In Need Of Help!!

[YoZiggy]

Hey Guys,

I have a 46G bow front for a little over a year now and I am having serious problems. Since day one I have not been able to get things going with this tank. I have had a bunch of fish/corals/invertebrates die on me. I cant seem to keep anything alive for longer than a few months.

I typically do Bi-weekly water changes with salt water i get from my local reef tank store. Whenever i test my water all the parameters are fine. I have even had one of the experts at the store test my water several times and it is always fine. My tank has always had different algae's growing in it, I thought maybe due to some sunlight it receives. So i decided to tint my tank with limo tint and decreased the daytime light cycle thinking that would help and it did nothing.

I am really close to just giving up on salt water. But I would really hate to do that so any help you guys can offer me would really help. I feel like i have spent so much time and energy trying to figure this out and I am getting no where.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Hey Guys,

I have a 46G bow front for a little over a year now and I am having serious problems. Since day one I have not been able to get things going with this tank. I have had a bunch of fish/corals/invertebrates die on me. I cant seem to keep anything alive for longer than a few months.

I typically do Bi-weekly water changes with salt water i get from my local reef tank store. Whenever i test my water all the parameters are fine. I have even had one of the experts at the store test my water several times and it is always fine. My tank has always had different algae's growing in it, I thought maybe due to some sunlight it receives. So i decided to tint my tank with limo tint and decreased the daytime light cycle thinking that would help and it did nothing.

I am really close to just giving up on salt water. But I would really hate to do that so any help you guys can offer me would really help. I feel like i have spent so much time and energy trying to figure this out and I am getting no where.

Welcome to reef2reef!

I hate to say stuff like this but "experts" and opinions can be put in the same category. Can I see a picture of the tank? DO you top off with rodi water? Have you tested the TDS of the water?

 

[Mr.Rocc]

Welcome!!
I agree with @saltyfilmfolks where experts and opinion can be the same.
I personally had an issue just like this. The culprit was the LFS water. I still bought the RODI water from them but i mixed it with my own salt and immediately everything started thriving and surviving. Second thing is go buy a good test kit, Red Sea makes a good one, and start testing Alk daily. It really gets you intuned with your tank. Once you have all your parameters figured out we can go from there.

 

[YoZiggy]

Yea I understand, I believe he has a degree in it and i know he maintains giant tanks for hotels and such. I do top off with rodi and no i have never tested for TDS. I have the API saltwater and reef test kits. I will upload a photo when I get home.

But for a while i was using nutri sea water and i was having the same problems

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

But for a while i was using nutri sea water and i was having the same problems

that is odd. post up some pics and some details on your set up and we'll see what we all can do to help.

 

[YoZiggy]

Thanks a lot!

Did you guys seem to have a learning curve when you first started? I just cant imagine it is this difficult for everyone. I feel like i need a dang degree to even keep anything alive in this thing lol.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Been at it for 30 plus years and still learn something new almost everyday from this forum alone. IMO, every tank will always be a work in progress to some extent. Would like to see some water parameters. Also check for stray electricity in the water.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Did you guys seem to have a learning curve when you first started?

HUGE!!!!!!

I just cant imagine it is this difficult for everyone.

Like riding a bike.

I feel like i need a dang degree to even keep anything alive in this thing lol.

We can probably help with that. Lol

Theres different degrees of knowledge and skill that everyone finds. Just like riding a bike, some just want to ride, Some want race, some want to build the bike.
The really nice thing about R2R is youll find and talk to all of the above. SO if you just want to ride, the guy who builds them really can help you understand some things to let you ride the way YOU want to..

 

[YoZiggy]

Thanks again guys, Yea i would really love to have a beautiful reef tank. But i just cant keep throwing money at my tank. I am down to one fish and a couple hermits.

Also check for stray electricity in the water.

What do you mean by this?

 

[YoZiggy]

Here's my tank, not to pretty at the moment

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here's my tank, not to pretty at the moment

are you running a sump? May we see?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

and what light are you using

 

[Oakie12]

Thanks again guys, Yea i would really love to have a beautiful reef tank. But i just cant keep throwing money at my tank. I am down to one fish and a couple hermits.


What do you mean by this?

Any faulty cords that are in the water may give off a stray current that could harm/kill tank inhabitants.

 

[YoZiggy]

I just have the fluval 206 filter

 

[YoZiggy]

I have the Fluval marine and reef 2.0 led lighting

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I just have the fluval 206 filter

Is your canister set up like this? and is the maint the same?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/c...f-a-sump-is-not-feasible.293098/#post-3575395

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here's my tank, not to pretty at the moment

you never use tap water?

Can you please test ammonia and nitrites at home? Nitrate would also be helpful.

Here's my tank, not to pretty at the moment

May i see a closer pic of the rock that is the top of the arch and also a pic of the rock to the right that supports the arch

 

[beaslbob]

add some macro algae in a refugium which can be just a simple partition to keep the macros and fish separate

 

[YoZiggy]

No i have never used tap water and my ammonia/nitrate/nitrites are always at zero. Heres what the inside of my filter looks like and the two rocks you asked to see

 

[YoZiggy]

How much time a week do you think you guys spend on your tanks?

I am wondering if i am just not spending enough time on it and or just not interested enough in the hobby. I have always had fresh water tanks and as i'm sure you guys know they are just so much easier, at least for me they are. I spend very little time on my fresh water tank. I knew that the salt water tank would require more effort but I just didn't think it would be this difficult.