Aquarium consultation

[maksim serebro]

Hi, I am new to reef2reef. I have a silly question. I work in a medical field. We do consults everyday, instructing patients on proper treatment and possible remedies. Is there such a thing for aquariums. Let me explain. I do not trust my local aquarium stores. They either lack knowledge of just do not care and are more interested in me buying the next best thing then the tank being healthy. I was wondering if anyone from this site is living near by (Stamford CT) and could come over and do a consult (paid of course). Has anyone done this before? I see some many great looking tanks on this site and frankly, I would like mine to look like that. I recently moved into Stamford and do not have any one I can turn to with questions except the internet. I have a 300 gal mixed reef. Its been set up for 1.5 years and I am still struggling. I could use some help. Sorry for the long post or if I posted in the wrong place.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hi, I am new to reef2reef. I have a silly question. I work in a medical field. We do consults everyday, instructing patients on proper treatment and possible remedies. Is there such a thing for aquariums. Let me explain. I do not trust my local aquarium stores. They either lack knowledge of just do not care and are more interested in me buying the next best thing then the tank being healthy. I was wondering if anyone from this site is living near by (Stamford CT) and could come over and do a consult (paid of course). Has anyone done this before? I see some many great looking tanks on this site and frankly, I would like mine to look like that. I recently moved into Stamford and do not have any one I can turn to with questions except the internet. I have a 300 gal mixed reef. Its been set up for 1.5 years and I am still struggling. I could use some help. Sorry for the long post or if I posted in the wrong place.

I'm surprised you feel that way about your LFS, I feel the area has some of the more knowledgeable LFS in the country. There are plenty of service companies that are knowledgeable too(though plenty that aren't) I am in the area almost every day. PM if interested.

 

[twilliard]

Your in the perfect place for a free consultation! R2R!
Now where is the full tank shot?

 

[DeniseAndy]

I also love to help new hobbyists. I have worked with many in my area to set things right the first time. I think it is wonderful you want to get some help before getting in too far. However, even the best intentions are not always the way to go for you.

I think your best bet is to get on here and other sites you trust and ask some questions. I get that sometimes you do not know even what to ask. If I was closer, I would happily help you out. I am in Cincinnati however. We have considered having a service for newcomers incorporated into our organizational programs, but have not set it up yet.

You can always start a conversation with someone and maybe get to talk to them. I would happily chat over the phone with you.

First, you need to figure out what kind of reef keeper you want to be. This means, how much time can you commit, how much money can you commit, what is reasonable with your lifestyle and desires. If you are struggling with your 300 mixed, could be many factors contributing to it from system to animals, to water to maintenance. Lets start with your system set up.

What is your set up? What does it look like, how does it flow and what equipment are you running? Pic will help a ton. Sand, bare bottom, refugium, what in refugium, carbon, gfo, calcium reactor, skimmer, return pump, external pumps, internal, powerhead, lights, ro/di system, etc.

 

[maksim serebro]

 

[maksim serebro]

will take some more pics when i get home. Went to a local store, and I asked the name of an acro. The sales rep told me that its definitely an acro. he does not know the name, but he has other acros too and they are also "cool". after that conversation, I lost confidence in the store

 

[maksim serebro]

I also love to help new hobbyists. I have worked with many in my area to set things right the first time. I think it is wonderful you want to get some help before getting in too far. However, even the best intentions are not always the way to go for you.

I think your best bet is to get on here and other sites you trust and ask some questions. I get that sometimes you do not know even what to ask. If I was closer, I would happily help you out. I am in Cincinnati however. We have considered having a service for newcomers incorporated into our organizational programs, but have not set it up yet.

You can always start a conversation with someone and maybe get to talk to them. I would happily chat over the phone with you.

First, you need to figure out what kind of reef keeper you want to be. This means, how much time can you commit, how much money can you commit, what is reasonable with your lifestyle and desires. If you are struggling with your 300 mixed, could be many factors contributing to it from system to animals, to water to maintenance. Lets start with your system set up.

What is your set up? What does it look like, how does it flow and what equipment are you running? Pic will help a ton. Sand, bare bottom, refugium, what in refugium, carbon, gfo, calcium reactor, skimmer, return pump, external pumps, internal, powerhead, lights, ro/di system, etc.

