In Need Of Help!!

[saltyfilmfolks]

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.

once its dialed in, not that much. IMO a lot of folks put a little to much time really. Its def a hands on , research driven hobby though. Really a lot like golf or chess as well. Trial and error, practice, and learning are key. A;so finding out how you want to play the game(and why) takes time to figure out. Acropora and other more difficult species is more than most want to put time into. But finding out what the easy stuff is and how to d it with good but reasonable effort is really about research, patience and experience.

I noticed your tank isnt all the way filled. Any reason for that? Also do you have an Auto Top Off to maintain salinity?

I have a couple of thoughts.
Salinity is swinging. This effects soooo many things in chemistry. Do you have a refractometer?

Oxygen. There doesnt seem to be much(or enough) agitation, pumps etc to keep a large amount of )2 mixed into the water. Salinity is also effects )O2.
AN ATO imo is as important as a heater. I had a 3.5 gal nano on my desk for 2.5 yrs with an aquaclear and ato and hob fuge and never really mess with it except to clean the filters and feed the fish.

I really want to say it a source water thing, but you do have provenance to say otherwise. But Ive seen so many bad tap water bottled water etc plus my own experiences that its still just a really strong hunch.
Where I live the tap water is so bad that no matter what you do you cant keep goldfish alive for more than a few months. I would seriously consider finding another water source for rodi water for top off and salt mixing.
Yes I too bought water from my trusted lfs and yes it was bad. And yes, hes been a long time friend and mentor.
Here's why I say water. Unless you cleaning that tank pretty religiously the shoud be a really nice healthy looking build up of algae and funk in the corners, across the back wall. Im seeing some yes, but it doesnt look right. And you should have more coralline.

The canister is kinda set up more for freshwater than salt water, I prefer floss only myself as I really think (ime)the rock is better for bio filter than the can. But the can is thhe lowest on the cause list unless it hasnt been maintained for over a month or os so.

 

[Oldreefer44]

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?

All electronic equipment has the potential to leak stray current into the water. You can get a grounding probe from any supplier pretty cheap.

 

[Oldreefer44]

IMO, there is a strong urge to "tinker' with our tanks when it is best to just leave them alone. Canister filters are not generally recommended for a reef tank. There is a fine line between them actually working as a filter versus being a generator of PO4 etc.

 

[YoZiggy]

Ok, thanks a lot for all the advice. I have been looking into getting my own Rodi unit for home, not only is there a chance that the water will be better but it will also be easier for me to maintain my tank. The place I got to is about 30 minutes away and costs more than I would like, so there are times when i end up putting it off. (Hence why my tank isn't currently topped off)

I also think I need to be cleaning my canister more often then i do. But in addition to the rodi unit I will also look into getting a better filter.

 

[jimmyzhou]

Ok, thanks a lot for all the advice. I have been looking into getting my own Rodi unit for home, not only is there a chance that the water will be better but it will also be easier for me to maintain my tank. The place I got to is about 30 minutes away and costs more than I would like, so there are times when i end up putting it off. (Hence why my tank isn't currently topped off)

I also think I need to be cleaning my canister more often then i do. But in addition to the rodi unit I will also look into getting a better filter.

U ready need your own rodi system u can get the. 6 stages form brs with tds meter and psi. Too make sure 50psi +. If under u need pursure pump. It worth too have own rodi. For the long run. And for the filter tank u have. If u can upg them use 2 of them. Will be way much better u have too clean them every 3-6 it ready on how much fish u keeping and the way u feed them. Try add fish slow 1-2 fish ever 1-2 month builld a small tank for copper only before new fish going to main tank let them stay in for 1 month make sure all good than move into main tank will keep them healthy. If u can use sump will be way much better there is hanging kit available for tank also around 50-120.

 

[ciscomania]

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.

I'm a beginner that just got into this hobby 5 months ago and now everytime anyone comes over always say "man, having that tank is like having a job!! you are working on it all the time" Honestly, if I knew how much work and time this hobby requires I probably would've never got into it.

I mean people say it's alot of work but I had fresh water tanks before and thought how much harder can it be. Boy, was I wrong! But I don't think I can give up this hobby cuz the satisfaction and the feeling I get when I sit back and stare at my tank, I've never got that feeling when I had fresh water tanks, not even close.