HELP !

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

Very New to the saltwater hobby. SO i have a 40 gallon tank thats been cycling with two clown fish for about 4 months. The water was clear and all nitrate and nitrite levels have been 0 for a while now and also the amonia and phosphate levels are 0. I decided to add a couple corals and 1 cleaner shrimp and a dozen hermit crabs. all was okay then i waited about a month AND bought a bulb tip Anemone. The next DAY MY water had a bacterial bloom and became super cloudy. As long as my chemical levels stay good think the tank will be okay. and How to i get my clear tank back. Should i try UV Sterilizer.

Dom · Sep 4, 2019

It seems that you have a lot going on in a young tank.

In my opinion, if nitrites and ammonia are ZERO, then you can consider the tank cycled.

Nitrates (NO3) and Phosphates (PO4) are also ZERO. While convention suggests this is okay, carrying some level of nitrates and phosphates in your tank seems to be the trend. My nitrates are in the 10-15 range and I am happy to keep it that way as these nutrients have a role in a healthy tank.

Generally speaking, a tank needs to mature. And this takes about 12-18 months. I think the problem you are experiencing is related to this imbalance that exists in new tanks.

I would recommend a water change to reduce cloudiness in the tank and NOT to add anything else to the tank for 6 months. Go slow; nothing good happens fast in this hobby.

Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

LadyMac · Sep 4, 2019

Agree with the above. Always a first precaution is a waterchange. Keep an eye on your levels.

flchamp89 · Sep 4, 2019

Carbon might be a plus as well.

vetteguy53081 · Sep 4, 2019

TOO MANY ADDITIONS in a short span of time and was due IMO a while ago already.
Not a bad thing but impulse. As long as you promise yourself to pull back for a little bit with stocking, do the following to start with :
- Water change (about 20%)
- Add carbon to your system
- Assure you have proper salinity ( about 1.025)

What filtration do you have running and what are your general readings ( ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph ? )

LAReefer4Life · Sep 4, 2019

A UV sterilizer will definitely help with water clarity but you should get to the root of the problem. Most of the bacteria in the aquarium are aerobic as it is an oxygen dominated environment, and these bacteria require lots of oxygen. When the heterotrophic bacteria bloom into the water column and switch to their aerobic state, this is a big drain on the oxygen content of the water. Oxygen deprivation is the only risk to the fish which I am aware of during a bacterial bloom, as the heterotrophs themselves are harmless to fish, so good advice is to increase aeration! In addition slow down with adding livestock. Your tank is young for a nem so keep an eye on that to ensure it isn’t struggling and messing with your water quality.

BeejReef · Sep 4, 2019

Anenomes are very tricky in a young tank.

Then again, everything is tricky when you're first starting out. I'm only a couple months ahead of you on the road.

Every new addition has the potential to add bacteria (probably beneficial) to the tank that did not exist in it prior to.
That bacteria can then run wild, if it finds a niche that wasn't well filled in the microscopic ecosystem.

Nems can also just plain go bad in a young tank, die slowly, and could lead to fouling the water.

I'd go with the advise you were given and possibly explore re-homing the nem if you feel like it's going to die or is the cause of your issue. If you strongly suspect the nem, grab some pictures of it and let the many expert eyes take a look.

Stability is a tricky thing. Usually it's not something you did "wrong." It's just a process the tank has to go through until it finds its "happy place" and is less susceptible to new organisms throwing things out of balance.

Rlreefing · Sep 4, 2019

I agree that your tank is a bit young to be making such quick changes of inhabitants. I would not consider adding any anemones for at least 16 months of a new system. keep an eye on your parameters. With the corals keep your dkh and calcium in check with PH.

A more mature system would have been ideal to add corals as you would have the beneficial bacteria in place to allow your nitrates and phosphates to slightly elevate, which are relevant to coral health and growth.

It seems you are going through a shock, which is fine. Do not do more than 4 gal water change at a time (10% of your tank). It should clear up within a few days to a week.

What type of Corals did you add?

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

thanks for the responses i currently have done a 10 % water change weekly every Sunday. I have been monitoring the levels of the tank closely to make sure there all in check. I did notice a little higher phosphate and nitrate around 0-5. My anemone is still a brightly green color with its tenticals extended the only weird thing i noticed is its hiding under a cave like opening inside a rock. i will post pictures around lunch also seems to have hosted a crab. I will add the uv sterilizer tomorrow. No more additions to the tank for a while for sure. i kinda figured its due to a imbalance in the ecosystem. See i come from fresh water i have about 4 fresh water tanks heavily planted and stocked that have been doing very well for years. i wanted to switch and try salt water. A little more to the process then fresh and definalty a lot longer cycling time to make a mature well cycled tank.

the coral i added is 1 duncan, sun coral(Tubastraea ), pulsing Xenia which all seem to be looking great i just cant seem to get the darn sun coral to open up during the day only at night ?

Dom · Sep 4, 2019

rapid said:
thanks for the responses i currently have done a 10 % water change weekly every Sunday. I have been monitoring the levels of the tank closely to make sure there all in check. I did notice a little higher phosphate and nitrate around 0-5. My anemone is still a brightly green color with its tenticals extended the only weird thing i noticed is its hiding under a cave like opening inside a rock. i will post pictures around lunch also seems to have hosted a crab. I will add the uv sterilizer tomorrow. No more additions to the tank for a while for sure. i kinda figured its due to a imbalance in the ecosystem. See i come from fresh water i have about 4 fresh water tanks heavily planted and stocked that have been doing very well for years. i wanted to switch and try salt water. A little more to the process then fresh and definalty a lot longer cycling time to make a mature well cycled tank.

the coral i added is 1 duncan, sun coral(Tubastraea ), pulsing Xenia which all seem to be looking great i just cant seem to get the darn sun coral to open up during the day only at night ?

What lighting are you using?

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

Fluval Sea Marine & Reef LED

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

Dom said:
What lighting are you using?

Fluval Sea Marine & Reef LED 3.0

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

Dom said:
What lighting are you using?

Fluval Sea Marine & Reef LED 3.0

the anemone seems to be alive and moving but wont come out of under the cave shaded rock ? been about a week was not sure how to set up my light with the fluval on the app i can set the percentage of what light comes through blue, violet, purple, red, white, and some others i cant remember. they are all set to max 100% during the peak of the day and then sunrise and sunset lowers them slowly until its black and all are off.

W1ngz · Sep 4, 2019

The fluval marine LEDs don't put out enough light to maintain an anemone. The anemone is hiding because it can't find anywhere it is happy.

BeejReef · Sep 4, 2019

I looked it up. Is that light like 50-60 watts?

Wondering if that's enough for a nem? It may be, but it sounds like it's def on the lower side of the power spectrum

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

W1ngz said:
The fluval marine LEDs don't put out enough light to maintain an anemone. The anemone is hiding because it can't find anywhere it is happy.

i have a second light that came with the aquatop 40 gallon reef kit says its a reef ready light do not know the brand but i can also use that light with the fluval light?

any suggestions on a good light?

W1ngz · Sep 4, 2019

rapid said:
any suggestions on a good light?

How big is the tank? Just a standard 40 breeder?

rapid · Sep 4, 2019

W1ngz said:
How big is the tank? Just a standard 40 breeder?

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