Tank problems

[skipb1956]

I've got a few questions for you more experienced reefers. I have some cyano bacteria growing on and in the sand bed. Any suggestions as to how to get rid of it? I've read that you shouldn't disturb the sand bed to much. My anemone has looked like this for about 2 months, any idea whats wrong with it? I think its starving but every time I try to feed it the clown fish steal the food.
Also my trachophylia isn't doing well. i Never see the feeding tentacles anymore. Is is savable?
And are the air pockets in the sand nitrogen?
See pics.
Thanks

 

[Diesel]

Can you give us some test results.
Po4
No3
PH
ALK
CAL
MAG
Salt level

[HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]

 

[DeniseAndy]

If you have a low sandbed as your is, you can vacuum it out every so often. Just do so slowly and a bit at a time depending on quantity of water change you are doing. I vacuum my sandbed regularly and it is not a problem. I have anywhere from 0 to 4" of sand. Depends where the goby puts it.

The nem is bleached and very unhappy. Unlikely you can save it, but give it a chance. The trachy is a goner as well. These guys do not recover easily with that much tissue loss. However, I would try to take it out and give it a lugols dip and place back in to see if it helps at all. I have successfully brought lps back but mostly lobos, scolys, favia, not trachys.

Both the nem and trachy need meaty foods to survive. They also want a little "dirtier" tank. Meaning that your nitrates and phosphates can be detectable.

Couple questions that may help you in the future. How long has your tank been set up and what equipment are you running. What are your water parameters such as nitrates and phosphates and sg, pH, temp. What is your water change schedule? Do you dose anything?

 

[skipb1956]

If you have a low sandbed as your is, you can vacuum it out every so often. Just do so slowly and a bit at a time depending on quantity of water change you are doing. I vacuum my sandbed regularly and it is not a problem. I have anywhere from 0 to 4" of sand. Depends where the goby puts it.

The nem is bleached and very unhappy. Unlikely you can save it, but give it a chance. The trachy is a goner as well. These guys do not recover easily with that much tissue loss. However, I would try to take it out and give it a lugols dip and place back in to see if it helps at all. I have successfully brought lps back but mostly lobos, scolys, favia, not trachys.

Both the nem and trachy need meaty foods to survive. They also want a little "dirtier" tank. Meaning that your nitrates and phosphates can be detectable.

Couple questions that may help you in the future. How long has your tank been set up and what equipment are you running. What are your water parameters such as nitrates and phosphates and sg, pH, temp. What is your water change schedule? Do you dose anything?

My tank is 4 months old and I'm new to this. I have a aquamax protein skimmer and a fluval 206 canister filter. Temp is 81, salinity 1.025, nitrate is .2 and phosphate is .25. I've had these readings consistent for a long time, using API drop kits which I have read are not real accurate. My LFS gets reading of .03 nitrate and .05 for phosphate. Alkalinity is 8.9 calcium is 380, I did add liquid calcium usually my calcium is around 400. PH is 8.2 this after a 20% water change yesterday.

Thanks for replying

 

[DeniseAndy]

4 months is pretty new for housing a trachy and a nem. Mainly because these guys want stability, but they also want a nice aged tank as in lots of micro and macro fauna floating around to eat. Also, that derasa is going to suffer if you do not get your calcium up a bit more and more consistently. Clams take a lot of calcium from the water.

Also, what are your lights?

Temp may be a bit high, but it is the swings that may matter more. Most corals like a bit lower temps as do fish. However, I know lots of people that keep them at 79 and 80 without issues (so they say). I only mean, I have not experienced it personally and am going on what they say. Not trying to deny their success.

I would try a bit easier corals first to get your hands wet. Also, what flow do you have in the system. Do you clean your canister filter regularly and what is in it?

 

[skipb1956]

4 months is pretty new for housing a trachy and a nem. Mainly because these guys want stability, but they also want a nice aged tank as in lots of micro and macro fauna floating around to eat. Also, that derasa is going to suffer if you do not get your calcium up a bit more and more consistently. Clams take a lot of calcium from the water.

Also, what are your lights?

Temp may be a bit high, but it is the swings that may matter more. Most corals like a bit lower temps as do fish. However, I know lots of people that keep them at 79 and 80 without issues (so they say). I only mean, I have not experienced it personally and am going on what they say. Not trying to deny their success.

I would try a bit easier corals first to get your hands wet. Also, what flow do you have in the system. Do you clean your canister filter regularly and what is in it?

