Sick tank

[tidefanjam]

Went on vacation for a few days, had a bit of gha when I left but came back to a forest, also my torch, hammer and Duncan are withdrawn, checked all parameters ammonia-0 ,KH-8 ,calcium-360, phosphate- .08, temp 77f, SG- 1.024, nitrates-5, my nitrates were 0, I dosed some sodium nitrate to bring them to 5 because my lps is usually happier with a bit of nitrates. I believe my phosphates are reading falsely low because the algae is taking it up. My calcium usually reads higher, could high phosphates be lowering my calcium? Should I run some gfo for the phosphates? And should I dose some calcium to bring it up? Also I did have a rock flower anemone that died while I was gone, perhaps the high phosphates? I wrote a book I know, spent hours cleaning the tank 2 days ago and algae is back already, frustrating...

 

[ZoWhat]

Time for a 3-4 day total blackout followed by a 50% WC.

If that doesn't work buy a lawnmower benny's or a yellow tang to eat the GHA

If THAT doesn't work....time to dose Vodka/Vinegar (tons of posts on the subject).....or dose NOPOX

* Up your WCs to weekly

* feed your fish 1/4th the amt (all traces of food have to been eaten and gone in under 3mins. Past 3mins and food still seen? Too much food!!!)

 

[tidefanjam]

Time for a 3-4 day total blackout followed by a 50% WC.

If that doesn't work buy a lawnmower benny's or a yellow tang to eat the GHA

i have considered the blackout, i have a starry blenny so the lawnmower blenny prob wouldn't work out, my starry does eat some but not enough to help

 

[ZoWhat]

If blkout fails....

* time to dose Vodka/Vinegar (tons of posts on the subject).....or dose NOPOX

* Up your WCs to weekly

* feed your fish 1/4th the amt (all traces of food have to been eaten and gone in under 3mins. Past 3mins and food still seen? Too much food!!!)

 

[Dpate]

Reef tanks are just like girlfriends/wives!
Don’t pay attention to them for a few days & they turn on you with a vengeance!
Just get back to your regular maintenance schedule & maybe use some flucanazole for a quick fix?

 

[Luisreef]

Went on vacation for a few days, had a bit of gha when I left but came back to a forest, also my torch, hammer and Duncan are withdrawn, checked all parameters ammonia-0 ,KH-8 ,calcium-360, phosphate- .08, temp 77f, SG- 1.024, nitrates-5, my nitrates were 0, I dosed some sodium nitrate to bring them to 5 because my lps is usually happier with a bit of nitrates. I believe my phosphates are reading falsely low because the algae is taking it up. My calcium usually reads higher, could high phosphates be lowering my calcium? Should I run some gfo for the phosphates? And should I dose some calcium to bring it up? Also I did have a rock flower anemone that died while I was gone, perhaps the high phosphates? I wrote a book I know, spent hours cleaning the tank 2 days ago and algae is back already, frustrating...

Water change and your acan looks like it needs more light or phosphates are up its browning

 

[tidefanjam]

Water change and your acan looks like it needs more light or phosphates are up its browning

i think its a combination, i believe my phosphates are up, also the bottom acan polyp is shaded by the top 2 polyps

 

[Luisreef]

I have one just like it faded colors idk why. My temp went up to 85 once.

 

[DSC reef]

I wouldn't suggest a blackout and definitely don't add bioload (fish) to remove algae problems from nutrients. Take your time, manual removal and water changes. If your tank was good before you left then you'll get it there again.

 

[cancun]

Went on vacation for a few days, had a bit of gha when I left but came back to a forest, also my torch, hammer and Duncan are withdrawn, checked all parameters ammonia-0 ,KH-8 ,calcium-360, phosphate- .08, temp 77f, SG- 1.024, nitrates-5, my nitrates were 0, I dosed some sodium nitrate to bring them to 5 because my lps is usually happier with a bit of nitrates. I believe my phosphates are reading falsely low because the algae is taking it up. My calcium usually reads higher, could high phosphates be lowering my calcium? Should I run some gfo for the phosphates? And should I dose some calcium to bring it up? Also I did have a rock flower anemone that died while I was gone, perhaps the high phosphates? I wrote a book I know, spent hours cleaning the tank 2 days ago and algae is back already, frustrating...

Hi there.....sorry about your tank trouble, I totally understand....I agree with dsc reef.....I wouldn't add fish to get rid of gha....a long time ago I borrowed a sea hare from my LFS...he polished off my gha in about 2 weeks, along with some manual removal on my part...then I returned him. How many and what kind of fish do you have? How much and how often do you normally do wc? I do a 20% once a week.....I was doing a 10% once a week, and like others said if you get busy doing other things and neglect the ol tank, even if it was for a short time....things get out of whack quick.....I would do some decent water changes, cut the amount you are feeding the fish, and manually remove as much gha that you can!!

 

[tidefanjam]

Hi there.....sorry about your tank trouble, I totally understand....I agree with dsc reef.....I wouldn't add fish to get rid of gha....a long time ago I borrowed a sea hare from my LFS...he polished off my gha in about 2 weeks, along with some manual removal on my part...then I returned him. How many and what kind of fish do you have? How much and how often do you normally do wc? I do a 20% once a week.....I was doing a 10% once a week, and like others said if you get busy doing other things and neglect the ol tank, even if it was for a short time....things get out of whack quick.....I would do some decent water changes, cut the amount you are feeding the fish, and manually remove as much gha that you can!!

I have a clown, 2 banggai cardinals, a starry blenny, and a striped blenny, 2 emerald crabs and 2 peppermint shrimp, I have normally done a 25% change once a month but I’m gonna I increase the frequency, I have an automatic feeder and I think I’ve been feeding too much, so cutting down on that too, I have a refuge but the red macro I have in it doesn’t grow much, thinking about swapping it out for some cheato , I’m thinking about running some purigen to clean it up some also.