Rusty colored growth on rocks?

kasik64 · Feb 11, 2017

So today I decided to test my parameters, my nitrites are in the "stress" level and I have low nitrates, and my ammonia levels seem fine according to my wheel, should I interfere with a water change, or let it finish its course? My tanks ugly stage has gotten worse...any recommendations?

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 11, 2017

kasik64 said:
So today I decided to test my parameters, my nitrites are in the "stress" level and I have low nitrates, and my ammonia levels seem fine according to my wheel, should I interfere with a water change, or let it finish its course? My tanks ugly stage has gotten worse...any recommendations?

Voted most Un ugly Ugly phase ever.

kasik64 · Feb 11, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Voted most Un ugly Ugly phase ever.

So this is normal I take it? Haha but what should I do about my levels?

taintstick · Feb 11, 2017

kasik64 said:
So this is normal I take it? Haha but what should I do about my levels?

Yes it's normal, we all go through that ***** stage. Just let the tank do it's think and when all is in order, go get a massive CUC! Lol

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 11, 2017

kasik64 said:
So this is normal I take it? Haha but what should I do about my levels?

Dont sweat them.

Feed the fish healthy. Keep the tank clean. you'll be fine.
Yea, so normal,(yawn)...

new tanks fluctuate quite a bit. Don't sweat it.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 11, 2017

taintstick said:
Just let the tank do it's think and when all is in order, go get a massive CUC! Lol

lol. Yup.
But I'd add them slow too. And get small turbos. they get big. avoid too many crabs

kasik64 · Feb 15, 2017

taintstick · Feb 16, 2017

Do a WC after turning lights of for a day or two to try and kill it off. raise your lights or turn them down. Get a larger CUC, more hermits.
How much do you feed and what do you feed?
Btw, do a WC after you have scrubbed the glass clean and agitate the brown sand parts a little bit.

jimo12 · Feb 16, 2017

Patients my freind,!!!!!!!!!! My reef tank is driving me crazy

kasik64 · Feb 16, 2017

taintstick said:
Do a WC after turning lights of for a day or two to try and kill it off. raise your lights or turn them down. Get a larger CUC, more hermits.
How much do you feed and what do you feed?
Btw, do a WC after you have scrubbed the glass clean and agitate the brown sand parts a little bit.

I have 2 hermits, an emerald, 3 small snails, and I added a turbo today. My snails really suck so I had to get something that will do something. And my emerald is to control some vortmeid snails I have or something. I feed an algae tab a day and 1/16 cube of shrimp, although I skipped a day or two once this crap started just to see if my hermits would pick up the cleaning. I will keep lights off tomorrow and wc on Sunday. What is the best way to do it?

taintstick · Feb 16, 2017

Use RODI water and good salt. Just shut off pumps and siphon water out of the tank. And just turn the pumps back on. Reason for WC after lights out, so you can remove whatever was died off and released into water.
Yes, patience is also key.
I wouldn't count on the snails to do a whole lot. Seems like your CUC is used to your tank. Get a new set of snails and hermits.

kasik64 · Feb 17, 2017

taintstick said:
Use RODI water and good salt. Just shut off pumps and siphon water out of the tank. And just turn the pumps back on. Reason for WC after lights out, so you can remove whatever was died off and released into water.
Yes, patience is also key.
I wouldn't count on the snails to do a whole lot. Seems like your CUC is used to your tank. Get a new set of snails and hermits.

What about sea pure? I have 3 jugs of sea pure to use.

taintstick · Feb 17, 2017

kasik64 said:
What about sea pure? I have 3 jugs of sea pure to use.

I have no experience with Sea Pure, but yea I would use the rest of that. Usually jug sea water is pretty good but I have never used them. I use Fritz RPM Pro Salt. 4 stage RODI unit to make water.

kasik64 · Feb 17, 2017

I got it for initial set up, and never used what I bought. I know the specific gravity is a little high but I have so ro that I can use to stable it.

taintstick · Feb 17, 2017

Well when ever you run out, I would suggest RODI, not RO water. RO can still contain some doo doo.

kasik64 · Feb 17, 2017

What's the difference?

taintstick · Feb 17, 2017

RO doesn't remove all the heavy metals like DI. RODI is like a clean canvas for the salt of your choice.

saltyfilmfolks · Feb 17, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yea, so normal,(yawn)...

taintstick said:
RODI is like a clean canvas for the salt of your choice.

+10000000

kasik64 said:
sea pure?

Pre mixed salt water from Carib Sea...

kasik64 · Feb 18, 2017

So back to the water change, what percentage should I do? And can I leave my fish in there?

taintstick · Feb 18, 2017

I would scrub and sift and clean till most is gone, be sure to let your filer catch all the dookie. Do a 50% WC, which isn't much cause your tank is small, and be sure to change out the sock BEFORE the WC. So you don't run good clean water through a dirty filter.
Fish may get a little agitated but they should be fine. They are hearty.