So, here is my deal. I started reefing 15 years ago with 72gal bowfront, power compacts, skimmer live rock and LPS. Some corals died like goniporas and gorgonias and some thrived - frogspawn, leather, brains etc. I got back into hobby 1.5 years ago after getting my doctorate and buying a house. A started with 150 gal and later upgraded to 300 gal. 50 gal sump with reef octopus skimmer (will look up model but rated to 500 gal) I decided to go barebottom to maintain water clarity. Initially, I had 2 mp40 to help with circulation, and later added 3 more korelia pumps closer to bottom to improve circulation and keep detritus suspended. LPS were suffering from beginning - not fully opening up. Lights - ATI powermodule with 4 T5. I also ran 2 part dosing from brs, and carbon and rowaphos. Soon my SPS started loosing color. Not enough food. I took rowaphos off line added fish and stated feeding more. Still very little SPS growth but some is better that nothing and they colored up. Then I added 6 T5 - ATI Sunpower. SPS started growing more, LPS still unhappy. Then dinos showed up - long (7in) red hair thin strands near the powerheads. Not a lot, but enough to tangle in my birdsnest and red dragon. I added reef dynamics pellet reactor thinking my nutrients were high, nothing, then put rowaphos back online. No matter what I try, LPS are not happy, SPS growing very slowly, colors are ok. Fish are great though! Growing and fat.
Alkalinity 7.2, calcium 420, magnesium 1400, salinity 35. I just cant seem to get the balance right. RODI water ofcourse with TDS meter, auto topoff, neptune apex. I tried everything

 

[eatbreakfast]

will take some more pics when i get home. Went to a local store, and I asked the name of an acro. The sales rep told me that its definitely an acro. he does not know the name, but he has other acros too and they are also "cool". after that conversation, I lost confidence in the store

I wouldn't be bothered by that so much. Even for professionals and scientists, some acros are difficult to identify on the species level, without genetics done, hobbyists have just been calling many of them by the industry names. As long as the proper care advice can be given then it's fine.

There are very few, in any industry that can tell you all the details of every aspect. Especially in a hobby such as this, which has many fragmented interests within the hobby, from fish, to inverts, to lps, to softies, to sps, to chemistry, to diy, to equipment, etc, also consider that many lfs also have freshwater as well. You mentioned you are in the medical field, that is a highly specialized industry, with way more money going into the industry. You are expecting an lfs, which pays it's employees way less than the medical field to be a master of all trades within the industry.

 

[eatbreakfast]

So, here is my deal. I started reefing 15 years ago with 72gal bowfront, power compacts, skimmer live rock and LPS. Some corals died like goniporas and gorgonias and some thrived - frogspawn, leather, brains etc. I got back into hobby 1.5 years ago after getting my doctorate and buying a house. A started with 150 gal and later upgraded to 300 gal. 50 gal sump with reef octopus skimmer (will look up model but rated to 500 gal) I decided to go barebottom to maintain water clarity. Initially, I had 2 mp40 to help with circulation, and later added 3 more korelia pumps closer to bottom to improve circulation and keep detritus suspended. LPS were suffering from beginning - not fully opening up. Lights - ATI powermodule with 4 T5. I also ran 2 part dosing from brs, and carbon and rowaphos. Soon my SPS started loosing color. Not enough food. I took rowaphos off line added fish and stated feeding more. Still very little SPS growth but some is better that nothing and they colored up. Then I added 6 T5 - ATI Sunpower. SPS started growing more, LPS still unhappy. Then dinos showed up - long (7in) red hair thin strands near the powerheads. Not a lot, but enough to tangle in my birdsnest and red dragon. I added reef dynamics pellet reactor thinking my nutrients were high, nothing, then put rowaphos back online. No matter what I try, LPS are not happy, SPS growing very slowly, colors are ok. Fish are great though! Growing and fat.
Alkalinity 7.2, calcium 420, magnesium 1400, salinity 35. I just cant seem to get the balance right. RODI water ofcourse with TDS meter, auto topoff, neptune apex. I tried everything

What are your PO4 and NO3?
A lot of LPS doesn't like too much flow.

Corals, especially sps, do better in consistent conditions, rather than always changing stuff to get perfect conditions.

 

[maksim serebro]

I wouldn't be bothered by that so much. Even for professionals and scientists, some acros are difficult to identify on the species level, without genetics done, hobbyists have just been calling many of them by the industry names. As long as the proper care advice can be given then it's fine.

There are very few, in any industry that can tell you all the details of every aspect. Especially in a hobby such as this, which has many fragmented interests within the hobby, from fish, to inverts, to lps, to softies, to sps, to chemistry, to diy, to equipment, etc, also consider that many lfs also have freshwater as well. You mentioned you are in the medical field, that is a highly specialized industry, with way more money going into the industry. You are expecting an lfs, which pays it's employees way less than the medical field to be a master of all trades within the industry.

