The Most Differentest Mess You've Never Heard of

[Gregory Thornock]

Hey friends,

I am a teacher in a small rural high school. Last year, I had a very savvy teacher aid that wanted to setup a saltwater tank in my classroom. We think we got it all setup, but I am not sure. We ordered what we hoped was live rock and got it going. The tank is now full of algae. Worse yet! My teacher aid has moved on to bigger and better things now, leaving me unsure how to finish the tank. I am willing to take tests, send pictures, whatever we need to do to rehabilitate the tank. It has never had fish in it yet.

How about someone give me a starting point? I'll report to this thread as I perform whatever necessary tasks you guys thing I need to do.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

First off, welcome to R2R! You came to the right place

We're gonna need some more details first, what size tank is it? If you don't know what the gallon size is you can measure the length, width, and height of the tank. Pictures would also be really helpful too if you are able to provide them. Pictures of the tank, lighting, algae, and filtration would be super helpful in determining what we're working with first.

 

[._Z_.]

Let’s learn more about the setup:
What size tank? What are your goals (fish or corals)? What equipment do you have on it? Did you cycle it? How long has it been up?

After that let’s see some water parameters: salinity, temp, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate to get started.

 

[Clinton]

Sounds like a fun exciting classroom edition. For starters, how about hit us with some dimensions.
How many gallons?
Do you know what filtration system you're using?
How many months has it been set up?
Temperature?
Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels?
Pictures are always helpful
Lighting?
How often are you doing water changes?
What water are you using for the changes?

 

[Clinton]

Sounds like a fun exciting classroom edition. For starters, how about hit us with some dimensions.
How many gallons?
Do you know what filtration system you're using?
How many months has it been set up?
Temperature?
Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels?
Pictures are always helpful
Lighting?
How often are you doing water changes?
What water are you using for the changes?

Oops spent too long at work writing this post everyone else is spot on!

 

[Gregory Thornock]

OK guys, it took me a minute.

The aquarium is a 46 gallon bowfront.

It utilizes an Orbit Marine PRO LED light with 24 hour ramp timer

I am still working on a temperature setting, I know we have a heater in it, but I need a thermometer of some sort. I don't know ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels yet. I have never done water changes. However, we add water from my RO system as it evaporates.

The tank has been running for at least a year as is.

As far as goals, I'd like to just mainly have corals, perhaps a shrimp or two and a nemo fish.

I am still figuring the filtration system.

Sorry about having so little info yet, but I am gathering in the little time that I have.

I cannot tell you how awesome it is to have had so many friendly people respond so quickly. Please don't give up on us, we'll get to all of the questions as soon as I can.

Thanks folks!

 

[Richard the Reefer]

OK guys, it took me a minute.

The aquarium is a 46 gallon bowfront.

It utilizes an Orbit Marine PRO LED light with 24 hour ramp timer

I am still working on a temperature setting, I know we have a heater in it, but I need a thermometer of some sort. I don't know ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels yet. I have never done water changes. However, we add water from my RO system as it evaporates.

The tank has been running for at least a year as is.

As far as goals, I'd like to just mainly have corals, perhaps a shrimp or two and a nemo fish.

I am still figuring the filtration system.

Sorry about having so little info yet, but I am gathering in the little time that I have.

I cannot tell you how awesome it is to have had so many friendly people respond so quickly. Please don't give up on us, we'll get to all of the questions as soon as I can.

Thanks folks!

I wish we did this when I was in school! I love science!!!

Do you have a test kit? You can get API saltwater kits cheap on amazon.

Pictures please

 

[Jesterrace]

Hey friends,

I am a teacher in a small rural high school. Last year, I had a very savvy teacher aid that wanted to setup a saltwater tank in my classroom. We think we got it all setup, but I am not sure. We ordered what we hoped was live rock and got it going. The tank is now full of algae. Worse yet! My teacher aid has moved on to bigger and better things now, leaving me unsure how to finish the tank. I am willing to take tests, send pictures, whatever we need to do to rehabilitate the tank. It has never had fish in it yet.

