Yup didn’t make it a year

[doubleshot00]

Also, dinos happen, it’s not a death sentence. Most of us have had them at some point and worked through it.

Man what i read on Macks FB page seeing peoples tank look like crap for months to years. Yeah I don’t get the same feeling you have. And i have the kind of dinos you can get rid of through uv.

 

[doubleshot00]

So it seems the issues is that the water level is not staying consistent which requires constant readjusting of the gate valve.

And then there’s the issue of nutrient bottoming out and the dino bloom. And the coralline dying off (from the Dinos).

Was there anything else? @doubleshot00

So it seems the issues is that the water level is not staying consistent which requires constant readjusting of the gate valve.

This is the one thing i seem to not figure out.
But yes you have everything right. 2 different tanks IM15 dinos and coraline dying and 90 water level and dinos.

I did find today my salinity in the im15 dropped to 1.023 and so i did a WC and got it back to 1.025.

 

[JumboShrimp]

In my FOWLRs I test salinity— only if and when I’m in the mood— using an Icecap battery operated probe and the push of a button. How far off can things really get when you are just topping-off to the same level (and how upset can a fish get between 1.020 and 1.023)? I don’t test anything else.

 

[Beau_B]

Internal overflow durso style with emergency pipe. 1”. Durso has gate gate valve and emergency is straight down

Then a 1” return dc pump coming in but also have a uv with a separate ac pump running the uv coming in.

the water level inside this box drops over time. As you see in the picture the emergency pipe. The water will drop just randomly. Almost like the water is evaporated from the main display and the sump level staying the same.

This alone is the biggest pain out if this whole tank. And its not like there is a resource that tells you you did it right.

So if you adjust the level to trickle over the emergency flow, it still will drop hours/days later?

That suggests to me the UV pump is running inconsistently… full on guess, but the most immediate suspect.

 

[doubleshot00]

@doubleshot00 I don't understand. Everything looked great on the 24th in your build thread. Sometimes some of these things take patience and documenting one's build with everyone piling on with their comments can be frustrating. I think your tank looked great and you did very well. I've been doing this for 15 years or so, on and off and I can tell you that you've made far less errors than I did in the first five years.

I like to think of this hobby like Bob Ross taught painting, in that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks but what you think of your artwork. I personally think you did great.

It was just fine then apparently if you raise the ph the corals are like “i love nitrates and phosphates” and ate them all. My phosphates were low but still detectable but I guess they got to low.

 

[Beau_B]

Man what i read on Macks FB page seeing peoples tank look like crap for months to years. Yeah I don’t get the same feeling you have. And i have the kind of dinos you can get rid of through uv.

I don’t know who Mack is, but no doubt there have been tanks that struggle with dinos for an extended time — but it’s not the norm. Consider how many tanks are represented on this forum and how many currently have an outbreak.

When you did the transfer, I’m supposing you did a rip-clean of sorts either by cleaning the sand or using new.

Nutrient levels likely dropped, and certainly the bacteria population suffered. The bio-film on the old tank was effectively taken out of service.

It was a shock, some would call it a mini-cycle. Whatever the name, it will take some time for the bacteria and balance to come back.

In both tanks.

 

[doubleshot00]

So if you adjust the level to trickle over the emergency flow, it still will drop hours/days later?

That suggests to me the UV pump is running inconsistently… full on guess, but the most immediate suspect.

How often do you need to clean pumps? Biweekly? I mean my tank is not that dirty but some cheato gets in there sometimes.

 

[Miami Reef]

It was just fine then apparently if you raise the ph the corals are like “i love nitrates and phosphates” and ate them all. My phosphates were low but still detectable but I guess they got to low.

The phosphate depleting issue is easily solved by dosing phosphates. You can use neophos or the sodium phosphates from amazon.

Here’s what I use: Sodium Phosphate Dibasic / 4 Ounce Bottle / 98+% Pure Food Grade/Fine Powder/USA https://a.co/d/1mFeYdG

 

[OfficeReefer]

It was just fine then apparently if you raise the ph the corals are like “i love nitrates and phosphates” and ate them all. My phosphates were low but still detectable but I guess they got to low.

Oh, yes. The sudden depletion of phosphates and newer biodiversity in tanks. I think as I battle these early on, I've had some success with adjusting lighting and awareness on GFO and the like. Maybe there's something rusting out, but be reasonable to yourself. It will get beat and patience with modest adjustment at best is the likely cure.

The tank still looks great, think of it as a happy accident. I'm sure you'll look back on it with wisdom and a smile.

 

[doubleshot00]

I don’t know who Mack is, but no doubt there have been tanks that struggle with dinos for an extended time — but it’s not the norm. Consider how many tanks are represented on this forum and how many currently have an outbreak.

When you did the transfer, I’m supposing you did a rip-clean of sorts either by cleaning the sand or using new.

Nutrient levels likely dropped, and certainly the bacteria population suffered. The bio-film on the old tank was effectively taken out of service.

It was a shock, some would call it a mini-cycle. Whatever the name, it will take some time for the bacteria and balance to come back.

In both tanks.

Yes rip clean. Here are all my tests since transfer.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think im done. That amount if time i spend testing, inspecting and adjusting things in my tanks is so time consuming. Like it’s annoying. This is the most frustrating hobby I’ve ever been into where nothing goes as planned. Its like going out on the boat but you literally always break down or you never catch fish.

I really don’t see how anyone is successful in this hobby. I have been so diligent in testing and keeping everything as perfect as i can but it is taking up a ton of my time.

My wife wants me to end it.

I had a 90 running transferred everything over to a new 90 no issues until last week. Levels tanked over 2 days and now have dinos. Everyone said i need a sump. I got a sump. All i do is keep adjusting the gate valve because the water level in the tank after about a 2 weeks it goes down. Like literally don’t get why its doing it. I literally hate my tank.

