I'm stumped for next steps...

[Azarus]

Hoping to get pointed in the right direction so I can continue to develop this tall 37g tank.

In a nutshell, I cycled dry rock for four months. Then I changed the water and added a clown, two damsels, and a couple cleaner packs of snails. That was 12-16 months ago. I have since forgotten my research and almost feel I'm back at square one in the SW hobby. (However I have kept FW for 30 years and currently have a 55g discus tank, too.)

Besides light feedings and periodic water changes, the glass only needs an occasional wiping to remove snail eggs.

I'm starting to have a recurring nightmare about this tank that I forgot it exists, likely because until now it hasn't received the attention it deserves.

A few questions:

1.) Do the rocks look healthy algae-wise? Since no inverts or corals I only light the tank 2-3 hrs/day at feeding. (At the moment I repurposed a daylight florescent bulb from an old 10g freshwater tank.)

2.) Does anything you see here look out-of-whack? Is this setup salvageable to continue forward, or do I need to start over with the rock?

3.) Any must-read threads you can point me to in order to brush up on my SW learning?

Here are a few pics I snapped today:

 

[beaslbob]

Hard to believe that is a 12-16 month old tank. Most would have a covering of algae by now.

I would like to see some macro algae in it but that's my .02

 

[beaslbob]

oy yea IMHO no need to start over.

 

[reeferfoxx]

You need to up your photoperiod to 6-8 hrs a day.

 

[a6walter1]

First thing, what kind of filtration are you/do you plan on running? I cant really tell from the pictures.

 

[kashman100]

What kind of tank do you want? Coral? Reef Secrets is a good book

 

[Azarus]

First thing, what kind of filtration are you/do you plan on running? I cant really tell from the pictures.

I do have a hang-on-back protein skimmer attached.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

oh thats sweet. Ive always wanted a hex tank scaped like that.
and yea longer photo period and a better more reef spectrum light.

 

[Azarus]

What kind of tank do you want? Coral? Reef Secrets is a good book

My number one priority is to keep the add-on equipment to a minimum because there's really not much room beneath the stand for a sump or refugium.

To be honest, I haven't made it that far to consider the various invert and coral requirements.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

My number one priority is to keep the add-on equipment to a minimum because there's really not much room beneath the stand for a sump or refugium.

To be honest, I haven't made it that far to consider the various invert and coral requirements.

for coral an ato top of is pretty important. only thing I had under my bio cube.

 

[Azarus]

oy yea IMHO no need to start over.

Great news, thank you.

 

[Azarus]

You need to up your photoperiod to 6-8 hrs a day.

Thank you.

 

[Azarus]

oh thats sweet. Ive always wanted a hex tank scaped like that.
and yea longer photo period and a better more reef spectrum light.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Azarus]

for coral an ato top of is pretty important. only thing I had under my bio cube.

Good to know. Thank you.

 

[mcarroll]

37 Gallon?
Is that 30 x 13 x 23"H?

To Get You Back To The Tank
Get a timer for the light and make it so the light is on for 10 to 12 hours while you are there to enjoy it. The tank's daylight hours don't have to correspond with outside daylight hours whatsoever. They should definitely correspond with your at home hours!

Snail Eggs
Are you sure they are snail eggs? Let them hatch!

It would be funny if they were clownfish eggs! Can you post a pic?

Next Steps?
Next steps for what? If you're looking to do coral, the main thing you'll need is a new light. There are some other sundries as well, but the light is usually the biggie once you're at the stage you are now. Figure out your budget and start paying attention to other peoples' lighting so you can figure out what you like.

 

[RJinPV]

No one mentioned the lack of coraline algae. Do we think that is due to the light and photoperiod or does he need to do something else to start it to grow, like seeding it?

 

[mcarroll]

The main reasons are that those lights that come with fish tanks are designed not to grow anything so as to minimize maintenance...and even that light is only on a few hours per day.

Once the kind of light and quantity of light are rectified, he'll get the usuals like coraline showing up. Certainly after a new coral or snail (etc) is added. (Seeding, as you say.)

 

[Waters]

Yeah, the OP is only running his lights a couple of hours a day...on top of that, the lights are designed for freshwater tanks for viewing fish. All things to do if you are trying NOT to grow coraline. I like the setup and the aquascape...so many possibilities

 

[BummersReef]

I really love the aquascape and would sure love to see it covered in bright corals! Seriously, it's a lovely thing.
I am new to all this but wow ... I am shocked that you can leave rocks in a running SW tank so long and have no algae at all. Amazing and very informative!! I thought the photo you posted was how it looked a year ago!

 

[Azarus]

The main reasons are that those lights that come with fish tanks are designed not to grow anything so as to minimize maintenance...and even that light is only on a few hours per day.

Once the kind of light and quantity of light are rectified, he'll get the usuals like coraline showing up. Certainly after a new coral or snail (etc) is added. (Seeding, as you say.)

Good to know! Thanks!