We started removing sand on the nasty side first and have decided to only remove top layer on the rest. If we do that instead are we okay to do it all once? Removing remaining top layer and put in new sand? We drained so much water on that side that we added some back in and are waiting on things to settle a little before removing top layer from the rest.
Adopted a Tank
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melypr1985
totally addicted
It's a risk, but you can try it. Can you post a picture of the new sand you bought? Is is dry inside the bag?
In bed now, but it's CaribSea Ocean Direct Live Sand (agronite) I believe. Was damp, but not packed in water. Had a lot of shell bits and full small shells.
We went ahead and removed as much of the old stuff as we wanted and put some new in but even after extensive rinsing till it ran clear it clouded up pretty awful so we stopped. Didn't help that my help was moving the PVC pipe around. Will add more once it settles and I can do it on my own.
We went ahead and removed as much of the old stuff as we wanted and put some new in but even after extensive rinsing till it ran clear it clouded up pretty awful so we stopped. Didn't help that my help was moving the PVC pipe around. Will add more once it settles and I can do it on my own.
Can anyone suggest a new water change schedule that might start making a dent in the nitrates? We've had the tank 11 days now and have done 3 5g changes in that time and no detectable change in nitrates (both tests I've used are showing the max in their range...one at 200ppm and the other at 160ppm).
Test for phosphate is ordered and will see what results that produces to see how to proceed with the green hair algae. The good news is with the removal of some sand and addition of clean sand my snails are on the move more than before. Thinking I might need a few more snails or a crab though.
Test for phosphate is ordered and will see what results that produces to see how to proceed with the green hair algae. The good news is with the removal of some sand and addition of clean sand my snails are on the move more than before. Thinking I might need a few more snails or a crab though.
Bunnee911
Valuable Member
I have been fighting phosphates in my 29 BC. I am doing a gallon a day wc. My nitrates, while weren't awful, were high. They came into line this week. Phosphate is still a bear, but getting better.
If I am reading this correctly, I would like to make a few recommendations. Mainly from my experiences with my 40g. When I was having a full out algae attack (in your case a phosphate, nitrate, bad sand attack), I took a large tub and filled it with my tank water (undesturbed and removed everything to that tub). That included all livestock and rock and such.
Now, I scraped down the entire tank, (in your case remove all the old sand and left over water, then scrap all areas that need it.) Next put your new sand down, begin filling the tank with new water (same pH, salinity, temp) move the rocks and animals back into the system and complete the water change with some old water if undisturbed in the tub.
You should not get a spike because your rocks have kept all the beneficial bacteria in them. However, you are adding new sand that needs to colonize, so just do not add any more bioload for a while. I have done this a few times with no ill effects and it was in a full reef with lots of corals, fish, inverts, etc. In fact I do it often on my traveling tank to keep it clean.
Now, I scraped down the entire tank, (in your case remove all the old sand and left over water, then scrap all areas that need it.) Next put your new sand down, begin filling the tank with new water (same pH, salinity, temp) move the rocks and animals back into the system and complete the water change with some old water if undisturbed in the tub.
You should not get a spike because your rocks have kept all the beneficial bacteria in them. However, you are adding new sand that needs to colonize, so just do not add any more bioload for a while. I have done this a few times with no ill effects and it was in a full reef with lots of corals, fish, inverts, etc. In fact I do it often on my traveling tank to keep it clean.
SHould be live at this point. I would try a full clean as I described. Be careful not to add any new livestock. Just the ones you had.
Hi! Hadn't revisited my post in almost a month, yet it doesn't seem that long! When I didn't get input on water changes to get things in shape I eventually started a new thread focused just on the water. I've made great progress I feel like. I've done 3 large water changes over the last 3 weeks. One just over 50% followed by two just under 50%. Nitrates have dropped to between 20 and 30ppm. We started at over 200. My phosphates were high and still higher than I would like but much better. Started around 1.0 and am down to .2 through the water changes plus the use of Phosguard. No change in ammonia or nitrite so no mini cycles as a result of the water changes. And I don't see any fluctuation in nitrates over the course of a week so I really think the crazy high levels were a result of lack of water changes more than anything.
As the water quality has improved...I've had some new things pop up. For one; I've got pineapple sponge growth spread throughout my live rock. From my reading this doesn't seem to be of any concern. I also have 2 spots of what I believe to be pseudocorynactis/ball tip anemone. Ruled out aiptasia as the tips have balls on them. I will try to get some pictures later for confirmation, but they are in spots that will make getting a quality pic on my phone difficult.
Do you think my tank is now at a point where I can add another fish or two? Is there something else I should test for first?
As the water quality has improved...I've had some new things pop up. For one; I've got pineapple sponge growth spread throughout my live rock. From my reading this doesn't seem to be of any concern. I also have 2 spots of what I believe to be pseudocorynactis/ball tip anemone. Ruled out aiptasia as the tips have balls on them. I will try to get some pictures later for confirmation, but they are in spots that will make getting a quality pic on my phone difficult.
Do you think my tank is now at a point where I can add another fish or two? Is there something else I should test for first?
melypr1985
totally addicted
Way to go getting your nitrates down! Fantastic! You could probably add a small fish with caution. Just keep doing what your doing.
Thanks! Been telling my kids to be patient on new fish for over a month but thinking I will order a new bi color blenny to replace the one we lost next time I'm at the LFS getting water. Planning on one more large water change early next week and then going to a weekly routine. We loved the blenny we lost and know we want another. We've discussed another clown; but the one we have now has been alone for a few years so I'm concerned it might reject a new one. Any other fish suggestions to consider for a tank this size (37g)?
Sounds great! Glad you got it down and manageable. Another clown is fine as long as you add a really little one as to not compete with the dominance of the larger. (not 100% effective however, FME). However, leaving just one is no problem either. It will make other fishy friends.
Kids are so impatient. Then again, so are we adults.
Kids are so impatient. Then again, so are we adults.
Here's a pic of what I believe to be a pseudocorynactis...any thoughts or confirmation? Wish I could get a better pic but this one is at the back center so I can't get to it well to snap a pic. And the other is under a rock where it's too dark. Should I be concerned about them?
Yeh...wish I could get a better angle, but back of the tank is painted black and it faces straight back. Tried macro on my slr but that was worse than this! I've read a lot of conflicting info on whether these guys are bad. Going to wait and see what happens with him for now.
