New to reefing, help is appreciated haha

[Freakycorpse]

hello everyone so im new to the reefing scene. Starting out with 10 gallon nano. Has a built in filter in the back. Not too great water flow so I added a small surface skimmer filter that the output is similar to a power head and i also have another pump for flow in the bottom half of the tank. I had a zebra and tiger nerite snail, a turbo snail, a margarita snail I think, and 2 hermit crabs. All alive no problems. I added small green star polyps( doing good and smaller polyps coming in), a zoa frag( doing good), and I think leather coral frag( no change since I got it) about a month ago. About 2 weeks I added mushroom frag 3 zoas and xenia. Ever since mushroom went in its been shrinking and water has been cloudy. Doing 20% water change a week. All my parameters are in check. When I added the mushroom I had gotten 2 gobys and an emerald crab which the gobys seemed like they got ich and died. The crab died after i think getting stuck in a rock. So where my tank stands now. Water is cloudy. Parameters are in check. Mushroom coral is now 2 almost 3 separate smaller pieces and xenias were open first day and pulsating but now have been closed almost all day. Looking into getting a small chiller my next paycheck to not mostly keep the temperature at a constant. Think that's my biggest problem is the temperature fluctuation through the day.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I'm sure other more experienced folks will chime in, however you will want to post your actual perameters, not just say "stable" or "normal". Salinity, temp, ph, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, everything you have a test for. Other questions you'll be asked.
How long did you cycle?
How long ago did you set up the tank?
How long was it running before you had issues?
What is the fluctuation in temperature your tank sees in a day?

Cloudy water can be from a bacteria bloom, which can deplete oxygen from the water, or I believe also toxins from stressed corals. Possibly try running activated carbon?

 

[Alanna102499]

Welcome to R2R! 1st and foremost, and like @Hugh Mann said you will get great help around here but you need to be specific with parameters that you know. The parameters you don’t know is OK too just the experts know.
You’ll love it here!

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[BeltedCoyote]

Welcome to R2R!!! Let’s see those parameters. Where are you sitting at?

 

[fishguy242]

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun....
yes numbers and pic will help

 

[Freakycorpse]

Thank you and I tested just this morning and they are as follows
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 0-5.0
Phospate: 0ppm
Calcium: 480ppm
dKH: 8
Gravity: .024
Temperature: night around 70°F, Daytime was getting up to 80 but last few days I added a dual fan on top of the tank to help. Since then I've been able to keep it under 76°F.

 

[K7BMG]

Welcome.

I am no expert but I will say you picked a great hobby.
But I think you picked the wrong tank to start.
10 gallon Nano requires experience and total understanding of reefing.
A lot of people here will argue that point.

Like the others have asked what exactly are your paramiters?
How much is the temp fluctuating?
Is the tank near an open window getting direct sunlight?
What kind of rock and or sand.
Are your waterchanges matching parameters of Salinity and temprature?
That is a lot of livestock for such a small water volume.
What was the start date of the tank?
When was the tank cycle compleated?
What are you feedig everything?

 

[fishguy242]

need a heater for nightime 10 degree swing is too much

 

[Punisher Corals]

Welcome to R2R

 

[BeltedCoyote]

+1 for temp swing being an issue

 

[Punisher Corals]

 

[KingTideCorals]

Welcome!! Here lets see what we can do...

1.What are your parameters exactly?
2. Its a nano DO NOT spend the money on a chiller buy a small fan to clip on! There are some real sleek ones made for aquariums
3. Cloudy could be spawning of the snails? Its a possibility.

Also welcone to reefing! If youd like you can check out my channel, this first video might be a good one for ya!

 

[K7BMG]

Keep in mind stable temp is critical. Better to be at 80 and stable than to keep flucuating to keep it low.
78 is the target we strive for on the average.
But yes a full 10 degree swing evertday is a serious issue.
Was wondering your high and lows of the parameters over the week?

 

[Freakycorpse]

the tank was cycled about late may until late June. The tank is like 2 feet from a window. Doesn't get direct sunlight at all. The substrate I used was caribsea aragalive reef sand. The rock is caribsea life rock and my light is a coral life clip on light.

 

[K7BMG]

Ok so IMO part of your issue here is to much to soon.
For a nano and the ammount of livestock added in a month is to much for the bacteria to establish.

Do not add any more livestock, slow down and let the system find a ballance.
There is more going on in there than you can test for.

 

[K7BMG]

Adding one piece of livestock a month is where you should be at.

What all are you feeding?
Do you know the individual food requirements of each inhabitant?

 

[Isaac Alves]

Hi and welcome.

Quick thoughts:

• cloudy water usually a bacterial bloom -- will cause a decrease in oxygen
• cloudy water can also occur if something spawned -- which can cause a decrease in oxygen levels and a spike in nutrient levels
• temp swings like that will kill inverts and stress out fish (which would lead to immune issues which will lead to parasites/infections taking an aggressive hold on the fish
• po4 being zero is not healthy for soft coral - I'd check this a couple of times with your test kit.

 

[Freakycorpse]

Ok i definitely will. Should have come here before even doing anything. just hoping I didn't muff these guys up. So a heater to maintain a constant 78 degrees would be a good idea, right? I have one and that being said I think I know the answer but I should go up slowly from the current temperature yeah?

 

[K7BMG]

Agree with the oxygen issue.
Are your fish breathing heavy or staying near the top of the water?

Would be a good idea to add a airstone for a while.