Hello all, I have a 90 gallon reef (some day in the future be moving to my 180 gallon reef ready I just got for free). I have had the tank up for 7 years now and have noticed some odd things about the aquarium.
Setup for all to know is:
90 gallon tank
20 gallon sump
ASM g2 Skimmer (not moded, thinking of doing that soon to help get it working better)
10 gallon refugium (removed the sand and rock and just have clerpa in there)
(2) 175 watt metal halides
(2) 48" Actinics
I have to scrape my aquarium glass once ever 2 - 4 days from algea growth. I also have 0 coraline algea. First 2 - 3 years I had it and now its all gone. Why is my question?
Water Quality is this:
Calcium 450
Nitrate 20 ppm (best I can do for some reason)
Phosphate 5 ppm (just started testing this, not sure if that is horrible)
PH is always perfect
Alk is always perfect
Was thinking of making an algae scrubber but not sure if I could set that up on my existing 90 with where it is and the room I have below where the sump is.
I go a 30 - 35 gallon water change ever 3 - 4 weeks...
I do run an RO - DI Filter also
Corals grow great, fish are alive and well... However I know its just not right.
I have just recently I would say this year, been cleaning the sand. I thought (and I am an idiot I know) the sand took care of itself. So it got bad and had my nitrates up to 40 ppm or q little higher... Every time I do a water change now I clean the sand the best I can in the front and the places where I cannot get to the sand well I have been sucking it up and cleaning it a bit and putting it back in the tank... is there a better way? how do you guys clean your sand?
I know that is allot to take in but at this point with me upgrading in the future i would like to know allot more than I do I guess... would like to have my 90 working well so I can plan and do better for my 180 gallon some day.
Here is a pic of my tank that is somewhat recent... with in the last 2 months...
Setup for all to know is:
90 gallon tank
20 gallon sump
ASM g2 Skimmer (not moded, thinking of doing that soon to help get it working better)
10 gallon refugium (removed the sand and rock and just have clerpa in there)
(2) 175 watt metal halides
(2) 48" Actinics
I have to scrape my aquarium glass once ever 2 - 4 days from algea growth. I also have 0 coraline algea. First 2 - 3 years I had it and now its all gone. Why is my question?
Water Quality is this:
Calcium 450
Nitrate 20 ppm (best I can do for some reason)
Phosphate 5 ppm (just started testing this, not sure if that is horrible)
PH is always perfect
Alk is always perfect
Was thinking of making an algae scrubber but not sure if I could set that up on my existing 90 with where it is and the room I have below where the sump is.
I go a 30 - 35 gallon water change ever 3 - 4 weeks...
I do run an RO - DI Filter also
Corals grow great, fish are alive and well... However I know its just not right.
I have just recently I would say this year, been cleaning the sand. I thought (and I am an idiot I know) the sand took care of itself. So it got bad and had my nitrates up to 40 ppm or q little higher... Every time I do a water change now I clean the sand the best I can in the front and the places where I cannot get to the sand well I have been sucking it up and cleaning it a bit and putting it back in the tank... is there a better way? how do you guys clean your sand?
I know that is allot to take in but at this point with me upgrading in the future i would like to know allot more than I do I guess... would like to have my 90 working well so I can plan and do better for my 180 gallon some day.
Here is a pic of my tank that is somewhat recent... with in the last 2 months...
