This hobby hates me...

[gemini9]

So after 3 months I've decided this hobby hates me and I'm beginning to hate this hobby. As much as I wanted to get into this, and it doesn't seem to matter how badly I wanted this aquarium, it's just not working out and to be honest, I feel like an fool for still having it set up.

It all started in March, when I bought the stuff and set it up. I filled it with water, crushed coral and 2 pounds of live rock along with 14 pounds of dry rock. I added a shrimp to start the cycle and let it rot, just as recommended. I did everything right, or so I thought, to set the foundation for a good tank. Ammonia came up, nitrites came up and nitrates came up. Ammonia and nitrites went down.... and nitrates well.. went off the charts. I bought another 14 pounds of dry rock and another couple pounds of live rock and into the tank. I waited. Patiently. Went through a mega pod explosion but they all disappeared in a week. Still waiting patiently. Adding no fish, just waiting. Diatoms started, nitrates 160ppm. Diatoms left, nitrates 160ppm. Water change... water change... water change... water change... water change... nitrates 160ppm. 50% water change... Nitrates 80ppm. 2 DAYS later.. nitrates 160ppm. Water change.... ADD SKIMMER.... water change... water change... nitrates 80ppm... water change... water change... water change... water change... nitrates 160ppm. patience gone... 50% water change... bought 5 crabs. nitrates 80ppm... 2 days later... nitrates 160ppm... WATER CHANGE... WATER CHANGE START DOSING "Instant Ocean Natural Nitrate Reducer" water change water change water change........ nitrates.... 160ppm....


I was recommended to dose vinegar but I never started doing it because I wasn't sure how much vinegar to start putting in there.

I know you will ask so here goes:

30gallong tank standard 17w t8 flouresent bulb
30 pounds LR
Crushed Coral (I have some sand here but I've been waiting til my nitrates come down to swap it for fear of making things worse)
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 160
Temp 79
Salinity 1.024
Maxijet 400 circulation pump
Octopus Skimmer
HOB filter with blue media changed every 2-3 weeks
5 crabs (alive and well)
1 turbo snail (seems depressed)

Currently, diatoms are starting to spread... again.. but I think on rocks and areas that didn't grow them before. Some brown algae stuff growing on my equipment and I've just begun seeing different colored... "stuff" on the live rock. A small spot of bright green... small spot of yellow... small spot of black... dark green... purple... brown.. not much.. . just very small spots.

I don't know what else to do other than dosing the vinegar. .. My next course of action will probably be a sledge hammer. :censored:

 

[ritter6788]

Dry rock can take a long time to cycle, cure and get over algae problems. I started my 40 breeder with pukani rock and I don't think I added anything for 3 months. Algae was all over. Have someone else test your water to see if the same results come up.

 

[sexycorals]

Noone should feel this way about this hobby... take advise from some of the guys here and get your tank right. after things are settled .. shoot me a PM ill send you a box to get your spirits up and hopefully keep you in this hobby.. Keep your head up man.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Whoa!! Time to take a step back and breathe!!

Honestly, if you want sand as your substrate, go ahead and add it now. It is not going to hurt anything by doing it now. Also, I would stop using the nitrate reducer. What test kit are you using to test for nitrates? I would also consider adding some macroalgae.

 

[Dan1789]

Check your water source too?

 

[saltyphish]

Definitely agree with everyone relax step back and take a breath. There are many people on this site who can help you get things right. BELIEVE me! I have had my tank set up since the end of Feb. so about the same timing for me. I use purigen and Chemipure -elite with about 29 lbs of live rock. Give it time your dry rock will convert to liverock and help with your issues. Now I no longer have nitrates showing, all because of advice from people on sites like these.

 

[Ryan2428]

In all honesty one guy with experience needs to help him and only one to get him started. Just my opinion a lot at once can throw him off it did me when I started IMO only

 

[gemini9]

I've taken a sample of my water to the LFS for testing and they get the same results. API test kit. Same as LFS uses. I've already identified a few problems that contributed to my nitrates, but I can't get them down to save my life. The LR i got from LFS was in extremely high nitrate water. I tested the LFS water and theirs was worse than mine. I assume the LR i got from there is leeching nitrates. The Dry rock I got I didnt bleach it before putting it in my tank so that's problem number 2. I used natural spring water initialy to set up the tank, but have been using store bought rodi ever since. The latest advice I got from petepolyp and damantia was to try vinegar dosing and switch my crushed coral to sand. I bought the sand, haven't switched it yet. And i bought the vinegar but I don't know how much to start dosing. I've always wanted a saltwater tank as they are soooo beautiful. But mine seems to be a complete flop. :'(

 

[gemini9]

In all honesty one guy with experience needs to help him and only one to get him started. Just my opinion a lot at once can throw him off it did me when I started IMO only

I get different advice from different people lol and LOTS of it so yeah... as you've said.. a bit overwhelming..

 

[Pete polyp]

Dang bro, I have been wondering how everything has been going. Sounds like the same Ole.

 

[reefjunkie53]

You are using Ro DI water right?

 

[mfief]

Keep working through it. The struggles make the end all the more worth it. When you have your reef up and corals growing you will kick back and laugh at this. You have some great guys trying to help and great people like sexycorals up there making a great offer to you. There are some great people in the hobby that genuinely want to help us newbies get through the same struggles they have had.

 

[mcarroll]

I get different advice from different people lol and LOTS of it so yeah... as you've said.. a bit overwhelming..

The internet is a great resource, but it's not substitute for a good book. (Makes a nice supplement to one, though!)

Mike Paletta has a great book that's on the cheaper side ("New Marine Aquarium", I think.) If you can, check out Fenner's "Conscientious Marine Aquarist" and/or the Delbeek and Sprung "Reef Aquarium" series for something more like a reference book.

-Matt

 

[gemini9]

haha. Hi Pete! Yeah I'm still here. Never did get to start dosing the vinegar. No one ever told me how much to put in there. @reefjunkie yeah I use store bought rodi.

 

[MattL22]

Good luck we have all been there actually I'm in the hobby 5-6 yrs and pretty frustrated with my new 220 ATM

 

[Naiad]

Your not alone. Me and my tank have a very strong love hate relationship.

 

[gemini9]

Any id for the yellow, black, purple and green spots growing in there now? Good or bad sign? I know the orange rust stuff is diatoms... again... And will go away on these rocks as it did on the others.. but what are the other bright colored spots?

 

[mfief]

It's hard to tell without pics. The purple might be coraline algae. I have a couple of small yellow sponges that hitched a ride into my tank on some live rock. Not sure what yours is but those are a couple of possibilities.

 

[gemini9]

Just looks like dabs from magic markers. Ill get a pic tomorrow

 

[TruRacr314x]

You say your buying RODI from the store...what store? I needed some water in a pinch one time, so I bought some of the water from our supermarket...advertising RODI water. Tested it with me TDS meter and it read like 450! Just something to keep in mind.

This hobby can be trying at times....but is also very rewarding at others!