Filter help

[Dantetsuken]

Hi

I've had my tank for a little over 2 years with mixed result and really rethinking my whole setup, and I need help as I am clearly missing something.

Set up
I have a 30gal tank, with mechanical filters at the back (2 sponge filters with ceramic rings , and 2 bags of carbon + phosguard).
I also have a protein skimmer, and FluvalSmart lights (loghts settings were based off another thread in this forum).
I fill the tank with my own water from my rodi system.

I have 1 fish, I believe is a damsel ( survivor, had more but there was a terrible case of itch while I was away and all fish died, breaking my heart to the point where I almost sold everything) , 2 pistol shrimps and 1 very large colony of polyps corals.

I have 2 issues, which are connected:
- NO3 won't drop below 20;
- Green algae builds up very quickly.

All other parameters should be fine (beside PH which could be higher):

P.H. : 7.8
Spec gravity: 1.026
Ammo: 0
NO2: 0
Alk: 7
Phos: 0.03 (without phosguard goes to 0.08)
Calc 440
Magn : 0.13

Help
I am trying to understand why my NO3 won't drop, as I think it also impacts my algae problem.
I would love to get to thw point where I feel comfortable enough to restock the tank, but before I do that I'd like to get it right.

What other info can I share or what suggestions do you have ? I am sure I am doing something wrong, and even with years of experience with freshwater tanks , I can't figure out what.

Thanks

 

[Reefer Brent]

Hi

I've had my tank for a little over 2 years with mixed result and really rethinking my whole setup, and I need help as I am clearly missing something.

Set up
I have a 30gal tank, with mechanical filters at the back (2 sponge filters with ceramic rings , and 2 bags of carbon + phosguard).
I also have a protein skimmer, and FluvalSmart lights (loghts settings were based off another thread in this forum).
I fill the tank with my own water from my rodi system.

I have 1 fish, I believe is a damsel ( survivor, had more but there was a terrible case of itch while I was away and all fish died, breaking my heart to the point where I almost sold everything) , 2 pistol shrimps and 1 very large colony of polyps corals.

I have 2 issues, which are connected:
- NO3 won't drop below 20;
- Green algae builds up very quickly.

All other parameters should be fine (beside PH which could be higher):

P.H. : 7.8
Spec gravity: 1.026
Ammo: 0
NO2: 0
Alk: 7
Phos: 0.03 (without phosguard goes to 0.08)
Calc 440
Magn : 0.13

Help
I am trying to understand why my NO3 won't drop, as I think it also impacts my algae problem.
I would love to get to thw point where I feel comfortable enough to restock the tank, but before I do that I'd like to get it right.

What other info can I share or what suggestions do you have ? I am sure I am doing something wrong, and even with years of experience with freshwater tanks , I can't figure out what.

Thanks

Kalk or hob refugium for ph (prob the algae issue)

CUC. What turns your sandbed if you have one.

Copepods and phyto

Also 20 isn't too bad.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

how often do you clean your mechanical filters? they will hold food that will continue to rot until you clean it out, that's what we call the "nitrate factory" in this hobby, so you should be cleaning them often. Not even any real need for those filters, would be no harm in removing them completely.

Water changes are the easiest way to reduce nitrate. A 30% water change will reduce nitrates by 30%, 50% water change will reduce it by 50%, etc...

Overfeeding will lead to food rotting in the water that fuels algae, feed small amounts often so that no food gets missed.

I don't see any powerheads listed with your equipment, flow is very important in a salt tank, and really useful to hold algae back, algae loves low flow area's. Should be at least 2 powerheads in that size tank.

 

[Dantetsuken]

how often do you clean your mechanical filters? they will hold food that will continue to rot until you clean it out, that's what we call the "nitrate factory" in this hobby, so you should be cleaning them often. Not even any real need for those filters, would be no harm in removing them completely.

Water changes are the easiest way to reduce nitrate. A 30% water change will reduce nitrates by 30%, 50% water change will reduce it by 50%, etc...

Overfeeding will lead to food rotting in the water that fuels algae, feed small amounts often so that no food gets missed.

I don't see any powerheads listed with your equipment, flow is very important in a salt tank, and really useful to hold algae back, algae loves low flow area's. Should be at least 2 powerheads in that size tank.

Thanks

just to confirm I have 2 powerheads.

Currently I clean the filters every other week , changing carbon and phosguard once per month.

Will try removing them , see how it goes.

Currently I have an auto feeder that runs twice per day, not a huge amount as I set it to minimal feeds having only 1 fish.

Will try a weekly water change as well.

Thanks for the help

 

[Dantetsuken]

Kalk or hob refugium for ph (prob the algae issue)

CUC. What turns your sandbed if you have one.

Copepods and phyto

Also 20 isn't too bad.

ah didn't realise the ph would impact algae, will try add some kalk to raise it.

For the sandbed I have various snails roaming around. I also had a blenny but it didn't survive - which was heartbreaking as it was very confrontational and fun to watch

Thanks for your help