I switched from a T5 light to LEDs about 2 months a go. My thermostats are set at 70, but have never been able to get the temp down. Even when I had the t5s, not sure if its heat from the powerheads. I have 3, two at the top in each opposite corner and I just added the 3rd in the back facing the front to hopefully increase the flow over the sand bed. 2 on top are 750 gal an hour. I clean my filter twice a week. Just upgraded the sponges to the type that are specific for Phosphate and nitrate, have carbon and bio filters. Also added ROWA to help with the phosphate.

 

[brandon429]

LED whites are burning corals here as well.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Sorry, forgot to ask the size of the tank. How you use the powerheads can help cool the tank. Aimed up at the water surface helps a lot. However, this will also cause alot more evaporation, so more top off.

Sounds like the rest of your maintenance is good. Not sure about the lights as LEDs are not "my cup of tea". I have no experience with them. They could have been the cause of the initial bleaching of the corals and nems since they are very pale. May want to consider adjusting them down a bit.

Also, what else is in the tank?

 

[skipb1956]

I do have 2 power heads at the top facing each other and a smaller one on the back wall facing towards the front to create some flow over the sand bed to try and keep algae from growing on it.
I have 2 clown fish, a purple fire fish, neon dottyback, midas blenny and a red wrasse. Wondering if maybe I have 1 too many fish. When I read up on this got the impression 1 1/2 to 2 inches of fish for every 2 gallons of water.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Tank size? That guideline is not really something to go by. Learning experience. It is kind of like the sand guide and really every other thing they try to generalize in this hobby.

Each fish will have unique needs and requirements. You have to look at the individual fish to determine the best environment. You also must look at the tank mates for compatibility. For instance, if you are looking at a 29g tank (guessing from your fish estimate) the clowns will evenutally grow up and pair off and begin breeding. When this happens, my guess is they will need the whole 29g tank to themselves and you may have lots of aggression (although less with the firefish). The wrasse will want to hunt around and have space to hunt and hide. This 29 will get too small depending on the wrasse in question.

The firefish would be fine in a 29g its whole life. The dottyback would be fine too if had a good home area to call base and the clowns did not grow up. The midas would be eventually a bit too big for a 29g as it needs more space for food.

Now, if you did indeed calculate the tank size to the full grown fish, that is completely different.

 

[skipb1956]

Tank size? That guideline is not really something to go by. Learning experience. It is kind of like the sand guide and really every other thing they try to generalize in this hobby.

Each fish will have unique needs and requirements. You have to look at the individual fish to determine the best environment. You also must look at the tank mates for compatibility. For instance, if you are looking at a 29g tank (guessing from your fish estimate) the clowns will evenutally grow up and pair off and begin breeding. When this happens, my guess is they will need the whole 29g tank to themselves and you may have lots of aggression (although less with the firefish). The wrasse will want to hunt around and have space to hunt and hide. This 29 will get too small depending on the wrasse in question.

The firefish would be fine in a 29g its whole life. The dottyback would be fine too if had a good home area to call base and the clowns did not grow up. The midas would be eventually a bit too big for a 29g as it needs more space for food.

Now, if you did indeed calculate the tank size to the full grown fish, that is completely different.

Thanks Denise, its a 36 gall, but then again I wasn't sure if they were talking tank size, or how much water is actually in it once rock and sand displace some. Thinking of Taking the wrasse back to the store, its healthy and fine and think it will put less bio load on the system.

On a side note I had a cleaner shrimp as part of my original clean up crew and it was with the fish for 2 months and every thing was fine, then 1 day I watched the fish tear it apart and eat it. Same with a fire shrimp. Is it possible I am not feeding the fish enough as I know overfeeding is one of the biggest contributes to water problems. I did add 2 peppermint shrimp and another cleaner but they only lasted 2 days. So I guess I'll give up on any shrimp in my tank.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Honestly, you could do a few things. Try more flow or chemiclean. However, if you want a more natural solution, try using Dr. TIm's Refresh at 5ml per 10 gallons every other day for 14 days. Works like a charm.

 

[skipb1956]

Honestly, you could do a few things. Try more flow or chemiclean. However, if you want a more natural solution, try using Dr. TIm's Refresh at 5ml per 10 gallons every other day for 14 days. Works like a charm.

Thanks, I'll try that

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Thanks, I'll try that

You won't see any results the first few doses, you should after the third or fourth.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Wow. What fish tore the shrimp? All? Never heard of that from a clown, fire, dotty back or blenny. However, if it was already dead they would have eaten it if they were hungry enough. Who doesn't like shrimp in their diet.

That group needs a lot of food. As to why you will get water issues. I have not tried Dr. Tims, but it is suppose to help.

Also, your tank is young and algae comes and goes. Just keep up on maintenance and staying ahead of it. Water changes and c leaning will do tons to keep ahead. Also, stock slowly. I would say you are way done on fish.