Fish only without live rock

[Cflip]

What would I need to do to change from my current reef system? Might give that one more try before I give up.

 

[ichthyogeek]

To go from reef to FOWLR? Just to clarify, you want a fish only tank without live rock, and not a fish only tank with live rock (FOWLR), right?

If you're going Reef -> FOWLR, you just need to not buy corals, and you can stop dosing everything (alk, calcium, etc.).

If you're going Reef->Fish Only WithOut Live Rock, you'll need to figure out a decent way of filtering the water, and slowly start removing the live rock once you've gotten a suitable solution (wet-dry trickle filters seem to be very popular, as are those filter blocks that BRS sells)

 

[Cflip]

I think part of my issues are from the live rock in there. Plus all the sand that looks nasty as well. I want to go bare bottom with minimal rock and just fish.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Ah I see, okay in that case, I'd buy a good bacteria in a bottle product, and something that can handle a lot of bacteria, something like these: https://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/reefing/Bio-Block . I'd seed the blocks by soaking them in saltwater + bacteria starter for a week, then begin the process of removing the sand first, which is going to remove the majority of your biological filter (hence why you should soak the bio media beforehand so the bacteria can get started). Then I'd start removing rocks at a rate of one to two per week. Throughout, I'd probably also test religiously and always have clean water on hand in case of the need for emergency water changes.

What are your issues?

 

[Cflip]

Ah I see, okay in that case, I'd buy a good bacteria in a bottle product, and something that can handle a lot of bacteria, something like these: https://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/reefing/Bio-Block . I'd seed the blocks by soaking them in saltwater + bacteria starter for a week, then begin the process of removing the sand first, which is going to remove the majority of your biological filter (hence why you should soak the bio media beforehand so the bacteria can get started). Then I'd start removing rocks at a rate of one to two per week. Throughout, I'd probably also test religiously and always have clean water on hand in case of the need for emergency water changes.

What are your issues?

Would I still use a sump and skimmer?

 

[Cflip]

I have all kinds of different types of algae on the rocks and in my sand. Lots on the return which I keep manually removing. I also can’t see to keep fish alive except for a clown and a hawk fish. So thinking of a reboot into another direction.

 

[ichthyogeek]

You can definitely still use a sump and skimmer! The skimmer can remain on 24/7, and if you’re getting heavy eating species like toby puffers, I’d say they’re almost a necessity.

It sounds a like you have a major nutrient issue. How old is your tank? If it’s less than a year old....then I’d recommend you just stick with it, as the tank’s probably going through an “ugly stage” right now. How have the fish you’ve been adding died? Were there any noticeable marks, spots, or aberrations present upon death that weren’t there when you first introduced them to the tank?

 

[Cflip]

My tank is 5 years old this time. But I’ve been at it for 20 years off and on.

 

[Cflip]

My tank is 5 years old this time. But I’ve been at it for 20 years off and on.

Oh and the fish are doing well then just disappear.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Methinks you may have a bobbitt worm or a mantis shrimp in that rock then. But if it’s older than 5 years, it’s definitely not the uglies. If it’s not a predator, then maybe the fish that die are causing the nutrient spikes that are causing algae to take over the tank?