Should I Drain And Start Over?

[mcarroll]

I agree. It definitely looks like a low-flow softy tank. But more flow doesn't hurt especially in a 50gal tank that's using only the return as the source of flow.

I agree, but the tank has apparently been settled like this, with the corals growing in for some time.....keep things going that way until you have a good reason (and associated plan) for doing so.

 

[Ubergroover]

these guys are good....they wont steer ya wrong.

 

[enviroman]

I'm no expert and I've just restarted in March after almost 20 years out of the hobby... But I'm a little jealous that you just started and you have such a nice, mature tank. It's hard work to get a tank to that stage.. Ok so you need some TLC to clean it up a bit, but it's really nice with cool fish and algae.. Plus the corraline growth. Listen to these guys on the cleanup and you will be pleased. Good luck....

 

[BrettMallette]

I really like turban snails... cant for the name of me remember the actual name. Maybe @mcarroll could help out on that one. As well as turbos. I wouldnt disturb the sandbed too much so a sandsifting goby is out for now. I also wouldnt increase flow like crazy just a decent powerhead to keep the crud suspended. Could always add some bacteria to the tank to see if it munchs down on the grey mulm some to make it look better. But as stated most reefers strive to have a tank this "mature" so i wouldnt do a lot to mess with things. At least until ya get your test kits in. Which kits did you order @nim6us

 

[mcarroll]

mulm (<-that's a R2R search for @Paul B's posts on the topic. click it!) is an interesting topic, believe it or not....and maybe surprisingly, it's not something you automatically need to get rid of.

Another nerdy technical word for it that's a lot more fun to say is Periphyton!

 

[FlyinBryan]

The dirtier the sump..the better!! Use a tooth brush on the rock etc. coralline algae is good. Watch how long you have your lights on and feeding etc. I'd run Gfo/Carbon either passively or reactor. Good luck!

 

[mcarroll]

I really like turban snails... cant for the name of me remember the actual name.

Maybe trochus snails?

(BTW, when I looked em up, it turns out that pretty much all the snails we use are in the family of turban snails. Go figure! )

 

[Paul B]

I would not drain one drop of that water. It takes years to get that growth of bacteria and mulm and that is what makes a tank healthy. The tanks with all the problems are the squeaky clean ones. I purposely throw mud in my tank from a bay in NY all the time and my tank is very healthy. Don't touch a thing. You can scrap that stuff on the front glass under the sand if you like but you are lucky to have a tank with such healthy growth on it.

 

[BrettMallette]

Maybe trochus snails?

(BTW, when I looked em up, it turns out that pretty much all the snails we use are in the family of turban snails. Go figure! )

Thats the one trochus! Look like astrea but can flip themselves back ovet and will multiply in the home aquarium. I have like 150 ranging from 3 year old adults to tiny specks that are a cpl months old. Also love hair algae and diatoms from my experience.

 

[BrettMallette]

I would not drain one drop of that water. It takes years to get that growth of bacteria and mulm and that is what makes a tank healthy. The tanks with all the problems are the squeaky clean ones. I purposely throw mud in my tank from a bay in NY all the time and my tank is very healthy. Don't touch a thing. You can scrap that stuff on the front glass under the sand if you like but you are lucky to have a tank with such healthy growth on it.

Agree with Paul entirely i have mulm all over the place in my tank where you dont look all the time because i try to keep the front side of the rocks somehwat "clean looking" even though they are by no means clean. I also have hair algae cyano and bubble algae rocking out in places but im not doing much to proactively remove it. Keeps my nitrates and phosphates down some... i think... i might need to hire a supermodel to get it as good looking or old as @Paul B has his tank though.

 

[Paul B]

I took this off a very remote Island in Hawaii. Looks familiar doesn't it? You can see a spotted moray in the center and he is smiling because he likes that growth so much.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mulm-in-a-reef-tank.252780/

 

[Dom]

So what's the verdict? Should I drain and restart, or can I clean it up? More importantly, how do I clean it? I don't think I can use the scraper on the round intake and heaters, and I'm unsure how to clean against the glass where the sand is. Any advice is very welcome!

For me, it comes down to this: If the tank is thriving, then roll up your sleeves and get to cleaning. Don't fix what isn't broken. Coraline can be scraped with a safety razor. Churn your substrate and clean below the substrate line. Finish up by doing a water change and installing fresh filter media.

Repeat this process every week to 10 days until it's clean. I wouldn't clean everything up at one time.

Be PATIENT and do it in stages.

Also, consider setting up a refugium to export the nutrients that algae feed on.

 

[nim6us]

Didn't see this had gone on to two pages! Thanks for all the great feedback guys, you've really alliveated a lot of my concerns. Lots of good advice to digest