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[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.

 

[theMeat]

Need more info
Lights/schedule?
Sump/size/fuge?
Feeding/food/schedule?
Cuc?
Nutrients?
Gph flow in tank and from sump?
Skimmer/model?

 

[ssww21]

Did you properly cycle the tank?

 

[Robert Roswell]

Need more info
Lights/schedule?
Sump/size/fuge?
Feeding/food/schedule?
Cuc?
Nutrients?
Gph flow in tank and from sump?
Skimmer/model?

My lights stay on for 7 hours. I clean my fish 2 small feedings per day. I do not havr a sump or any kind of skimmer. My clean up crew consisted of 1 peppermint shrimp,5 turbo snails,5 nassarius snails, 10 margarita snails, and 1 serpent sea star. I am now have 10 nassarius snails and 1 turbo snail along with 3 cerith.

 

[Robert Roswell]

Did you properly cycle the tank?

I cycled the tank for 2 months

 

[theMeat]

7 hours a day is not enough, but that depends on what wavelength/color we’re talking about, as well as intensity

From the bubble on water surface looks like not enough flow

Tell us more

 

[Robert Roswell]

7 hours a day is not enough, but that depends on what wavelength/color we’re talking about, as well as intensity

From the bubble on water surface looks like not enough flow

Tell us more

My total gph is abt 900. My tank is 50 gallons but originally started out as 30 gallons. During our summer vacation i came home to a busted tank so i had to rush to the store buy a new tank. The 50 gallon was on sale for $50 not thinking anything about it. That is when it all went down hill. I feel like this aquarium is a lost hope and am on the verge of giving up

 

[André Brasil]

Hang in there!

Things you could do:

• Manually remove some of it (tooth brush on rock or razor on glass)
• Do regular water changes
• Vacuum sand bed on water changes
• Use RO/DI or distilled water for top off
• Consider adding some extra filtration, like a skimmer or a HOB with purigen, chemipure, or other media.
• Acknowledge the fact that the problem won't disappear overnight.

These are a couple ideas...pretty sure others wl also chip in.

 

[ssww21]

Don't give up!

 

[theMeat]

Corals are filter feeders. Algae needs nitrate, phosphate and light to grow. For corals to be happy and healthy they need low levels of nitrate and phosphate, along with many other trace elements. You lack of coralline on a two year old tank tells of the two most basic trace elements, calcium and alkaline, being out of whack.
Post up nitrate, phosphate, calcium, alkaline, and ph results

 

[ssww21]

What type of flow do you have?

 

[lapin]

Can you take a full tank shot so we can see exactly what equipment you have. Power heads, filters ect....
Im assuming you do not test or do water changes?

 

[theMeat]

What type of flow do you have?

About 900gph in 50 gal tank

 

[Robert Roswell]

Corals are filter feeders. Algae needs nitrate, phosphate and light to grow. For corals to be happy and healthy they need low levels of nitrate and phosphate, along with many other trace elements. You lack of coralline on a two year old tank tells of the two most basic trace elements, calcium and alkaline, being out of whack.
Post up nitrate, phosphate, calcium, alkaline, and ph results

My ph is 8.2. My alkaline is 7 dkh. My calcium is 325 dkh. Phosphate is 0.225 and nitrate is 15 ppm. These were my levels 2 days ago

 

[Robert Roswell]

Can you take a full tank shot so we can see exactly what equipment you have. Power heads, filters ect....
Im assuming you do not test or do water changes?

My last water change was 2 weeks ago.

 

[theMeat]

My ph is 8.2. My alkaline is 7 dkh. My calcium is 325 dkh. Phosphate is 0.225 and nitrate is 15 ppm. These were my levels 2 days ago

Not terrible, but room for improvement.
Any type filter, or just live rock?
What type light?
Hard to believe 900 gph in 50 gal with bubbles on tank surface?

 

[Robert Roswell]

Not terrible, but room for improvement.
Any type filter, or just live rock?
What type light?
Hard to believe 900 gph in 50 gal with bubbles on tank surface?[/QUOT
I have a seachem tidal 55 h.o.b filter. The light i am using is the Current USA coral light

 

[André Brasil]

Could be that the light is too close to the tank?

 

[Robert Roswell]

Not terrible, but room for improvement.
Any type filter, or just live rock?
What type light?
Hard to believe 900 gph in 50 gal with bubbles on tank surface?

Another thing i forgot to mentio. I have my powerhead facing downward towards the rock

 

[theMeat]

Current USA uses .5 wat led bulbs. Not a lot of penetration. Ok for a very shallow tank.
You should have blues on for closer to 12 hours per day

Would consider upgrading your hob filter, sump being the best option. At a minimum put rock rubble in your hob filter

To get algae under control you need nitrates around 5ppm, and phosphates around .05. Time to do more water changes.

First thing i’d do is raise tank water level way up to rim. Reposition your circ pump lower and pointing upward. You don’t want it blowing sand around. Would also move rocks off the back glass and separate them some more to encourage more flow behind and around rocks. Would then level off sand, blow off rocks with a turkey baster, and do a 72 hour lights out/black out, followed by a 30% water change