To start over or sell?

[apipkin]

@BulkRate - RO & Peroxide? And that's for anything I can get into the dip, or do I have to worry about the bacteria on the live rock?

I'll keep my eyes open for some more crabs to put in there.

Repeating the same mistakes without learning is what I was most afraid of happening.

@Crew - 1) I had the bulbs close to 15 months but they were off for about 3 months in the middle.

2) I'll be sure to cut back on the food amount per serving

3) I can adjust it. I got an airline tubing valve to increase the adjustment range because the original one is known to be wonky.

4) I'll be proceeding with the slime remover

5) I've been vacuuming the cyano off the rocks first, but I may just need to do a larger water change to get the rocks clean and the sand

6) Thanks for the tips about replacing the sandbed. If I have a tank to put the fish in, can I do a quick replace of the sand and put them back in or will I need to wait for a new cycle to take place. Replacing over time doesn't sound too terrible, I just wonder about the animals that are in the

7) I normally buy salt water from petco (http://www.petco.com/product/11884/Petco-Real-Ocean-Water.aspx">http://www.petco.com/product/11884/Petco-Real-Ocean-Water.aspx</a>) but I enjoy getting it for a better price at LFS when I get the chance. I have an RO tap at my sink that I got from Home Depot ([IMG]http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Reverse-Osmosis-Filtration-System-GXRM10RBL/202073853">http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Reverse-Osmosis-Filtration-System-GXRM10RBL/202073853</a>). And the filters have been recently changed. I want to get an RODI system in the laundry room to mix reef water at home, but I need to worry about what my apartment complex will allow me to do before I begin drilling thing into walls and pipes.

---

Also, I wanted to share some pictures that I took just now to show the tank and it's current state.

[IMG]http://imgur.com/a/K3UNj">http://imgur.com/a/K3UNj</a>

 

[declanisadog]

I've seen way worse. Start with the red slime remover, then work on reducing nutrients and everything should start clearing up for you.

 

[crew]

Thorough answers - you are definitely a reefer.

If your T5 bulbs are that old - that may be a cause of algae. I would consider replacing them. I would think that you could fix your nutrient issue pretty quickly and should have an all star tank shortly.

I know ARC isn't too happy about linking to products off site, so i've sent you a message with the RODI system that I use. You don't need to do anything crazy to install it.

 

[apipkin]

@Declanisadog - Thanks!

@Crew - I replaced the bulbs about 3 months ago

Regarding the links: Oops! I had no idea and I've been littering my posts with links like crazy! :-/

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

apipkin;1010698 wrote: @Pearldiver - I don't have a UV sterilizer


@WannabeeaReefKeeper - Current light cycle is from 9am to 3:30pm. They are on continuous. I keep the lid have half open to reduce heat, but I think this keeps the lights even less direct, but I could be wrong (since the bulbs are round and all that).

Thanks for the articles! I'll certainly read the conversations around the Cyano and gather more information. Do you have any links for Turf Algae; that stuff is just as much of a nuisance

And what are these monthly meetings? This is the first I've heard about this. Maybe it was in the welcome packet that I didn't read thoroughly. I think that would be a great way to get more information though and probably meet some neat people!

Most of the snails come out at night so I just tried to count them. 7 astria snails, 1 nerite snail (?), 1 conch, 26 Cerith snail (?) (1 about 2.5in long and the rest are black about .5in long). The hermits are about 15 tiny ones, and one Hawaiian Zebra Dwarf Hermit Crab (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLXjMtFUQpU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLXjMtFUQpU</a>)

Just looking at my tank now with a flashlight and no lights on, there are number of bristle worms in the sandbed by the glass.

