Any opinions is appreciated.

[Edendunlap]

Hello I found this site and was wondering if anyone could give me advise or suggestions on how to maintain a thriving tank. I have been doing trial and error for awhile now but I feel this is going to be successful now. I have tried 2 times to get a salt water tank up and running. This is my 3rd attempt and I'm feeling good about it. I'm more knowledgeable and ask questions when i need help. The first time I was really new and had no clue what I was doing. So it didn't go so well. I did some more reading and bought my protein skimmer and a power head. Bought more live rock but I rushed it and tried putting fish in my tank to soon and I wasn't doing proper water changes and didn't have all the tests to see what was low or too high. The second time I moved and bought new already cured live rock to help my other live rock and to try my luck again, turns out the live rock that I bought introduced a new type of allege that I had never seen before it was (black slimy and spongy) I tried several times cleaning my rocks and many water changes for months to get rid of it but it would just come back with a vengeance a few days after the cleaning and it was killing anything I put in the tank. I looked it up and to my dismay there was nothing I could do but to take my rocks out let them dry up and start all over. I let my rocks dry out for a week and a half and started over. I also talked to a person who works at our local fish store and he told me to buy a phosban reactor to help with allege which I have done. My tank has been running for over 2 months now and seems to be doing great. I would really like this time to work. I feel I now have the proper equipment and I test my water daily and do weekly water changes. I buy distilled water for my water changes because I cannot afford a Ro/di right now. I added my first fish a lawn mower blenny 3 weeks ago, and added my second fish a Kole Tang 3 days ago. (I will be upgrading to a bigger tank later as my fish grow), so far he is doing great, he is picking at the rocks and tank seems very happy. I created a cave for him in my rock structure. Yesterday I bought my first 2 coral frags a Radioactive dragon eye polyps, and green pipe organ. I did some research on them and put my Pipe Organ higher in the tank and My dragon eye about mid tank. My pipe organ opened up within an hour and seems to be doing great today. My polyps are opening and closing, did some reading about why and it said that it might just be because its new to the systems and to give it a week. Is this correct? Anyways I hope I posted this in the right place. Again any advice would be appreciated.

My Tank and Equipment

75 Gal

Lighting- 4x Current USA Nova Extreme T5HO Fixture

1- Eshopps PSK-75H Hang-On Protein Skimmer
1- NextReef MR1 Shorty Media Reactor with
(Pura PhosLock Media)
1- Marineland Maxi-Jet 400 water pump attached to the MR1 Shorty
1- AquaTech Power Filter 30-60
(I use penguin Rite-Size filters and some Biomax Filter media)
1- (1150gph) Hydor Koralia Evolution Circulation Pump/Powerhead
1- (850gph) Hydor Koralia Evolution Circulation Pump/Powerhead

110lbs of live rock
About 25lbs of live sand maybe less


Test results as of (6/10/13)

PH- 8.3
Ammonia- Between 0 ppm
Nitrite- 0 ppm
Nitrate- 0 ppm
Phosphate- .05 ppm
Calcium- 460-480 ppm
KH/GH- 214.8 ppm

Pictures of my tank. Couldn't get a good picture of my tang for he is still shy when we get close to the tank.

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[Edendunlap]

Also I know my rock structure can create dead spaces. I am going to be buying 2 small powered power heads to put in each corner of my tank behind the rocks to creat some flow.


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[3Twinklets]

Welcome to R2R! There is a world of information here.
The main thing is to check your water parameters regularly, do regular water changes and change the medium in your reactor.
The algae could be part of the natural curing process or it could be a sign of other problems. How many hours a day do you run your lights? Are you overfeeding your new little guy?
You do not need to scrub your rocks. You may want to look into getting a clean up crew.

You may also want to creat some spacing between those rocks for more flow. Are they leaning on the back glass?

 

[cdness]

The one bit of advice I can give right away is go very slow. Do lots of reading here on Reef2Reef and don't make sudden changes. Stability is key in saltwater and patience is something you will learn you must have in this hobby in order to be successful.

Welcome to R2R. Post often and keep those pics coming as the tank matures.

 

[Edendunlap]

I don't really have a big allege problem. I have a little allege here and there but my blenny and tang have been picking at its way under control, I also have a good handful of hermits. I just showed my picture of my tank to my local fish store and they said that the way i have my rock set up could cause problems in the future because there is no flow behind them. My lights are on for 10hrs. I turn on my blue actinic light 1 hr before the actinic white bulbs and turn off the actinic white bulbs an hour before. So my blue bulbs are on for 10hrs and my white bulbs for 8hrs


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[Edendunlap]

Yes the rock is leaning on the glass in some parts that's why I was thinking of getting 2 lowflow pumps to go in rack corner near the bottom behind some rock to create flow. Is this not a good idea?


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[Edendunlap]

I'm not going to be getting any new fish for awhile. That why I spaced


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[Edendunlap]

The 3 weeks before getting a new one.


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[Edendunlap]

Would it be possible for me to move my rock around now or is that to risky? Thank you for the help.


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[Edendunlap]

Ok so I took a few hours and removed some rock from my tank and rearranged the rest. Here is a new picture of my tank. Watching my levels right now making sure everything stays good.

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[bucksfan1976]

Love the change of the rock work, take your time and it will thrive. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[3Twinklets]

There you go!! Good job.

 

[Edendunlap]

Thank you! I have tried 2 times over the last year and there was a lot of trial and error and I decided not to give up this is my third time and I have had the tank running for about 2 and a half months now and I am taking it slow. I'm not even thinking about adding another fish or coral for at least a month. Just to let the ones I have in here thrive and succeed with out the added stress of a new tank mate. I will update with pictures regularly.


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[180galreef]

looks like you are off to a good start. Like others have said do things very slowly, sudden changes will often cause a spike and do more damage than it does help. Start easy and do polyps and mushrooms.

 

[Mike J.]

Welcome to Reef 2 Reef. I'm hoping that your tank thrives this time. Obviously, you're not a quitter.

 

[Edendunlap]

Thanks everyone.


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[mike007]

Looks to me your rock is a little green with algae. If you have a good skimmer you do not want to use any pads. They will only acculate debris and cause nitrates to rise. You do need more flow. Also be carefull and don't overfeed which will also cause unwanted algae growth. Be patient and enjoy.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Welcome to R2R!! I love the new rock work!! Is your LFS That Pet Place? If so, I'm jealous!!

 

[Edendunlap]

Yes it is. and thanks.


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