Mia

[lees]

My dottyback recently died. I have a 20 long with 18 lbs live rock and 20 lbs live sand. Water parameters are good. Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrate fluctuates between 0 and 10 Ph 8.4. He had a hiding spot under a piece of live rock. It was not unusual for him to go into hiding for a day or so at a time. He went missing for a couple of days so I moved the piece of rock he hid under and there he was. He went mising again and I ifted the same rock yesterday and found remains. Almost completely decomposed. Could or would the blue-legged hermits attack him in his sleep? None of my other fish seem to be affected by anything. I have a blue damsel and an ocellaris clown. They have all been getting along. I am now having a slime algae outbreak. How do I get to the root of that problem?

 

[theplatypus]

It's extremely unlikely that the hermits ambushed and killed the dottyback.

 

[ralph atl]

you must export the same or more nutrients than what you put into your tank. slime algae is a sign of too much phosphates & nitrates.

 

[lees]

So could better filtration and skimming be the answer. I have an Aquaclear 30. I bought a nano skimmer but Had a very difficult time getting it adjusted properly because all I was able to get out of it was excessive air bubbles

 

[ldybkr]

Weekly 10 percent weekly water changes with rodi water.

 

[ralph atl]

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Phosphate reduction/ removal and high trates could be the answer. Wet skimming with a skimmer that is rated at least double your water volume. If you cannot get a fuge or sump (you can maybe make a "Rubbermaid sump with cheato in it for a few bucks) you can get a $35.00 hang on phosphate reactor for your tank and put some GFO in there. In the future, you'll most likely need a refugium with Macro algae. If you choose GFO, you’ll need to start VERY SLOWLY! Use 25% of the recommended media, slowly increasing every 2-4 weeks. You need to acclimate your tank inhabitants over a 2 month period especially is you have any stony corals. Once acclimated you’ll need to change your Iron based media in the phosphate reactor more often. Your media will get saturated in 2 weeks or so depending upon how much is bound up in your rocks, tank, algae, etc. Use less media, change every 2 weeks. Use a great test kit like DD Merck, Hack, or colormeter or send to AWT. If you already have a fuge & reactor, be aggressive & change the media every 2 weeks.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">when you do your water change, take the end of the hose and suck all the algae down like a vaccum. It'll take a few water changes, but it works (especially after the phosphate remover kicks in)</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">You must export the same or more nutrients than you put in. Overfeeding, tap water, high phosphate foods, etc. Use a phosphate reactor with some phosar or ROWA or whatever, and something to lower nitrates like a fuge, AZNO3, or other carbon source. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">check out:</span></span>
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php</span></span></span></a>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/iss...st2003/chem.htm</span></span></span></a>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
[IMG]http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #800080;">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php</span></span></span></a>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
[IMG]http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/eb/index.php"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/eb/index.php</span></span></span></a>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
[IMG]http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/chem.htm</span></span></span></a>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1349443</span></span>

 

[lees]

Sounds pretty good and do-able though. Thanks for all your help. I guess you an tell I am a newbie Tank has been up and running for about 3 months now. Any thoughts on a protein skimmer?