last chance for me

[cesar9059]

Ok friends, since I set up my tank the only that I have are problems and a lot of money wasted. Right now my tank is a dissaster and I don't know what the hell is going. all my dsb, glass, skimmer pre filter, overflow, and rock are covered by some kind of green and brown algae. I try to do the best possible considering my budget, but no result. My parameter are good not the best but good. pH 8.3, NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 10 and lowing, PO4 0, alk 3.5 and calcium 450. I know that nitrates have to be in 0 but is impossible that 10 ppm have a big impact in water quality. Right now I only have 4 fish, no coral.

My tank is 55g with 18 g sump with caulerpas, mangrove and miracle mud. I am using the skimmer aqua c remora pro with mag 3. My lights are 260 w compact lights. This light are sufficient for the coral that I desire. I have 40 lbs o live rock

So, what else I can do

I dont know, but I am thinkin to remove all the rock and clean completly in fresh water, so I hope that my coraline algae not to be affected, only the bacteria. I will syphone the dsb and clean all glasses and prefilter box and then make a total water change and #$@#@# start in 0. If this not result I will open my windows ( 10 lever of my apartment ) and bye bye tank: :help: mad2:

[Reefscape]

Hey there....please dont dissmay...Just gonna ask you a few quick questions and we shall take it from there....Need to understand your system before making suggestions...

1) How long has it been running?
2) What type of water do you use? RO....RO/DI....Tap
3) What circulation do you have in the tank? whether it be via pumps or powerheads
4) How often do you do water changes?
5) What is your lighting schedule?
6) What is your feeding plan?

Ok, a little more than a few, but we need this infomation to be able to help you diagnose your algae problems..

It might just turn out to be something really simple that your overlooking, or might need a change in the way you have it setup...But, with the above answers, we should be able to help you sort this out...

In my opinion, algae issues with a marine tank is what causes a lot of new keeps to jack-in marine keeping...

We will do all we can to help..

Niko

[joander123]

well, your params dont look bad man, i mean nitrate is EXTREMELY hard to get below like 3 ppm so dont worry about that, 10 is normal.... i would say that just follow your plan, i dont know if the freshwater dip will affect the coraline but it will grow back if it does die.... id say just clean everything real good and do frequent water changes maybe dip the rock and hope for the best.

Good luck
Jay

[jojo22]

if your tank is relatively new then what you are experienceing is a diatom bloom which is compleatly normal in all new reef tanks, some just get it worse than others. The answers to Niko's questions will realy help us in assiting you. I also agree that 10 ppm of nitrate is not that big of a deal as it does not seem like you are looking to keep very difficult or demanding corals (judgeing by your lights). Keep your hopes up and just take the advise that I and all the other great people here offer and you will have a rockin reef in no time!!!

[cesar9059]

Hey there....please dont dissmay...Just gonna ask you a few quick questions and we shall take it from there....Need to understand your system before making suggestions...

1) How long has it been running?
2) What type of water do you use? RO....RO/DI....Tap
3) What circulation do you have in the tank? whether it be via pumps or powerheads
4) How often do you do water changes?
5) What is your lighting schedule?
6) What is your feeding plan?

Ok, a little more than a few, but we need this infomation to be able to help you diagnose your algae problems..

It might just turn out to be something really simple that your overlooking, or might need a change in the way you have it setup...But, with the above answers, we should be able to help you sort this out...

In my opinion, algae issues with a marine tank is what causes a lot of new keeps to jack-in marine keeping...

We will do all we can to help..

Niko


1. ok my tank was established 8 month ago.
2.I am using RO/DI/ozone water from a local store.
3. my circulation.... well... I only have the return pump from my sump. the return line is in the midle of the tank spraying water to the left and right
4. I make 35 % of water change one/month
5. My lights....well I turn on the lights at 3 pm - 8 pm. I think that lights issu can be a factor. where the tank is, receive to many sun lights (clarity)not direct sun lights. another issue can be that I use in my living room fluorescent lights ( daylights )
6 My feeding plan is pellets one a day at 7:30 pm

[Reefscape]

Ok, a possibility is that it could just be an algae bloom with it being a reletivly new system..Flow i think is an issue, the return pump on its own is not going to be good enough. You want to be aiming for minimum 10 times water turn over per hour, probably change your water change routine to doing 15% every week...Sun light does have an issue on a tank, but if its not in direct sunlight, i cant see it being that....

What cleanup crew do you have in the tank?

Remember, algae is caused by high nutrients....

Niko

[5xevy]

I agree with atnixon. I would definitely perform more frequent water changes. I was also wondering about what kind of clean-up crew you have in there.

Cerith and nassarius snails can really help with algae. Sand-sifting gobies can help with your sandbed. Red-legged hermit crabs seem to really help out as well.

I was also thinking that your lights aren't on enough. That was one of the biggest mistakes I made when I started out with my FOWLR. I honestly thought the lighting was causing the algae when in reality, it was the opposite. After finally listening to my much more knowledgeable hobbyist friends at the time, I kept them on for at least 8 hours/day (even though it didn't make sense to me at the time :D). The algae was gone within about 2-3 weeks, and almost as fast at it had arrived. Timers can really help with that too.

This hobby is really rewarding- please don't let it get you down. I'm willing to bet almost every saltwater tank has had algae issues at one time or another.

