LFS

[newtohobby1025]

My tank is about 2 months old. One of my LFS is telling me I need to add 40 more pounds of live sand and add good bacteria every week. Apparently they think I have bad water. Only problem is my phosphates are near 3. If anyone could help out it would be much appreciated

 

[fishguy242]

Hi, need more info, using rodi water ?
size?
other params?

 

[newtohobby1025]

Hi, need more info, using rodi water ?
size?
other params?

Yes im using rodi water, 65 gallon tank

 

[fishguy242]

did you start w dry rock only?
having algae probs?
i see no need for sand ,imo.
why PO4 so high ?
current pic of tank ? good or bad,not here to judge.

 

[newtohobby1025]

Yes im using rodi water, 65 gallon 49

did you start w dry rock only?
having algae probs?
i see no need for sand ,imo.
why PO4 so high ?
current pic of tank ? good or bad,not here to judge.

 

[newtohobby1025]

I started with live rock no clue why my phosphate are so high. Lots of algae

 

[fishguy242]

nitrate level ?
looks like dino's ,
possibly black out and phos remover in order ?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

agree no need for more live sand... what if you were bare bottom tank... Not saying they have live sand in stock so they are just trying to sell you stuff, but don't agree with assessment

because I overfeed our fish by coral standards (not fish standards), we run reactors with Brightwell Xport PO4 Cubes and biopellets to help keep our water parameters (phosphates) in coral happy range - 10% water changes don't nudge our numbers

need more info on your tank, habits... if this is your first tank and two months in, I'd say you are doing fine (but this is why they say wait most corals) because you do need to work on stabilizing your parameters, but live sand isn't the answer esp for phosphates IMO ...

edit - algae loves white light, nitrates, phosphates - so if you have any or all of those in abundance they are fuel for algae... we're using center of sump as algae growth area (refugium) light on 24 hours a day inside stand so we can harvest out the algae... which is helping to reduce our nitrates and phosphates... I also agreed he could put wide slat mini blinds on our southern facing windows to block sunlight which poured into room (and our tank, contributing to high algae growth). My nitrates and phosphates come from fish food - there is always a source - you need to find yours so then you can either solution or compensate for your source...

'start where you are, use what you have, do what you can' - Arthur Ashe, tennis player

 

[Just John]

When you say your phosphates are near 3, do you mean 3.0? Or do you mean 0.3 or perhaps .03?

Also, is that next to a window? It looks like it in the photos. Just for future reference, that is often an issue for algae in general. It's not causing this problem, but will make it worse.

 

[newtohobby1025]

When you say your phosphates are near 3, do you mean 3.0? Or do you mean 0.3 or perhaps .03?

Also, is that next to a window? It looks like it in the photos. Just for future reference, that is often an issue for algae in general. It's not causing this problem, but will make it worse.

Yes near 3.0, and it is next to a window. When talked about Dino’s and other issues what did you mean exactly. Sorry I’m new to this

 

[Uroplatus]

Do you have a sump?

 

[fishguy242]

i see what i think is dino on sand, have never dealt with ,run "dirty" tanks PO4 .1,nitrates 30 range .
wondering if your nitrates are bottomed out .

 

[newtohobby1025]

Do you have a sump?

I have a rear sump, or all in one

 

[Just John]

Yes near 3.0, and it is next to a window. When talked about Dino’s and other issues what did you mean exactly. Sorry I’m new to this

What I meant is just that like any plant, algae uses light to grow and a lot of light is going into the tank from the window. All that light makes algae grow much faster. Most people would put something on the end of the tank to block the sunlight. Like window film on the end glass of the tank or blinds in the window, for example.

 

[Uroplatus]

I have a rear sump, or all in one

I was going to tell you to put macro algae in there….

 

[Simon Reefing]

My only word of advice is to take it slow do not go crazy trying to over correct. That will lead you down a problematic path. I would see what everyone says and slowly correct. Good luck!

 

[newtohobby1025]

i see what i think is dino on sand, have never dealt with ,run "dirty" tanks PO4 .1,nitrates 30 range .
wondering if your nitrates are bottomed out .

when you say dirty tanks what do you mean
a.

 

[newtohobby1025]

So should I cancel the guy who wants to come to my house, add sand and good bacteria for $350?

 

[Dburr1014]

So should I cancel the guy who wants to come to my house, add sand and good bacteria for $350?

Yes, cancel.

I think we can help you here a lot better as long as you are willing to learn about how to be a water keeper. We don't keep fish or coral, we keep stable water. Sounds wierd but true. Coral and fish are happy accidents.

I also think you have dinoflagellates on your sand bed. Difficult to get rid of but your tank is very young and you will do fine getting rid of them.

Need to know:
what test kits you have, brand of kits.
Post anything you have tested for or your LFS.
Temp, sg, using ro/di?

 

[newtohobby1025]

Yes, cancel.

I think we can help you here a lot better as long as you are willing to learn about how to be a water keeper. We don't keep fish or coral, we keep stable water. Sounds wierd but true. Coral and fish are happy accidents.

I also think you have dinoflagellates on your sand bed. Difficult to get rid of but your tank is very young and you will do fine getting rid of them.

Need to know:
what test kits you have, brand of kits.
Post anything you have tested for or your LFS.
Temp, sg, using ro/di?

Yes, using rodi. I tested at my LFS. Just curious, do the dinoflagellates go away on their own?