Tank consultation

[SPR1968]

Hopefully this is a decent shot of the sand. The bubbles are in the cyano. Cyano comes and goes, I’ve used chemiclean in the past but I’m trying to avoid doing that as much as possible. I will usually brush off and remove cyano, syphon sand during water changes etc but I didn’t want to hide problems for this thread. I recently got some frags which are on the rack, and the sand that is shadowed is not brown, if that helps.
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I don’t think it’s dino’s from that shot

Here’s what I would do personally and just my thoughts other may chime in, and please consider all the options yourself as well.

1. I would do a 3 day blackout and try and clean the system up of any unwanted/problem algae. Blackout just means lights off curtains and doors closed. Generally when the lights come on the tank looks very clean so a good starting point.

2. increase the flow ‘significantly’ in the system especially to all those brown areas

3. Change and increase your light settings if you want to grow the corals which was the original question

4. Consider a sand sifting goby of some kind to keep the sand clean, their very effective. I have an orange spot (I think that’s what hes called!), infact I’ve just posted a picture of him and he keeps the sand spotless.

5. Increase the CUC significantly they are true workers. I prefer hermits rather than snails as I find hermits work harder for you. Infact in my systems I can’t tell what the snails do all day! Lol

If you want to see flow watch one of those videos on the first page of my build especially the 2000l system. Flow is essential and you will see the movement In the close ups

Just my thoughts anyway and hopefully this will give your something to think about and research

 

[WVNed]

Turn those pumps way up.

 

[tptguy]

I would recommend to increase more flow and definitely increase your clean up crew! I have about 105 snails (half of them are tiny and some big ones) in a 75g. As long you have enough algae for CUC to eat, then you can add some more.

What kind of algae? I have detritus (or maybe dino, tbd) and cyano - no hair algae ever. Is that enough to sustain more snails?

 

[KJones90s]

What kind of algae? I have detritus (or maybe dino, tbd) and cyano - no hair algae ever. Is that enough to sustain more snails?

You’ve definitely got some room for more CUC.

 

[WVNed]

Here is what you are looking for. Excuse the dogs and old man breathing.

 

[tptguy]

2. increase the flow ‘significantly’ in the system especially to all those brown areas

3. Change and increase your light settings if you want to grow the corals which was the original question

4. Consider a sand sifting goby of some kind to keep the sand clean, their very effective. I have an orange spot (I think that’s what hes called!), infact I’ve just posted a picture of him and he keeps the sand spotless.

How do I increase without just blowing away my sand? Do you think my gyres should come down? You can see I moved down my right Gyre, scooted the left one back up because it knocked my duncan off the rock a little - figured that was too much direct blast.

I'd love a goby; had one before and it was murdered by my jerk wrasse. I got a trap and removed the wrasse who also ate my hammer. Got another small hammer, it also died. For the person who asked, it receded then expelled the head.

Thank you all so much for the feedback.

 

[Gernader]

What kind of algae? I have detritus (or maybe dino, tbd) and cyano - no hair algae ever. Is that enough to sustain more snails?

Any type of algae is enough for common snails. For example, Nassarius snails will mix up the sandbed if there isn’t much flow on the sand and can eat leftover food.

 

[SPR1968]

How do I increase without just blowing away my sand? Do you think my gyres should come down? You can see I moved down my right Gyre, scooted the left one back up because it knocked my duncan off the rock a little - figured that was too much direct blast.

I'd love a goby; had one before and it was murdered by my jerk wrasse. I got a trap and removed the wrasse who also ate my hammer. Got another small hammer, it also died. For the person who asked, it receded then expelled the head.

Thank you all so much for the feedback.

I’m not familiar with Gyres but someone may chime in. just get as much flow going as you can without creating a sand storm, which may involve moving them

You certainly need to get much more flow across the sand bed and probably the whole system

 

[tptguy]

I really appreciate you all, thank you so much! I'll make some slow changes to the tank

 

[KJones90s]

Maybe check out this video, CJ does a great job explaining all the aspects of a maxspect controller and flow patterns.

 

[WVNed]

Have you aimed your gyres? The covers twist and aim the flow. You want it going almost parallel to the water surface.

 

[tptguy]

Have you aimed your gyres? The covers twist and aim the flow. You want it going almost parallel to the water surface.

Yes, I do the alternating gyre currently. One is pointed parallel and the other I think I put on wrong when I cleaned them. I'll have to adjust before I increase flow

 

[Bosreef]

Figure out your best flow for the tank and your rock structure first and then place corals where they will do best. "My Duncan fell over so I thought it was to much flow" move the Duncan! Lol

 

[tptguy]

Figure out your best flow for the tank and your rock structure first and then place corals where they will do best. "My Duncan fell over so I thought it was to much flow" move the Duncan! Lol

It's more of Gyre placement. I scooted them down and it blew over the duncan in prime rock spot. I moved it back up and will now just turn up the flow.