How am I doing?

[zwandz]

My tank is about 3 months old, fully cycled, parameters pretty stable. This is my first tank, so definitely still learning.

5 gallons
HOB filter rated at 20 gph with cartridge (questioning if this needs upgraded)
Pump rated 50 gph (questioning if this needs upgraded)
FluvalSmart marine nano light, hour sunrise and sun set, 7 hours full daylight with emphasis on blue and minimal white
Temp 79
Salinity 1.025
Alk 8.5
PH 8.1
Nitrate <5
Ammonia 0…

I have 3 astrea snails and 1 hermit. I lost one Chromis suddenly and still not sure why, all params fine. 1 leather and 2 zoas.
.
My biggest battle is algae - I’m scraping and doing weekly water changes but it comes back as fast as I can scrape.
Z
How am I doing? Any pointers? Most recent photos in white light for algae example.

 

[blaxsun]

I might look at running some carbon in your HOB filter (or changing it out monthly if you are). What are you running for filtration?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

it doesnt look bad, its just normal algae cycle. We call it the uglies, or new tank syndrome.

I dont know about putting fishes in there though, its very small, not a lot of swimming room. Chromis should be in a 20-30 gallon tank.

 

[bnord]

Very nice little tank. Good luck with it. The algae scraping is on the glass? That may be something you’ll be dealing with for a long long time and think of it as an opportunity to interact with your tank on a regular basis. Agree on the size for fish, perhaps a pair of neon or yellow striped gobies would be better suited for that size. Best of luck

 

[Sumo Reef]

Fun fact - nano tanks are somewhat more difficult than larger tanks. The biggest thing I think would help is as @blaxsun suggested - to run carbon. You could also carbon dose too (N0P0x). This will help keep algae under control.

 

[James5214]

Looks like diatoms which are normal in a new tank I'm going through it right now smh it sucks lol

 

[Tired]

In a 5-gallon tank, the only fish you should have are very small perching fish. No chromis, no clownfish. A trimma goby, a clown goby, a barnacle blenny, that sort of thing. If it swims around in midwater, don't put it in there. You want fish that sit.

 

[zwandz]

I might look at running some carbon in your HOB filter (or changing it out monthly if you are). What are you running for filtration?

Nothing but bio from the cycle and a cartridge that sits in the HOB filter. Would I be able to add carbon to that?

 

[zwandz]

Fun fact - nano tanks are somewhat more difficult than larger tanks. The biggest thing I think would help is as @blaxsun suggested - to run carbon. You could also carbon dose too (N0P0x). This will help keep algae under control.

I responded to blaxsun too, but it’s a HOB filter with a cartridge and nothing else and then the biological filtration from the cycle - that’s why I was questioning upgrading it. Dosing sounds like it can be done without an upgrade, but how would I do it with the filter?

Thanks to both of you for your responses, and to everyone else! The algae is definitely a pain but I suppose it’s a good thing to be able to interact with the tank often!

my LFS suggested the chromis through the fall as he grew to basically test my cycle. Guess that explains why he didn’t make it tho if the tank was simply way too cramped for him. Poor guy!

 

[mdb_talon]

my LFS suggested the chromis through the fall as he grew to basically test my cycle. Guess that explains why he didn’t make it tho if the tank was simply way too cramped for him. Poor guy!

I dont like your LFS.... There are ways to test a cycle(ie with testing) that dont involve cramming a chromis into a tank much too small for it

 

[Tired]

Your LFS is wrong. They sold you a fish for a too-small tank, and a cycle shouldn't be tested with fish anyway. It runs the risk of causing them ammonia burns.

 

[zwandz]

Your LFS is wrong. They sold you a fish for a too-small tank, and a cycle shouldn't be tested with fish anyway. It runs the risk of causing them ammonia burns.

Lesson definitely learned on that. There’s another in the area that is closed on my days off but I plan on checking out soon

 

[blaxsun]

Lesson definitely learned on that. There’s another in the area that is closed on my days off but I plan on checking out soon

They probably suggested (not defending them) a chromis because they're relatively cheap, and occasionally when using the fish method for cycling you can, well... kill the fish. But I agree that a chromis will be too small for a 5-gallon in short order (they grow very quickly).

In terms of the carbon, what I might suggest (although I'm just guessing having not seen your HOB filter) is something like the ChemiPure Blue nano packets. These are typically the right size for small filters and they're mostly carbon (so you just add a packet to your filter and replace it every 1-2 months or so).

 

[Tired]

ChemiPure is good for if you have too many nutrients and need less, but running it on a small tank without it being needed is a great way to end up with low nutrients.