How about someone give me a starting point? I'll report to this thread as I perform whatever necessary tasks you guys thing I need to do.

How long do you run the lights each day? Given that you have never had fish or anything live in it that would be my guess as the number one culprit. Anything more than 8 hours a day will cause crazy algae growth. How long has the tank been up and running? Also does your filter hang on the back of the tank or do you have a canister filter that sits underneath?

 

[Gregory Thornock]

How long do you run the lights each day? Given that you have never had fish or anything live in it that would be my guess as the number one culprit. Anything more than 8 hours a day will cause crazy algae growth. How long has the tank been up and running? Also does your filter hang on the back of the tank or do you have a canister filter that sits underneath?

For lighting, how long do you recommend and at what setting?
Tank has been running for at least a year.
It is a Fluval canister filter that sits underneath the aquarium in the stand.

 

[Gregory Thornock]

I wish we did this when I was in school! I love science!!!

Do you have a test kit? You can get API saltwater kits cheap on amazon.

Pictures please

I have a test kit, I will tell you what kind it is when I post pictures of the tank.

 

[Gregory Thornock]

Here are pictures

 

[Jesterrace]

For lighting, how long do you recommend and at what setting?
Tank has been running for at least a year.
It is a Fluval canister filter that sits underneath the aquarium in the stand.

As mentioned in my post above no more than 8 hours per day. As for setting on the lights, only you can tell for sure since no two lights or setups are going to respond exactly the same. If you get the tank all cleaned up and it starts developing a bunch of algae again, you might want to dial down the intensity a bit. Your canister filter is also a huge part of the problem as they will easily turn into nitrate factories in a saltwater tank if you don't clean them frequently (ie at least every week or two). Honestly I recommend an HOB (Hang on back filter) for your tank, it will be much easier to clean and maintain. A Fluval 70 or 110 will do the job nicely and you can pick them up relatively cheap from Petsmart or their website (and they frequently run sales on them on their website). I would also recommend using something like a Chemipure Elite bag that you stick in the filter and it will help keep your water clean and break down phosphates, waste, etc. and they are good for about 2-3 months depending on how it is stocked and how much you feed the tank.

 

[Gregory Thornock]

"As mentioned in my post above no more than 8 hours per day. As for setting on the lights, only you can tell for sure since no two lights or setups are going to respond exactly the same. If you get the tank all cleaned up and it starts developing a bunch of algae again, you might want to dial down the intensity a bit."

We are reprogramming the lights to be on less. We think the remote is not functioning, which programs the lights, so I have ordered a fresh battery. Hopefully, that's all it is.

"Your canister filter is also a huge part of the problem as they will easily turn into nitrate factories in a saltwater tank if you don't clean them frequently (ie at least every week or two). Honestly I recommend an HOB (Hang on back filter) for your tank, it will be much easier to clean and maintain. A Fluval 70 or 110 will do the job nicely and you can pick them up relatively cheap from Petsmart or their website (and they frequently run sales on them on their website)."

OK, I have a few problems. We have never changed that canister filter. Not in a year! I went ahead and ordered a Fluval 110 from Amazon today.

"I would also recommend using something like a Chemipure Elite bag that you stick in the filter and it will help keep your water clean and break down phosphates, waste, etc. and they are good for about 2-3 months depending on how it is stocked and how much you feed the tank."

Would I get bags like these: https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Enterpr...ags-Aquarium/dp/B00BUFTSV6/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

And fill it with this: https://www.amazon.com/Boyd-Enterpr...id=1517501519&sr=8-6&keywords=chemipure+elite

 

[O'l Salty]

You have a good light. Mine has 4 pre-programed settings. The manual should give you information on each setting.

Good luck!

 

[Gregory Thornock]

You have a good light. Mine has 4 pre-programed settings. The manual should give you information on each setting.