Had a fluval wanted a nicer tank so got a new IM15. Transferred everything over. It has dinos now and all the coralline on the rock is dying.

Im at a lost for words how terrible everything goes in this hobby. I want to succeed but everything is against me.

Often we strive to keep the tank too clean and the end result is dino
Many of us endure this, diatoms, cyano, hair algae and more.
Try this method as it works and you can then move forward with a plan:
Prepare by starting with a water change and blow this stuff loose with a turkey baster and siphon up loose particles.
Turn lights off (at least white and run blue at 10-15% IF you have light dependant corals) for 5 days and at night dose 1ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide per 10 gallons for all 5 nights. If you dont have light dependent coral- turn all lights off.
During the day dose 1ml of liquid bacteria (such as bacter 7 or XLM) per 10 gallons.
Clean filters daily and DO NOT FEED CORAL FOODS OR ADD NOPOX as it is food for dinos.
Day 5,, you can start with blue lights - ramping up and work your white lights up slowly

 

[Beau_B]

How often do you need to clean pumps? Biweekly? I mean my tank is not that dirty but some cheato gets in there sometimes.

Well, that’s a “how long is a piece of string” type question, but I just did my return pump after 2yrs.

I don’t get debris in mine, so if you are that would cause problems.

My suspicion of the UV pump was just that it might be a lower quality AC pump that fluctuates. And/or/also pumps can speed up and slow down due to the voltage they receive. Power companies in some areas make small changes day/night in the voltage and that effects equipment.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Sorry to see about your troubles. Reefing can seem very overwhelming at times. For me, it is a lifestyle, not a hobby. I literally don't have any other hobbies or toys, so I am successful because of that.
If you have a very busy lifestyle, and not a lot of free time, reefing might not be right for you at this time. However, the problems you describe can be fixed, and I suggest finding someone local to you that can come over and help, if you choose to continue. Find someone whose tank you like, and do what they do. Either way, I wish you well, and am always willing to help via pm or on the boards.

 

[doubleshot00]

The phosphate depleting issue is easily solved by dosing phosphates. You can use neophos or the sodium phosphates from amazon.

Here’s what I use: Sodium Phosphate Dibasic / 4 Ounce Bottle / 98+% Pure Food Grade/Fine Powder/USA https://a.co/d/1mFeYdG

I just bought this. I have half a bottle of neophos and a full one. When the half bottle is done ill be using this stuff. I need something for nitrate now. Neo nitro is to expensive.

 

[dstockwell]

Internal overflow durso style with emergency pipe. 1”. Durso has gate gate valve and emergency is straight down

Then a 1” return dc pump coming in but also have a uv with a separate ac pump running the uv coming in.

the water level inside this box drops over time. As you see in the picture the emergency pipe. The water will drop just randomly. Almost like the water is evaporated from the main display and the sump level staying the same.

This alone is the biggest pain out if this whole tank. And its not like there is a resource that tells you you did it right.

It would seems that the tank is draining faster than than the return pump. There has got to a happy medium where the evaporation happens and the sump level decrease.

 

[doubleshot00]

Well, that’s a “how long is a piece of string” type question, but I just did my return pump after 2yrs.

I don’t get debris in mine, so if you are that would cause problems.

My suspicion of the UV pump was just that it might be a lower quality AC pump that fluctuates. And/or/also pumps can speed up and slow down due to the voltage they receive. Power companies in some areas make small changes day/night in the voltage and that effects equipment.

Its a sicce 1.5.

 

[Beau_B]

What are you dosing?

or what have you been. Specifically in October. Some of those numbers are significant swings.

 

[doubleshot00]

Sorry to see about your troubles. Reefing can seem very overwhelming at times. For me, it is a lifestyle, not a hobby. I literally don't have any other hobbies or toys, so I am successful because of that.
If you have a very busy lifestyle, and not a lot of free time, reefing might not be right for you at this time. However, the problems you describe can be fixed, and I suggest finding someone local to you that can come over and help, if you choose to continue. Find someone whose tank you like, and do what they do. Either way, I wish you well, and am always willing to help via pm or on the boards.

Yeah i have lots of hobbies. Fishing, hunting and family. I was hoping this was something less time consuming. Jokes on me.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

I think im done. That amount if time i spend testing, inspecting and adjusting things in my tanks is so time consuming. Like it’s annoying. This is the most frustrating hobby I’ve ever been into where nothing goes as planned. Its like going out on the boat but you literally always break down or you never catch fish.

I really don’t see how anyone is successful in this hobby. I have been so diligent in testing and keeping everything as perfect as i can but it is taking up a ton of my time.

My wife wants me to end it.

I had a 90 running transferred everything over to a new 90 no issues until last week. Levels tanked over 2 days and now have dinos. Everyone said i need a sump. I got a sump. All i do is keep adjusting the gate valve because the water level in the tank after about a 2 weeks it goes down. Like literally don’t get why its doing it. I literally hate my tank.

Had a fluval wanted a nicer tank so got a new IM15. Transferred everything over. It has dinos now and all the coralline on the rock is dying.

Im at a lost for words how terrible everything goes in this hobby. I want to succeed but everything is against me.

Sounds like you are trying way to hard. Keep it simple.

 

[kevgib67]

I don’t know why this bothers me so much, I really don’t know you. But I think you have just reached a point where you are so frustrated. I started a tank in the mid 90’s , like little info it was all trial and error. Wow some awful times! But for the majority of 16 years I went on cruise control. Look at the long term, 1 year, 5 years etc. you will have a beautiful tank and thank god you didn’t quit. I’m pulling for you and can’t wait to see your awesome tank just a little bit later.