[Germanman]

yea i would even out ur light cycle and also pellet food leaves behind a high amount of organic waist and shouldnt really be used as a staple food. if you dont have a clean up crew add one, on that note nassa snails dont really eat algae they eat decaying matter and carrion (sick animals)...they are safe untill a fish gets sick. the second that fish hits the ground suffering they will come out and eat it alive in its suffering.

[jencrane63]

You definitely need a cleanup crew. I was growing brown and green algae and i knew I needed more snails but was trying to find some at a reasonable price. I have a 75 gallon with 1 foxface rabbitfish, i yellowbelly damsel,1 blue damsel, 1 green chromis, 1 cardinal, 1 red starfish 2 emerald crabs, 3 peppermint shrimp, green centered zoos, yellow polyps, candycanes, and 1 blue mushroom. I added 60 astrea snails on monday and the front and sides of mine tank are almost 80% clean. Allin all my astrea snail count for my tank is around 70 snails. That worked for me and keep an eye on your phosphates and the ph levels. Good Luck.

[5xevy]

nassa snails dont really eat algae they eat decaying matter and carrion (sick animals)...they are safe untill a fish gets sick. the second that fish hits the ground suffering they will come out and eat it alive in its suffering.

Yep, my mistake. Thanks for the correction Germanman.

[Germanman]

np i love to help...ur never really wrong either lol:)

[cesar9059]

Ok, a possibility is that it could just be an algae bloom with it being a reletivly new system..Flow i think is an issue, the return pump on its own is not going to be good enough. You want to be aiming for minimum 10 times water turn over per hour, probably change your water change routine to doing 15% every week...Sun light does have an issue on a tank, but if its not in direct sunlight, i cant see it being that....

What cleanup crew do you have in the tank?

Remember, algae is caused by high nutrients....

Niko

two month ago I has a sand star, 3 turbo snail, and 4 oter kind of snail but all die in an month

[Reefscape]

I would certainly suggest trying again with a clean up crew of snails, red and blue hermits..Your water param's are fine so there should be no reason why they should not be fine..Was anything out of line on your params when they all died? Seems strange that they all popped their cloggs...

Niko

[cesar9059]

I agree with atnixon. I would definitely perform more frequent water changes. I was also wondering about what kind of clean-up crew you have in there.

Cerith and nassarius snails can really help with algae. Sand-sifting gobies can help with your sandbed. Red-legged hermit crabs seem to really help out as well.

I was also thinking that your lights aren't on enough. That was one of the biggest mistakes I made when I started out with my FOWLR. I honestly thought the lighting was causing the algae when in reality, it was the opposite. After finally listening to my much more knowledgeable hobbyist friends at the time, I kept them on for at least 8 hours/day (even though it didn't make sense to me at the time :D). The algae was gone within about 2-3 weeks, and almost as fast at it had arrived. Timers can really help with that too.

This hobby is really rewarding- please don't let it get you down. I'm willing to bet almost every saltwater tank has had algae issues at one time or another.


Ok thanks men please if you can send me a list of a recomend clean up crew for my tank. An one question, the clean up crew dont affect my dsb. I dont now if is a mistake but my dsb is in the display tank

and also please sorry for my english writting, I am from puerto rico

[Reefscape]

of course...For a 55gal i would go for something along the lines of 10 Nassarius Snails, 10 Nerite Snails, 10 red and blue hermit crabs and then use that as a base line of your cleanup mob...a good cleanup crew, i persoanlly think, will help your tank in a great way....if you go to somewhere like marinedepot.com or liveaquaria.com, they will be able to supply you with a complete cleanup pack for your size of tank...

Let me know

Niko

Niko

[dorkfish]

Have you by any chance used medications to treat your fish for disease? If so, what kind? This could be what killed your previous clean up crew.

Also, how deep is your sand bed? and what kind of sand did you use? And how fine is it? In my tank with a deep sand bed, the sand bed was functioning and I had 0 nitrate after about 4-5 months of having the tank up.

BTW, atnixon... he said he was in puerto rico... live aquaria and a marine depot don't ship outside of the US(but still... they provide you a list of the critters you would get).

[Reefscape]

Hey Julian....yes, i was only refering him to them websites to get an idea of what he "could" buy for a 55gal....cheers matey....

Niko

[cesar9059]

Have you by any chance used medications to treat your fish for disease? If so, what kind? This could be what killed your previous clean up crew.

Also, how deep is your sand bed? and what kind of sand did you use? And how fine is it? In my tank with a deep sand bed, the sand bed was functioning and I had 0 nitrate after about 4-5 months of having the tank up.

BTW, atnixon... he said he was in puerto rico... live aquaria and a marine depot don't ship outside of the US(but still... they provide you a list of the critters you would get).

No, I dont use any medication in the tank.
My dsb is ~4" I use live sand, is very fine ( I think so). My dsb is making a good job because my nitrates was in over 30 ppm and from the sand I see a lot of bubbles but the problems is that this bubbles are trapped by the algae

[cesar9059]

yea i would even out ur light cycle and also pellet food leaves behind a high amount of organic waist and shouldnt really be used as a staple food. if you dont have a clean up crew add one, on that note nassa snails dont really eat algae they eat decaying matter and carrion (sick animals)...they are safe untill a fish gets sick. the second that fish hits the ground suffering they will come out and eat it alive in its suffering.

Ok thanks, What type of frozen food is good

[Squawkbert]

How much caulerpa have you got?
It can cause problems, but in moderation, it can soak up some of the NO3 & PO4 that you would otherwise not want (although a "real" SW plant may do this more efficiently). Diatom blooms pretty much just require a lot of patience.