Good luck!

It's been a good light. Right now, there are problems. If I bypass the controller I can plug the white light in or the blue light. They will function. The controller seems to have stopped working. We have a new battery on order and are hoping that we can reprogram the light. Only time will tell.

 

[rockstarta78]

Welcome to R2R.

You have the right test kit. Everything everyone asked for, you can get the results from that test kit. Except for PO4. I bet you, your local reef club would let you borrow a PO4 test kit as well. Local reef clubs are usually very helpful, especially towards classroom tanks. But without knowing the reading and just by looking at your tank pictures, I am guessing your NO3 and PO4 are through the roof. FWIW, I have always found canister filters troublesome. They can become a NO3 factory. I think a 100% water change and thoroughly cleaning out the canister filter would be a good starting point for you. Before the WC I'd give the tank a very good scrubbing so you can pull out as much algae as you as can during the WC. If you get down to some simple weekly maintenance schedule you should have no problem keeping the clownfish or the inverts you are interested in. I envy your students. Back in our days my teacher wouldn't keep anything in the classroom. I wish we had a reef tank in our class.

 

[Gregory Thornock]

Welcome to R2R.

You have the right test kit. Everything everyone asked for, you can get the results from that test kit. Except for PO4. I bet you, your local reef club would let you borrow a PO4 test kit as well. Local reef clubs are usually very helpful, especially towards classroom tanks. But without knowing the reading and just by looking at your tank pictures, I am guessing your NO3 and PO4 are through the roof. FWIW, I have always found canister filters troublesome. They can become a NO3 factory. I think a 100% water change and thoroughly cleaning out the canister filter would be a good starting point for you. Before the WC I'd give the tank a very good scrubbing so you can pull out as much algae as you as can during the WC. If you get down to some simple weekly maintenance schedule you should have no problem keeping the clownfish or the inverts you are interested in. I envy your students. Back in our days my teacher wouldn't keep anything in the classroom. I wish we had a reef tank in our class.

OK, we will get some testing done and report those readings here.

Also, I am ordering a PO4 kit from Amazon.

I have also ordered a Fluval 110 to replace the canister filter.

Tell me what a 100% water change would entail? Recommendations for new salt for the new water?

Any tricks to scrubbing the tank?

 

[Kremis]

Welcome to R2R.

You have the right test kit. Everything everyone asked for, you can get the results from that test kit. Except for PO4. I bet you, your local reef club would let you borrow a PO4 test kit as well. Local reef clubs are usually very helpful, especially towards classroom tanks. But without knowing the reading and just by looking at your tank pictures, I am guessing your NO3 and PO4 are through the roof. FWIW, I have always found canister filters troublesome. They can become a NO3 factory. I think a 100% water change and thoroughly cleaning out the canister filter would be a good starting point for you. Before the WC I'd give the tank a very good scrubbing so you can pull out as much algae as you as can during the WC. If you get down to some simple weekly maintenance schedule you should have no problem keeping the clownfish or the inverts you are interested in. I envy your students. Back in our days my teacher wouldn't keep anything in the classroom. I wish we had a reef tank in our class.

Agree with everything said here, big water change, clean everything and clean cannister filter.
I see a skimmer on the back of your tank, is it working?

 

[Kremis]

OK, we will get some testing done and report those readings here.

Also, I am ordering a PO4 kit from Amazon.

I have also ordered a Fluval 110 to replace the canister filter.

Tell me what a 100% water change would entail? Recommendations for new salt for the new water?

Any tricks to scrubbing the tank?

You could either buy the water pre made or mix it yourself. I personally use instant ocean reef crystals, but they also have stuff for fish only tanks https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Ocean-Sea-Salt-160-Gallon/dp/B000256EUS

 

[Gregory Thornock]

Agree with everything said here, big water change, clean everything and clean cannister filter.
I see a skimmer on the back of your tank, is it working?

How can I tell if the skimmer is working?