Why can I never get anything right?

[Bryce M.]

I don't get it, everything I try, I cannot keep corals...... now my macros are dying. Macros are due to lack of iron, though chaeto and ulva is doing good. Pretty much all my corals have died off, nems are doing fine. I'll have to test when I get home, I have been lacking on my testing, but I guessed I thought they were in check but that's not a way to do it. I've been changing my canister filter every month, been doing water changes semi regularly. Been dosing Calc and Alk, spot feeding, been lacking on my top off I admit. I'm just so discouraged, is it my fault? oh most likely yes, but I just feel like everything is wrong. Pests are insane, vermetid snails were pretty bad but bumble bee snails have thankfully been destroying them. Asternia star fish have been horrid, eating my zoas and now.... even my GSP.... my GSP are dying... I mean really
I've started physically taking them out, I got a harliquinn shrimp but the shipping was delayed, he was alive but not well, I don't know if he's even alive, there was a dent in their population but they are back to full again.......

 

[B7Joe]

A few months into my current tank I experienced a similar situation. I had a lot going on in life that was a priority over my hobby and the tank went south. And yeah, I was frustrated and asking why everything seemed to be going wrong but (like you) I knew exactly what was wrong. So I slowly fixed all those things and found some success, which got me excited about the tank again and things now are looking great. You’ve just gotta get over the hump. Best of luck to you!

 

[Radman73]

May be trying too much, too fast. And lack of testing gets you, gets me every time! It's possible to throw a ton of stuff into a tank and it all work out, but it's never worked for me. I'm going on 2 years on my 220 and I'll finally start trying to add corals in again in a couple of months.

What's your setup? How long has it been up?

 

[Millimylilly]

The more you can safely automate the better I think. Saves time on maintenance and makes life easier. I would get an ATO if I were you, then just fill it up once a week

 

[Bryce M.]

May be trying too much, too fast. And lack of testing gets you, gets me every time! It's possible to throw a ton of stuff into a tank and it all work out, but it's never worked for me. I'm going on 2 years on my 220 and I'll finally start trying to add corals in again in a couple of months.

What's your setup? How long has it been up?

it's a 70 gal, been going for over a year and a half now, added coral 4 months in, been going great for over a year now.

 

[Radman73]

The more you can safely automate the better I think. Saves time on maintenance and makes life easier. I would get an ATO if I were you, then just fill it up once a week

I didn't catch that first time through. An ATO is an inexpensive and valuable tool to maintain stability.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I don't get it, everything I try, I cannot keep corals...... now my macros are dying. Macros are due to lack of iron, though chaeto and ulva is doing good. Pretty much all my corals have died off, nems are doing fine. I'll have to test when I get home, I have been lacking on my testing, but I guessed I thought they were in check but that's not a way to do it. I've been changing my canister filter every month, been doing water changes semi regularly. Been dosing Calc and Alk, spot feeding, been lacking on my top off I admit. I'm just so discouraged, is it my fault? oh most likely yes, but I just feel like everything is wrong. Pests are insane, vermetid snails were pretty bad but bumble bee snails have thankfully been destroying them. Asternia star fish have been horrid, eating my zoas and now.... even my GSP.... my GSP are dying... I mean really
I've started physically taking them out, I got a harliquinn shrimp but the shipping was delayed, he was alive but not well, I don't know if he's even alive, there was a dent in their population but they are back to full again.......

Personally I dont think you should be running a salt water tank on a Canister in the first place. But once a month is probably too long. That's like leaving a filter sock in for a month. Ammonia factory.

 

[WildChurchMonkeys]

Be mindful of the calc and alk dosing. If you’re not testing and dosing is constant ; your tanks needs may no longer require the dosing amounts you have set. Die off will require less alk to be added and if not adjusted will cause an alk spike.

 

[Bryce M.]

Personally I dont think you should be running a salt water tank on a Canister in the first place. But once a month is probably too long. That's like leaving a filter sock in for a month. Ammonia factory.

I have a sump for my new tank but that's not set up

 

[MichaelReefer]

I have a sump for my new tank but that's not set up

I would definitely clean it more than once a month. That is a really long time...

 

[Mical]

I have a sump for my new tank but that's not set up

You might want to "up" your time frame for new tank w/sump. As others have mentioned if you're going to run a canister filter you're going to have to clean it weekly. Been there, done that... A sump will simplify your life once you get it up and running.

 

[Bryce M.]

Alright so ATO, more frequent cleaning, testing for dosing. Anything else?
I also think I may need to change my aqua scape too...

 

[Bryce M.]

You might want to "up" your time frame for new tank w/sump. As others have mentioned if you're going to run a canister filter you're going to have to clean it weekly. Been there, done that... A sump will simplify your life once you get it up and running.

Hmmm, yeah, I have no clue when it will be set up, so many unknowns right now in my life that I can't risk it, and it still requires some equipment

 

[Mical]

Hmmm, yeah, I have no clue when it will be set up, so many unknowns right now in my life that I can't risk it, and it still requires some equipment

Well the alternative is to be vigilant about cleaning that canister filter. I understand it's a pain but right now if things are tight that's your best bet. Hang in there, we all go through those thin/unknown stretches.

 

[Bryce M.]

Well the alternative is to be vigilant about cleaning that canister filter. I understand it's a pain but right now if things are tight that's your best bet. Hang in there, we all go through those thin/unknown stretches.

thank you I appreciate it, and yeah that's going to be the best option
though it's pretty discouraging when everything dies...
it's kinda exciting too, whole new scape, whole new plan
like I said some zoa frags are still there, I think all of my colonies I had are gone, those starfish are munching on what remains of my GSP colony (I know people hate them but I think they are great)

 

[Bryce M.]

hey guys, any ATO recommendations?

 

[Waters]

Any of the Tunze ATOs are very good.