Help with My aquarium

[Robert Roswell]

I started my saltwater aquarium on November 20th,2017 with big dreams in mind. Fast forward to February 10, 2019 and my aquarium is a mess. I have this reoccuring algae problem that will not go away. I can not get my coral to grow. My tank has been neglected and that is nobodys fault but my own. I have included pictures ofbmy situation. I am in desperate need for help and am listening to everything you guys have to say.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Test the no3 and Po4.

Scrub all the rocks and do a 100% water change. Dose some dr tims.

 

[flchamp89]

I was going to say start with some good cleaning. I know that sounds bad but the tank doesn't look bad. Looks dirty. Clean it up and reset it.

 

[Dom]

Man... I'd tear it down and start from the beginning.

 

[Robert Roswell]

Test the no3 and Po4.

Scrub all the rocks and do a 100% water change. Dose some dr tims.

Will doing a 100% water change effect my inhabitants of the tanks health in any extensive way

 

[jtl]

Will doing a 100% water change effect my inhabitants of the tanks health in any extensive way

Brush off the rocks and corals if you have any. You can also do a dip in H2O2 just use regular off the shelf hydrogen peroxide (I think it is 3%). Mix it 25/75 with water from your tank in a bucket. Dip for 10 minutes and then rinse in another bucket of tank water. Return rocks to tank and do a 25-50% water change every couple of days. Rocks that have no coral growth can be dipped full strength. Be sure to vacuum the sand, assuming you do not have a deep sand bed. This with continued good housekeeping your get you on your way to a cleaner tank. After all of this keep your NO3 and PO4 in check and wait it out. As is always the case use the H2O2 at your own risk, I have done it with no harm but maybe I was lucky.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Will doing a 100% water change effect my inhabitants of the tanks health in any extensive way

No. It’s fine.

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome, @Robert Roswell.

All solid advice and not much I can add other than my greeting. You can do this.

 

[dantimdad]

Welcome aboard!

Listen to advice given. Just be sure to pick ONE method and go slow and stay the course.

When something doesn't work in a short order, we tend to bounce to a new method. This will compound the issue and make it near impossible to sort out.

I would listed to @saltyfilmfolks except do a 50% water change and another one a few days later so as not to shock too much.

You also need to list all your equipment so we have a better idea what we are dealing with here.

What are your inhabitants and feeding regimen as well?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Will doing a 100% water change effect my inhabitants of the tanks health in any extensive way

To elaborate, test the no3 and Po4 after you clean for a couple days.
The reason is , many tanks become Po4 limited and that can lead to a lot other nasty stuff. Dinos and chrystophytes.
I can’t id what you have now.

Use caution with the peroxide. It’s an oxidizer and too much is left on the rocks all at once it’ll throw your ph out of whack and oxidizes the corals too.

A canister filte like the $60 sun sun from amazon might be handy for the clean up. Run flow carbon and a little gfo. Have some seachem prime and good bottled bacteria on hand for ammoina and other nasty stuff that gets stirred up. Expect the can to run for a couple days during and after the cleaning.

 

[jtl]

To elaborate, test the no3 and Po4 after you clean for a couple days.
The reason is , many tanks become Po4 limited and that can lead to a lot other nasty stuff. Dinos and chrystophytes.
I can’t id what you have now.

Use caution with the peroxide. It’s an oxidizer and too much is left on the rocks all at once it’ll throw your ph out of whack and oxidizes the corals too.

A canister filte like the $60 sun sun from amazon might be handy for the clean up. Run flow carbon and a little gfo. Have some seachem prime and good bottled bacteria on hand for ammoina and other nasty stuff that gets stirred up. Expect the can to run for a couple days during and after the cleaning.

There is a thread somewhere on using a H2O2 dip and/or dosing directly to the tank. I have done both without any damage to fish or corals and it really knocks down the GHA but of course you need to stay on top of things or it will return. The key to using the higher strength dip is to do a thorough clean water rise to get it all of the rocks or at least dilute it so it is no longer an issue. The DT dosing is very low strength but it takes a long time to see results. I forgot to mention when dipping corals make sure they are closed.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

There is a thread somewhere on using a H2O2 dip and/or dosing directly to the tank. I have done both without any damage to fish or corals and it really knocks down the GHA but of course you need to stay on top of things or it will return. The key to using the higher strength dip is to do a thorough clean water rise to get it all of the rocks or at least dilute it so it is no longer an issue. The DT dosing is very low strength but it takes a long time to see results. I forgot to mention when dipping corals make sure they are closed.

Agreed.
Brandon and I have worked on that for some years now yes.

When doing a whole tank , use caution.

 

[RobZilla04]

If you are going to continue to neglect the tank, it's not even worth cleaning it up. This hobby requires a lot of work in the early stages. It just is what it is.