Starting off on a bad note

[ReeferRoo]

Welcome! Can't help you with the fungia, but I would agree that reducing your photo period will help, I was running my lights around 12-14 hours a day when I started, had tons of algae on the sand bed, when I dropped down to 9 hours, with 7 hours of full intensity and added 2 sand sifting stars, within 2 weeks the sand bed was white (I wouldn't recommend the sand sifter in the cube, too small) . The cleanup crew was able to catch up on the rocks and now everything seems to just maintain itself, to be honest though, it may even be a little too good now which has resulted in Invert Warfare...and the crabs keep taking out my snails...well...1 male emerald crab...the others just pickup the scraps.

 

[glb]

Welcome! I agree with everyone about less hours with the lights. I also agree that snails will help you with the sand. In a small tank you want to make sure you don't have too much of a cleanup crew. Crabs are my least favorite because they start eating snails and each other if they get hungry. Good luck!

 

[jesse_larsen]

The shrimp-gobies like the yellow watchman aren't really sand-sifters, and sadly, a biocube is probably too small for any of the ones that are. Sand dwelling snails are probably going to work better for you - but slowly.

They're snails.

~Bruce

thank you! I've been trying to think of a way to catch my goby and pistol shrimp without moving the rock work but that seems impossible

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and you're getting sound advice above.

 

[Katrina71]

A pic is worth a thousand words. The folks on here are super helpful. A wealth of knowledge.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I'm told algae is hard to control in younger thanks but it's only growing on my sand so I'm confused as to why this is.

Gravity.
Food particles settle on the sand. while sand sifters may eat the larger bits. they poop too. The other gravity issue esp in AIO, is stuff settles in the back chambers. now you may have bits of stuff blowing from the back into the front and settling. In my JBJ cube is was so bad I did all my WC from the back.
Next is chemistry.
food is rotting in the sand producing ammonia. even though the bacteria are consuming it , thet are also producing c02. both of those things cyano loves.

thank you! I've been trying to think of a way to catch my goby and pistol shrimp without moving the rock work but that seems impossible

not sure why you would. fine tank mates.

depending on what your feeding, different snails may be more of an answer for you. Diversity is good. good cuc really does help.

best cuc has thumbs.
you probaly want to d this before a wc and then swap out the mechanical filtration(floss)

what kind of filter do you run and do you dun a skimmer.

A pic is worth a thousand words. The folks on here are super helpful. A wealth of knowledge.

Better listen to her.;Blackeye

Knowing what your parameters are (no3 po4 and PH from the morning and end of the day) along with a visual check up can tell the whole story.
rolleyes:And we like pictures of tanks.)

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R! I place, very gently, on a piece of pvc in a well lite and medium flow. I agree that if the tissue has been damaged, the mortality rate is very high and when algae starts to grow on the skeleton it won't grow back over the skeleton. Good Luck.

 

[jesse_larsen]

Welcome to R2R! I place, very gently, on a piece of pvc in a well lite and medium flow. I agree that if the tissue has been damaged, the mortality rate is very high and when algae starts to grow on the skeleton it won't grow back over the skeleton. Good Luck.

Surprisingly today it seems to be doing much much better! I don't know how this is but it looks to be growing back over what was receding? I'm not gonna question it and just be happy with whatever it's doing

 

[jesse_larsen]

Gravity.
Food particles settle on the sand. while sand sifters may eat the larger bits. they poop too. The other gravity issue esp in AIO, is stuff settles in the back chambers. now you may have bits of stuff blowing from the back into the front and settling. In my JBJ cube is was so bad I did all my WC from the back.
Next is chemistry.
food is rotting in the sand producing ammonia. even though the bacteria are consuming it , thet are also producing c02. both of those things cyano loves.


not sure why you would. fine tank mates.

depending on what your feeding, different snails may be more of an answer for you. Diversity is good. good cuc really does help.

best cuc has thumbs.
you probaly want to d this before a wc and then swap out the mechanical filtration(floss)

what kind of filter do you run and do you dun a skimmer.


Better listen to her.;Blackeye

Knowing what your parameters are (no3 po4 and PH from the morning and end of the day) along with a visual check up can tell the whole story.
rolleyes:And we like pictures of tanks.)

I have a biocube skimmer but it's more of a hassle to get it to actually work properly then to even have it running in the first place! I am looking to get a nice skimmer soon but i am a high school student with no job at the moment so it's hard convincing my parents of this pricy hobby. As well I run a filter sock with a few sponges inside the sock.

 

[jesse_larsen]

Welcome to R2R and you're getting sound advice above.

Yes i agree and im going to be doing everything I can do listed above once I get home!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have a biocube skimmer

Im so sorry.

look at used tunze 9001 if it fits (under $175 new) and good plan. you can substitute good mechanical(floss/ socks) for skimming.

 

[jesse_larsen]

Any full tank pics? BioCubes are my favorite.

Again pay no attention to my horrible rock work and sand haha

 

[Katrina71]

I like your rock!

 

[jesse_larsen]

Went to change my lighting and to my surprise my lights have been running for 15 hours a day! I had no idea since my brother set up the timers for me. I also turned down the intensity of my whites (just past when they "click" on) and turned up my blues a little also. So now they are running for only 10 hours. Thank you for all the help and my plate coral is doing much better today! I'll let you guys know if anything changes

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Again pay no attention to my horrible rock work and sand haha

Thats a great tank Jesse!

Tag me when your ready to tweak the lights a bit more..

 

[jesse_larsen]

Thats a great tank Jesse!

Tag me when your ready to tweak the lights a bit more..

Thanks man! And no problem my brith day is coming up so a light upgrade might be in my future

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks man! And no problem my brith day is coming up so a light upgrade might be in my future

buy the skimmer
thats a fine light!

oh and more coral!!!!!

 

[jesse_larsen]

buy the skimmer
thats a fine light!

oh and more coral!!!!!

Okay glad you told me or I would have got a new light [emoji23] and yes I can never have enough coral

 

[Katrina71]

Xenia.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Xenia.

LOL