To start over or sell?

[apipkin]

I have a Red Sea Max 250 and I have had it up and running for just under a year now (May of last year). I have 4 Chromis, a juvenil Desjardini, a pistol shrimp, a scarlet shrimp and a handful of snails and crabs. I also have 6 T5 lights (2 antic, bluewhite and pink) and two VorTech MP40s. I have a mix of crushed shell and sand and about 90lbs of Live Rock with lots of little critters in it most likely.

Last October, Cyano decided to set up in my tank and I have been battling it with 15-25 gallon water changes every week to no avail. I've had my water tested at a few LFS and they all say my params are good but my nitrates were a little high (10 - 15). Recently turf algae decided to take over in spots. I've tried dosing with NoPo-X and I haven't seen any positive results at all.

Nothing I seem to be doing (changing feeding habits, heavy water changes, nopo-x, reduce light time) is working. I'm ready to try and start it over, but I don't know what to do with the animals, what I should keep, and what I should sell/give away. Also, if I do start it over and continue my habits of cleaning and water changes, do I still stand a chance of it coming back?

The only other thing I am considering is to sell what I have and take some time away from participating in the hobby and do more research before getting back into it. Could be a good deal for someone who's in the market and may be a more promising endeavor.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[northgahillbilly]

have you tried cleaning/ removing your sand bed. Also, when were your RO filters last changed.

 

[ecoreefguy]

Start over if those are the only two choices. You'll be back and debuting everything sucks

 

[apipkin]

@NorthGaHillbilly - I have not tired changing out the sandbed. Does something like that kick off a new cycle? If so, do the animals need to stay out during the cycling? My RO filters were replaced about 4 months ago.

@EcoReefGuy - Are there other options?

 

[northgahillbilly]

apipkin;1010647 wrote: @NorthGaHillbilly - I have not tired changing out the sandbed. Does something like that kick off a new cycle? If so, do the animals need to stay out during the cycling? My RO filters were replaced about 4 months ago.

@EcoReefGuy - Are there other options?

Removing part of it can be dicy, but if you go so far as to pull it all and do a decent waterchange you should be alright, from my experience. Detritus has a way of building up in sand beds, especially if the sand has larger particles. You could be sitting on a years worth of nastyness that could be causing your problems.

 

[wildernets]

What sort of flow do you have in the tank? I understand how frustrating a new tank can be but you may be closer than you thing to having a great system. Awesome job on the water changes. If you keep up that consistency then once you do get the algae thing sorted out you will have a rocking tank. What bulbs are you using? color temp? How often do you feed? About how much? Don't lose hope and I believe we can get this sorted out.

 

[ryanremle]

If you don't have corals can you do a blackout till all the algae dies off? Get the water in check and possibly replace the sandbed, as it could be leaching phosphates.

 

[ryanremle]

Also, how old are the bulbs?

 

[apipkin]

@NorthGaHillbilly - I heard that crushed coral can be do that too. Is there a preferred method of changing out the sandbed, or will a simple search online lead me to something that works?

@wildernet - I don't know exactly about the "sort of flow" I have, but this may answer your question. The two MP40s I have are on opposite sides of the tank and are set up on a continuous pattern controlled by a ReefLink. They are positioned in front of the live rock (which is in sort of a crescent shape) with the right one about 4 inches higher than the left. The two returns from the rear sump are pointing at a slightly upward direction to churn the surface.

I have two of each of the bulbs listed at the Red Sea Max web site http://www.redseafish.com/hardware/t5-fluorescent-reef-lighting/">http://www.redseafish.com/hardware/t5-fluorescent-reef-lighting/</a>

I feed about one every other day. I feed a combination of Crab Cuisine ([IMG]http://www.hikari.info/tropical/t_12.html">http://www.hikari.info/tropical/t_12.html</a>) and NutriDiet Marine ([IMG]http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/NutriDiet_Marine.html">http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/NutriDiet_Marine.html</a>). The Crab Cuisine I put about 1/3rd of a teaspoon in for the hermit crabs, pistol shrimp and skunk shrimp to eat because they really seem to like that. For the Marine flakes, I take a generous pinch and hold under the water and my Tang eats from my hand what he wants and the Chromis swim and get the rest. If my Tang seems extra hungry and the Chromis didn't get much, I will do another generous pinch and let it go just below the surface so it doesn't get caught by the overflow. I was doing this everyday but felt this could be feeding to much and leading to the Cyano so I cut back to every other day and the fish seem to be okay with that.

@ryanremle - I do have some GSP (though I was told it probably wasn't?) that is on two separate rocks. I did turn off the tank lights and close my blinds for three days and that seemed to set the Cyano back but it didn't rid it completely. This was before I noticed the Turf Algae coming up.

The bulbs are about 2 months old now. The ones I had before were probably shot as they were just under a year old.

 

[sn4k33y3z]

for the cyano I wouldn't think twice and dose some red slime remover. Of course followed by the instructions.

 

[apipkin]

@Sn4k33y3z - Is this the stuff to which you are referring?

