Yup didn’t make it a year

[doubleshot00]

What are you dosing?

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

Early on i was dosing neo nitro and phos but stopped since the levels were increasing. Then as you can see on 10/23 it tanked (I assume from the increase in PH.).

So i started dosing neo nitro and phos again. You can see the nitrate levels drop when i don’t dose. I haven’t stopped dosing neophos.

 

[Chee-tomorpha]

I'm fairly new and setup a new tank about 3 months ago, and restarted my old tank 3 months before that.

What I have found most helpful is to wait it out. Don't chase numbers and let the tank do it's thing. Diano are part of the cycle and an indication it is moving along. It will go away on its own. Don't push, the more you do, the more it pushes back. The mini ecosystem inside your tank needs time to develop.

One of the best things I found with managing nutrients is NOPOX. It's super simple and can't mess up too bad - unless you forward siphon an entire bottle in like me. A few water changes later every thing is back to normal and minimal loss.

 

[doubleshot00]

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.

Yes very frustrated. It reminds me when I first took up bow hunting. Makes me want ti cry sometimes

 

[anthonygf]

Its a sicce 1.5.

Hey, sorry for the troubles you are having. I have been there, still fighting dinos, aiptasia algae all at the same time again. I lowered the nutrients, raised the nutrients, tried numbers in the middle with no luck. But I am still working on it.

I think what you should do at this moment is go back to basics. Start with turning off UV pump and light, stop with the cheato. I did both several months ago, nutrients are a little higher and stable at a safe number. Run you skimmer when lights are off and have the effluent flow back into filters so you catch the large particles and the nutrient rich water stays in the water column, I have lots of micro bubbles from my skimmer which helps clean the water believe it or not, it works for me. Then you can work on the water level issue.

 

[Miami Reef]

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.

Here ya go: Duda Energy 5sn 5 lb. Sodium Nitrate 99+% Pure Chile Saltpeter Gold Metal Refining Industrial Grade Glass Pottery Enamels https://a.co/d/64ejOQ3

 

[bvanfish]

Yes very frustrated. It reminds me when I first took up bow hunting. Makes me want ti cry sometimes

I feel that Mis yarded a 12 point last weekend shot right under him. Bow hunting is tough. As being in this hobby for 1.5months I can tell it will be a steep learning curve. The more I read the more I see learn your anchor points in reefing stick to them and just practice. Stop changing rests arrows releases etc just do it stick to it and consistency is key! ( coming from an absolute noob who doesn’t know anything hahah)

 

[Beau_B]

Early on i was dosing neo nitro and phos but stopped since the levels were increasing. Then as you can see on 10/23 it tanked (I assume from the increase in PH.).

So i started dosing neo nitro and phos again. You can see the nitrate levels drop when i don’t dose. I haven’t stopped dosing neophos.

Something is consuming the nitrates then, and doubtful that it’s your coral. You aren’t dosing Alk/Cal and those levels are steady-ish so rapid coral growth isn’t the thing.

Algae? Or bacteria perhaps.

I have to leave it here, as I must rest, but hopefully someone else will pick it up.

My last thought is try having the UV discharge into the sump if it’s not too much trouble and see if that magically cures the overflow level inconsistency.

 

[Idech]

I understand where you are perfectly. I’m in a similar place. I went into this to grow corals but they don’t, no matter what I try. I’ve made mistakes that have set me back but there is a lot I don’t understand and doesn’t seem to make sense.

I’ve fixed what I could and as a last resort, I’ve done an ICP test. I’m waiting for results. After I fix whatever need fixing according to it, if it doesn’t work, I’m going with the f… it method.

I would take everything down if I didn’t really like my fish and other inhabitants.

So I say go with the f… it method for a while and see where it takes you !

 

[doubleshot00]

Here ya go: Duda Energy 5sn 5 lb. Sodium Nitrate 99+% Pure Chile Saltpeter Gold Metal Refining Industrial Grade Glass Pottery Enamels https://a.co/d/64ejOQ3

Doni need the 5lb bag?

 

[anthonygf]

I don't dose anything for nitrates and phosphates, I feed once per day with quality flake food for several years and my fish are fat, healthy and happy. I have had my fish for 7 years now, upgraded my 46 bowfront to a 75 about 2 years ago.

Right now I need to blow off my rocks and corals almost daily to keep the dinos from taking over, sometimes it's a constant battle.

