I have had a "reef tank" myself for several years. I put the word reef in quotes as my experience with my corals has been discouraging; fish have been ok. (all reef safe) Maybe someone can point out my mistakes and help other newbies, or like me, Wannabes.
I'm seriously considering selling or converting to fish only. But I hate to admit defeat and love the look of a nice coral tank. I'll give some history.
Got into this rapidly 5-6 years ago when my kids and I went to LFS with my brother who had two tanks himself. I had been given a 60 galloon hex tank and had 2 external fluval filters with generally low water flow. Seahorses! Was told vertical tank would be perfect and low water flow as well. Purchased a 150W MH pendant and was off. 6-8 months doing great, then out of ignorance was adding water with salt to make up for evaporation. Not every time, but enough. Mistakenly thought all the white crusty powder accumulating on the tank rim was loss of salt/calcium, etc. (it's not) By the way, don't trust the hydrometers.
Seahorses greatly limit your choices of tank mates so we decided to upgrade and do corals/fish. I purchased a 74 gallon reef ready cube, a 150 w LED (Blueline Phantom), stand, and a sump/refugium. Also several circulators, recently upgraded those to two wave makers hoping the flow changes would be more pleasing to the coral.
It has been running for about 3 years. I always had difficulty with corals. They tend to deteriorate over time. Montis, gone, zoos, mushrooms even. They just begin to shrink, not open, blanch out. Position in the tank does not appear to help. I have a leather coral and a Hammer that seem to be doing well. Anemones also do not seem to do well and shrink down and eventually die (I know they aren't corals, but I just thought to mention them).
I make my own RODI and have tested it and had it tested a LFS. Had my tank water tested at LFS (a few times). Changed my salt (now using reef crystals).
Went from weekly water changes 8-10% to biweekly with about 5% each time and was then told my tank was too clean. Did less water changes (1x/month). Was introduced to dosing and was told that water changes were not essential. I monitored by mg, CA, all levels daily for 2 weeks then initiated dosing with water changes back to about 1 every 2-3 weeks, mostly just to syphon off the sanded. This all occurred over months of trial and error.
After dosing just a few days, noted high CA, mg and it was suggested to add more of a load to the tank. So I did, several SPS, they are not happy. I stopped dosing.
I keep my sg at 1.026/35, temp 79-80 and parameters; mg, ca, all within specs. Also I adjusted my lighting cycle when I read that there is no need for white light for corals, and that it can be damaging; they need blue light, white is more for show.
I have to admit a few things about myself. I do not want to be a scientist. I will check my parameters regularly but anticipate that if I get to a point of stability, the tank will demand less attention. I just can't seem to find that stability.
I also have gotten pretty discouraged which leads me to less attention to the tank over last couple of weeks.
Wow is this a bummer of a post!
I'm seriously considering selling or converting to fish only. But I hate to admit defeat and love the look of a nice coral tank. I'll give some history.
Got into this rapidly 5-6 years ago when my kids and I went to LFS with my brother who had two tanks himself. I had been given a 60 galloon hex tank and had 2 external fluval filters with generally low water flow. Seahorses! Was told vertical tank would be perfect and low water flow as well. Purchased a 150W MH pendant and was off. 6-8 months doing great, then out of ignorance was adding water with salt to make up for evaporation. Not every time, but enough. Mistakenly thought all the white crusty powder accumulating on the tank rim was loss of salt/calcium, etc. (it's not) By the way, don't trust the hydrometers.
Seahorses greatly limit your choices of tank mates so we decided to upgrade and do corals/fish. I purchased a 74 gallon reef ready cube, a 150 w LED (Blueline Phantom), stand, and a sump/refugium. Also several circulators, recently upgraded those to two wave makers hoping the flow changes would be more pleasing to the coral.
It has been running for about 3 years. I always had difficulty with corals. They tend to deteriorate over time. Montis, gone, zoos, mushrooms even. They just begin to shrink, not open, blanch out. Position in the tank does not appear to help. I have a leather coral and a Hammer that seem to be doing well. Anemones also do not seem to do well and shrink down and eventually die (I know they aren't corals, but I just thought to mention them).
I make my own RODI and have tested it and had it tested a LFS. Had my tank water tested at LFS (a few times). Changed my salt (now using reef crystals).
Went from weekly water changes 8-10% to biweekly with about 5% each time and was then told my tank was too clean. Did less water changes (1x/month). Was introduced to dosing and was told that water changes were not essential. I monitored by mg, CA, all levels daily for 2 weeks then initiated dosing with water changes back to about 1 every 2-3 weeks, mostly just to syphon off the sanded. This all occurred over months of trial and error.
After dosing just a few days, noted high CA, mg and it was suggested to add more of a load to the tank. So I did, several SPS, they are not happy. I stopped dosing.
I keep my sg at 1.026/35, temp 79-80 and parameters; mg, ca, all within specs. Also I adjusted my lighting cycle when I read that there is no need for white light for corals, and that it can be damaging; they need blue light, white is more for show.
I have to admit a few things about myself. I do not want to be a scientist. I will check my parameters regularly but anticipate that if I get to a point of stability, the tank will demand less attention. I just can't seem to find that stability.
I also have gotten pretty discouraged which leads me to less attention to the tank over last couple of weeks.
Wow is this a bummer of a post!
I would not dose anything....dosing is best left to the experts. Back to the basics...test the water weekly . I do small weekly sand vac and water change...I have a 45g..I top off daily with fresh water and do a 4 gal wc weekly. I use reef salt as it has the xtras in it that coral needs. I use a product called Chem Pure blue to keep Phosphates in check and I skim dry as well. This is the best I can offer ...hopefully one of the admins will chime in to help you further.
I am curious what you have for a skimmer right now?
