what lighting do you have?

I'm using a Current USA marine orbit LED. It's about halfway up my tank right now.

Yea... Hope I'm not the first to break it to you but those are weak lights, you can maybe get away with keeping them on high for 10 hours a day with softies but you won't be able to keep higher light corals long term.

I'm well aware that's why I bought it, it was in expensive and low profile and I really ONLY want to delve into softies until later down the road. When and if I decide to move into sps/lps I'll get another light but I have no intention on doing so anytime soon.