 

[ecoreefguy]

I would lower feeding and increase water changes before you do anything. Red slime in my experience is cause more by excess nutrient than anything else. Once you have everything figured out , do a reboot. Sometimes a restart is really what a tank and you need

 

[pearldiver]

May be a dumb question, are you running a UV sterilizer? I'm new so I am not sure that would actually help but I thought they helped fight off nuisance blooms etc...

 

[ecoreefguy]

UV only kills things that travel across the bulb. It kills bacteria, algae, etc. it does not remove organics, ie nutrient

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

apipkin;1010640 wrote: I have a Red Sea Max 250 and I have had it up and running for just under a year now (May of last year). I have 4 Chromis, a juvenil Desjardini, a pistol shrimp, a scarlet shrimp and a handful of snails and crabs. I also have 6 T5 lights (2 antic, bluewhite and pink) and two VorTech MP40s. I have a mix of crushed shell and sand and about 90lbs of Live Rock with lots of little critters in it most likely.

Last October, Cyano decided to set up in my tank and I have been battling it with 15-25 gallon water changes every week to no avail. I've had my water tested at a few LFS and they all say my params are good but my nitrates were a little high (10 - 15). Recently turf algae decided to take over in spots. I've tried dosing with NoPo-X and I haven't seen any positive results at all.

Nothing I seem to be doing (changing feeding habits, heavy water changes, nopo-x, reduce light time) is working. I'm ready to try and start it over, but I don't know what to do with the animals, what I should keep, and what I should sell/give away. Also, if I do start it over and continue my habits of cleaning and water changes, do I still stand a chance of it coming back?

The only other thing I am considering is to sell what I have and take some time away from participating in the hobby and do more research before getting back into it. Could be a good deal for someone who's in the market and may be a more promising endeavor.

Thanks for the advice.

First off, I want to say that I hope things turn around for you. I wouldn't suggest you sell your equipment and get out; you have some very nice equipment that I would at least hold on to until you can get your parameters in check. I found two threads here at ARC related to Cyano; I'm sure there are many more located at ARC. Here are the two links:


http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=94058&highlight=Cyano">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=94058&highlight=Cyano</a>

[IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93517&highlight=Cyano">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93517&highlight=Cyano</a>

The second one has a message from Dave a.k.a. Acroholic where Dave said he would P.M. the person on suggestions with dealing with Cyano. Maybe you can PM Acroholic [Dave] to see if he still has that original PM and maybe he can forward that PM to you.

If you can find the time, Please come out to one of the ARC monthly meetings. You could receive some valuable information in ReefKeeping. The environment of some chit chat with other reefers can become addicting. I had made it to several meetings over the past two years and I travel 1.5 hours one way to get to the meetings. Maybe someone whom has dealt with Cyano would ask to visit your home and talk with you "one on one". I would gather the information from several people and measure what steps I would take next. Maybe someone whom has a quality TDS could come over and verify that your RODI water is truly the best it can be. I would be careful stirring up the bed while your fish are in the tank. Can you set the fish up in a temporary holding tank until you can get a hold on the Cyano? You said you had a handful of crabs, snails, etc. Maybe you need a larger CUC that what you currently have. Again, I hope you can get this situation turned around. You have an amazing setup and I hope you decide to hold on to your equipment.

Wannabee

P.S. Maybe JennM can respond to your post or you could also PM her. I trust Jenn's advice as well as I trust Dave's [Acroholic] advice.

 

[declanisadog]

Where about in Atlanta do you live? I'm on the north side and have some red slime remover. Works like a charm. Also, have you considered carbon dosing? It's not for everyone, but some (me included) swear by it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dawgface]

Chemi Clean all the way!!! Red slime is a bacteria. Like any bacteria antibiotics are the cure. Its not uncommon for people to feel broken due to a red slime problem.... Just use he antibiotic, cure and walk away.

Follow directions to the T.

Turn off UV.

Keep skimmer on if you can to help fight the depletion in O2. Make preparation it to overflow, especially in a RedSea system.

Prepare for the proper water change afterwards. Immediately mix more just in case your skimmer does not return to normal right away. Typically I conduct an equal water change after the first over the course of the next day or so.

Pile carbon in after the initial water change.

Turn back on UV .

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

You mentioned you have brought down the light time. What is your current light cycle? How many hours is it on per day? Is the lights on for the duration and then turned off, or are you cycling on/off, on/off, more than once in a 24 hour period.

Wannabee

 

[sn4k33y3z]

apipkin;1010663 wrote: @Sn4k33y3z - Is this the stuff to which you are referring? http://www.marinedepot.com/Ultralife_Red_Slime_Remover_Saltwater_Aquarium_Additives_Supplements_Algae_Control-Ultralife-UL1311-FIADAL-vi.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/Ultralife_Red_Slime_Remover_Saltwater_Aquarium_Additives_Supplements_Algae_Control-Ultralife-UL1311-FIADAL-vi.html</a>[/QUOTE]

Yes!

 

[mikesmith34]

Chemclean or red slime remover. Works like a champ. Why take the hard road use what works and forget about it:shout: