GuppyHJD
Valuable Member
Hello all,
I am looking at the tank and wondering....is there something I should be doing or should I go back to reading my book?
History:
I ordered my tank several months ago but it was delayed with the COVID mess.
I put 55lbs of dry rock in a trashcan with RODI water, a heater and powerhead. I started with Dr. Tims One and Only. Three weeks and I still had some ammonia and nitrites, and nitrates were high.
The 120g tank arrived, I moved the rock to the aquarium, new sand, saltwater (low salinity 28ppm) while RODI was making more.
With the new sand, tank, sump, other hardware and saltwater, the numbers all went low (.25 ammonia, 0 everything else), so I dosed more ammonia and added the rest of the Dr. Tims. Three days later, we left to visit grandkids, and the tank was left with heater, powerhead but not return pump/sump.
Three weeks later, added 15lbs dry rock (given it over the holidays), got the same numbers as before .25 ammonia, 0 everything else).
The LFS suggested I start over
Added a bottle of Fritz 9
Started adding 60ml of Stability daily.
Day 4 - Ammonia is .50, NI is 2.0, Nitrate is 5.0
Yesterday started seeing green on the dry rock.
Today i have bright green algae on a few of the rocks (1/8" high).
I had run the lights a few days earlier on, has been off for the past few days.
I was surprised to see algae with the lights being off and no real source for food for the algae.
I am inclined to just leave the tank alone and keep testing the numbers.
But then I wondered, should I look at putting a few hermit crabs or snails in just to keep the algae in check.
What say's the experts?
I am looking at the tank and wondering....is there something I should be doing or should I go back to reading my book?
History:
I ordered my tank several months ago but it was delayed with the COVID mess.
I put 55lbs of dry rock in a trashcan with RODI water, a heater and powerhead. I started with Dr. Tims One and Only. Three weeks and I still had some ammonia and nitrites, and nitrates were high.
The 120g tank arrived, I moved the rock to the aquarium, new sand, saltwater (low salinity 28ppm) while RODI was making more.
With the new sand, tank, sump, other hardware and saltwater, the numbers all went low (.25 ammonia, 0 everything else), so I dosed more ammonia and added the rest of the Dr. Tims. Three days later, we left to visit grandkids, and the tank was left with heater, powerhead but not return pump/sump.
Three weeks later, added 15lbs dry rock (given it over the holidays), got the same numbers as before .25 ammonia, 0 everything else).
The LFS suggested I start over
Added a bottle of Fritz 9
Started adding 60ml of Stability daily.
Day 4 - Ammonia is .50, NI is 2.0, Nitrate is 5.0
Yesterday started seeing green on the dry rock.
Today i have bright green algae on a few of the rocks (1/8" high).
I had run the lights a few days earlier on, has been off for the past few days.
I was surprised to see algae with the lights being off and no real source for food for the algae.
I am inclined to just leave the tank alone and keep testing the numbers.
But then I wondered, should I look at putting a few hermit crabs or snails in just to keep the algae in check.
What say's the experts?
