Clueless Reefer

[Voltaire]

I have a Nano 13.5 gallon tank. For some time it was progressing then I got an algae attack that has never fully abated.

I have to be honest I know I'm doing lots wrong. I have no friends that Reef and I was trying to start small to get into the hobby. I have added a skimmer and still have the lighting a filter it came with.

I have used 7 in 1 Aquarium Test Strips, but to be honest I don't even know what to do when the levels are off. PH for instance has lots of vague tips online like open windows.

The only solution seams to be nonstop water changes. I use ROI water (or believe I do).

I'm not anywhere near a aquarium place. I loved my corals but now they have died and I don't know how to get the parameters to where they should be.

I love my tank and hate my tank right now.

Any bit size advice would be great.

 

[Waters]

First off, welcome !! How long has the tank been running and how did you cycle it? The aquarium strip tests are pretty inaccurate unfortuantely, but post what numbers you think you have. I wouldn't worry too much about things like PH at this point (I assume the tank is newer but you said you have lost coral so I am not sure?). Just make sure your salinity and temp are within range and staying constant and everything else will fall into place as the tank matures.

 

[Dreminon]

Welcome to the Salty Crew

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

We help but need more info from you.

What caught me off guard is you said you think you may be using RO? Expound upon that pls.
What are your other parameters?
FTS will help

 

[john92708]

watch BRS 5 minutes guide on YouTube

 

[New&no clue]

I’m sure we can help with some more information. What light do you have? I’m wondering if corals died due to insufficient lighting and not parameters. It you bought an aquarium kit the lights they come with are not great.

Also you talked about algae so what do you have for a Clean Up Crew(CUC)? Snails, hermits, etc.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

best advice I can give is to do your own research. Google Advanced Aquarist and Reefkeeping Online, and go through the articles, start with articles on filtration.

Its a very difficult hobby, especially when you have no prior experience or knowledge. Just check on kijiji for all the fluval 13.5's being sold......

 

[Dburr1014]

Welcome!

Research. Lots of it. BRS has some great videos of tank parameters, lights, flow, clean up crew, everything to get you started.
This hobby takes time and patients.

 

[Dan_P]

I have a Nano 13.5 gallon tank. For some time it was progressing then I got an algae attack that has never fully abated.

I have to be honest I know I'm doing lots wrong. I have no friends that Reef and I was trying to start small to get into the hobby. I have added a skimmer and still have the lighting a filter it came with.

I have used 7 in 1 Aquarium Test Strips, but to be honest I don't even know what to do when the levels are off. PH for instance has lots of vague tips online like open windows.

The only solution seams to be nonstop water changes. I use ROI water (or believe I do).

I'm not anywhere near a aquarium place. I loved my corals but now they have died and I don't know how to get the parameters to where they should be.

I love my tank and hate my tank right now.

Any bit size advice would be great.

Welcome to R2R!

My impression from your post is that you went into this difficult hobby unprepared. There will be no easy fix or adjustment for your situation. I am sorry for your loss and will give you some advice.

Read at least two books on keeping a saltwater aquarium, especially ones that cover keeping coral. The second piece of advice is social media is most useful when you ask it a specific question. Your question is rather broad, hence you are getting questions to clarify your situation. Lastly, this would be an excellent time to reflect on what exactly you want to get out of your aquarium or even should you pursue such a difficult hobby.

 

[dk2nt9]

Start reading, every problem and a long list of solutions for it are already posted online, just do the search. Reef forums were especially useful for me, including Reef2Reef. They don't try to sell something.

If not friends, then colleagues by hobby are next to you, on the other end on internet connection. Ask and get answer, the more specific question is, the more to the point answer. Do not expect to get crash course on reefkeeping in a few paragraphs, too much information than a post format can handle. Later share own findings, help others.

Testing: at least Salifert test kits, API liquid test kits mostly for cycling. No strips, sensitivity and accuracy issue.

Water parameters: leave pH alone, start with keeping water parameters (alkalinity, calcium, magnesium) the same, and nitrates and phosphates withing berable margins. There is a subforum for it, Reef Chemistry, do search there.

Knowing are you using RO water or not is simple: does it come from RO filter, has TDS below 10 ppm, no ammonia and chlorine in it.

Nonstop water changes are for emergency situation, dealing with problem and balancing tank should help.

Killing all corals is an unusual ability by itself, if you managed to do it, you should be as steady in keeping reef tank alive and well after a lot of reading and practical application.

To get specific help, you have to be more specific, as was already asked, beyond the feelings and history.

First things to check: make sure that your base water for mixing salt is good enough. Get proper test kits, re-calibrate refractometer, test saltwater, prepared for water changes. It should be within required parameters. If not, this is an additional topic to investigate.

I would buy an new salt mix with wanted parameters, do thorough dry mixing of the whole batch before first use. As long as you don't start to mess with water and continue with keeping tank clean, without keeping fast growing stony corals, water parameters initially should be where they are supposed to be without any additional effort (i.e. creating troubles with own hands).

Start cleaning the tank and do weekly water changes, 20-25%. If it still has algae, ID it, and if this green hair algae, search this forum for this name for solutions. It could be not what you want to hear, but for a small tank with removable rocks and no animals inside, manual cleaning rocks outside, followed with treatment with hydrogen peroxide (search here for exact procedure), double rinsing it and returning back in the tank for astreas or turbo snail to chew on is one of the options.

If this is a feathery bryosis, it has specific treatment, again, search for it here. More complex for a bubble algae, the same operating procedure: search, read, try what is possible in your tank.

If the cycle was broken, do fishless cycling before adding animals.

This is doable, just do it. Good luck!