You are right, out of the stores in CT, I like Coral reef in Stratford the best. They used to have a great collection of SPS. Lots of Stuff from ORA. When I asked them, they said "dose potassium" I bought test kit and potassium. Levels are fine. Then they said dose amino acids. did that - caused more algae. Then it was trace elements - nothing happened. Other stores in the are I feel do not have a great selection of acros, so their experience is a bit lacking. My 2 cents

 

[maksim serebro]

What are your PO4 and NO3?
A lot of LPS doesn't like too much flow.

Corals, especially sps, do better in consistent conditions, rather than always changing stuff to get perfect conditions.

NO3 and PO4 always read 0 via Hanna checker and red sea test kits. Algae is present and I have to clean the front glass every other day. Over a month ago, I turned off 3 out of 5 powerheads to make my LPS happy. Nothing happened. Placed them in the corner - away from flow and light, and they are still not opening up all the way.

 

[maksim serebro]

I wouldn't be bothered by that so much. Even for professionals and scientists, some acros are difficult to identify on the species level, without genetics done, hobbyists have just been calling many of them by the industry names. As long as the proper care advice can be given then it's fine.

There are very few, in any industry that can tell you all the details of every aspect. Especially in a hobby such as this, which has many fragmented interests within the hobby, from fish, to inverts, to lps, to softies, to sps, to chemistry, to diy, to equipment, etc, also consider that many lfs also have freshwater as well. You mentioned you are in the medical field, that is a highly specialized industry, with way more money going into the industry. You are expecting an lfs, which pays it's employees way less than the medical field to be a master of all trades within the industry.

I also visited Westport Aquarium in CT. Very clean tanks. I counted 6-7 acros in the whole store. What is your experience with them?

 

[maksim serebro]

I will post more pictures tonight. Honestly, I feel embarrassed of my tank so do not take many photos nor show the tank to my friends

 

[twilliard]

I will post more pictures tonight. Honestly, I feel embarrassed of my tank so do not take many photos nor show the tank to my friends

Dont be afraid to show your tank!
We are all here to help
Did I just see no3 is zero?
I'm sorry I caught the end of this

 

[eatbreakfast]

I also visited Westport Aquarium in CT. Very clean tanks. I counted 6-7 acros in the whole store. What is your experience with them?

Have you tried House of Fins and Greenwich Aquaria? Both know their stuff. The former is on the expensive side, the latter's prices are on par with LA and both offer guarantees, which most other lfs don't. Both usually have acros too.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Never feel embarrassed. We all have good an bad times with tanks. Good and bad shots. My tank for instance is horrible in pics because of the 50yr old glass it is (3/4" glass too). It is hard to see sometimes other than in person.

To start, I would want to talk about many aspects before giving recommendations. To start, it is not uncommon that you have issues with mixed reef system. Corals require different flow, light, nutrients depending on where they are found in the reef. Also, if you have wild caught specimens, they may not adapt well compared to aquacultured.

From the sounds of it, you added some light and that was right for sps. The 4 bulb t5 would normally not be enough over the 300gallons. What are the dimensions? Also, moving them further up in the tank will help too.

Also, lots of flow directed at the lps would restrict their ability to open fully (this for the brains, not for euphyllia sp.) Your brains (trachys, favia, symphyllia). Also, the types of brains you have are normally found on a sandy bottom, so the hard bottom may aggravate them (although I hear others say they do fine on bare bottom). They can take lots of time to adjust to changes in flow and light. How much time did you give them?

Nitrates and Phosphates rating at zero is not always a good thing.

Also, change comes slow. Patience is tough. I must admit, I would want to see the whole system and the animals to figure out what is going on. It may take time to figure it all out and get you going on the correct path, but it will come. Just keep giving us clues as to what is going on.

 

[maksim serebro]

 

[maksim serebro]

 

[maksim serebro]

Have you tried House of Fins and Greenwich Aquaria? Both know their stuff. The former is on the expensive side, the latter's prices are on par with LA and both offer guarantees, which most other lfs don't. Both usually have acros too.

I have been to both places. Greenwich aquaria was supposed to call me back - never did. When I went to either place I was helped to a young kid who had no idea about hard corals. When I was young, many years ago, I actually worked for House of Fins. I have more faith in people on this site than some random store employee.

 

[maksim serebro]

Posted some pics. iPhone pics - sorry. Things got worse after I ran GFO. all softies are deflated except for one brain. I turned off GFO. algae is covering the red dragon - not sure if it will recover. very sad day