 

[doubleshot00]

I feel that Mis yarded a 12 point last weekend shot right under him. Bow hunting is tough. As being in this hobby for 1.5months I can tell it will be a steep learning curve. The more I read the more I see learn your anchor points in reefing stick to them and just practice. Stop changing rests arrows releases etc just do it stick to it and consistency is key! ( coming from an absolute noob who doesn’t know anything hahah)

Im crying for ya. I missed my biggest buck 3 years ago and hung the bow up. Now have a 7yo obsessed with bow hunting so gotta pick it back up.

 

[Miami Reef]

I don’t see your nutrients bottomed out. Seems like phosphates around 0.13ppm and nitrates are around 8ppm. That’s more than adequate.

I’m a huge believer that dosing sugar is the way to combat dinoflagellates. There is this recent article with people as well as the author who beats Dinos in 11 different tanks with an organic carbon recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagelates-a-disruptive-treatment.926454/page-6#post-10575006

Here’s the dosing from that article:

DIY organic carbon additive is made of:

225 ml of vodka (40%)
25 ml of white vinegar
1 tea spoon of brown sugar

Dose is 0,5 ml/100 liters of aquarium water per day

Hope it helps

There’s a lot of before and afters in that thread showing dinoflagellates going away within a week. The heterotrophic bacteria outcompetes the Dinos.

 

[TokenReefer]

My last thought is try having the UV discharge into the sump if it’s not too much trouble and see if that magically cures the overflow level inconsistency.

I'm willing to bet this is your water level issue as well. Just loop the uv in the sump, not into the dt; just one return to the dt, not two fighting each other...

 

[doubleshot00]

I understand where you are perfectly. I’m in a similar place. I went into this to grow corals but they don’t, no matter what I try. I’ve made mistakes that have set me back but there is a lot I don’t understand and doesn’t seem to make sense.

I’ve fixed what I could and as a last resort, I’ve done an ICP test. I’m waiting for results. After I fix whatever need fixing according to it, if it doesn’t work, I’m going with the f… it method.

I would take everything down if I didn’t really like my fish and other inhabitants.

So I say go with the f… it method for a while and see where it takes you !

I started this for my family as they all love it but the wife is loving it less due to how ugly it’s getting and how bit of a pain it is. She was no happy about helping me catch a tang. Only took us 2 hours.

 

[anthonygf]

I'm willing to bet this is your water level issue as well. Just loop the uv in the sump, not into the dt; just one return to the dt, not two fighting each other...

Like the op stated he wants to just sit back and do nothing and see were it goes. Well if he is going to do that I think he should go back to basics like I mentioned.

 

[doubleshot00]

I don’t see your nutrients bottomed out. Seems like phosphates around 0.13ppm and nitrates are around 8ppm. That’s more than adequate.

I’m a huge believer that dosing sugar is the way to combat dinoflagellates. There is this recent article with people as well as the author who beats Dinos in 11 different tanks with an organic carbon recipe: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagelates-a-disruptive-treatment.926454/page-6#post-10575006

Here’s the dosing from that article:




There’s a lot of before and afters in that thread showing dinoflagellates going away within a week. The heterotrophic bacteria outcompetes the Dinos.

Ill look into this.

 

[Miami Reef]

Like the op stated he wants to just sit back and do nothing and see were it goes. Well if he is going to do that I think he should go back to basics like I mentioned.

If OP “does nothing” then he will continue having the issue with his overflow levels going to low. A change needs to be made so he won’t need to keep tinkering with the gate valve, which causes him inconvenience. I would hate having to keep readjusting my gate valves. OP has valid feelings of frustration.

 

[TokenReefer]

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.

was just trying to help with this...

 

[anthonygf]

I can understand were your coming from. Sometimes it takes almost a daily commitment to maintain when things go south. I am retired now and I can devote more time for my reef, It is getting back into shape but dang it takes so long sometimes. When I had my 46 bowfront it was good for a few years until I upgraded, went downhill then back up and when I thought I was going good aiptasia outbreak.

 

[Steph72]

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.

I’m so sorry about your troubles and can definitely identify with the feeling of just wanting to walk away. I almost shut down my tank a few months ago but I’m now cautiously optimistic. It sucks walking by your tank and feeling your gut churn. I don’t have any words of technical wisdom but I just wanted to send you some positive vibes and let you know you’re not alone.