@Sn4k33y3z - Awesome! Thanks![/QUOTE]

I found this website related to algae. [IMG]http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide">http://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide</a>. This is one of the websites others here at ARC have recommended to purchase if you are looking for an on-line source. If possible, I would visit a local reef store near you. I recently posted in a thread about RIT at Atlanta Aquarium recently getting in a variety of clean up crew livestock. Jeremy at Sea Atlanta also replied in that thread that he has some clean up crew livestock. Jeremy's Sea Atlanta is where February's ARC meeting is taking place. You can get both places information at ARC under the sponsor's forum page. Click on the business name and their address and other information will be located at the top thread called Sticky - sponsor's information. Click on it and their information will come up to include their business hours.
If you can wait until Saturday, Feb. 21; I know you may be treating your tank with chemicals, you could pick up some while at the ARC February meeting at Sea Atlanta. I would get there early to make sure that you get the best available clean up crew you can get. Depending on how many show up for the ARC meeting, the supply may be limited on clean up crews. Also, usually there is an ARC raffle to ARC members only that you could bring home a prize if you have the winning ticket. Here's the link: [IMG]http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=96462">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=96462</a>
When you check in at the ARC meeting, tell them that Wannabee invited you. Actually, you don't need an invitation or an invite, just show up and be ready for some chit chat about ReefKeeping. The chit chat may be very addictive and you make get like me and start counting down the days until the next event. Hope to see you there.

Wannabee

 

[bulkrate]

Nope... I typically use a 50/50 or 25/75 mix of peroxide to tank water - or the lowest concentration that you find still bubbles. Only do this to rocks that are either bare of corals or have only zoas/plays present... they can take it but I haven't tried with other soft corals.

For such short dips you shouldn't have any issue with cycling. Just dip your most fuzzy rocks (if possible scrub with toothbrush for best removal) and the clean up crew should mop up - dying algae seems to be more appetizing for some reason. Don't forget to rinse the rock off with RO or some more used tank water if doing a change.

 

[apipkin]

@WannabeReefKeeper - Thanks for the invite! I'll put it on the calendar and try and make it! I'll be great to get a beefier crew

@BulkRate - Thanks for the information! I'll get that taken care of with this weekends water change.

 

[apipkin]

Update: Hydrogen Peroxide dip on the rocks and returns works amazingly! Also used airline tubing to remove the Cyano and that was a nifty trick all around &#8211;*didn't remove too much water. I was able to do a majority of my water change vacuuming the substrate. I also have an RODI unit coming in early this week.

Side note: I also got a flipper mag scrapper and I can now reach the tight spots. It's pretty rad

 

[tonymission]

apipkin;1012030 wrote: Side note: I also got a flipper mag scrapper and I can now reach the tight spots. It's pretty rad

Nothing tops the Flipper!

 

[popsbjd]

You mentioned that you closed the blinds in the room with the tank. Does the tank receive direct or indirect sunlight from a window? That could be a problem. I've also heard (but never experienced) that fluctuating water temperatures can exacerbate a cyano problem. While the chemicals do an excellent job at killing the cyano, if you don't eliminate the cause, you're just going to keep throwing money at the problem. My $0.02.

 

[apipkin]

@popsbjd - That's a great question. I have the blinds mostly closed and the tank is across the room from the window because I noticed they side of the glass was getting some green algae on it after a few days of not cleaning the glass. So there is about 10-12 feet between where the window is and where the tank is. When spring comes and the trees get leaves again, I can open the blinds again though (I hope). The temperature isn't as consistent as I would like, but I think that has a lot to do with the limited space between the T5s and the top of the water. I've tried leaving the lid halfway open to let some of the heat escape and that has helped some. I really want to mod the lid with some LEDs and get rid of the T5s since the fans don't pump out enough heat.

 

[bulkrate]

It was a pleasure to meet you face to face yesterday. I'm planning to go to a couple of stores tomorrow in the area, will PM you if I see something on your want list.

Other forum folks - apipkin's making all the right moves going forward. Verified that there was still some trace (~4ppm) TDS from his drinking-water grade tap filter... not horrible but definitely a potential source for his cyano problems. The new BRS rig he'd just plumbed into the laundry nook does a much better job ("0" as expected). Siphoning has pretty much cleared his sandbed of crud (and unfortunately much of the actual non-pebble/shell fragment sand) and it's pretty clean, now.

Tank looks MUCH better in person than in the earlier posts - cyano's just a few patches in a couple sections of rock... a little more & diverse clean-up crew and the pending switch over to verified RODI should knock in and the patches of turf algae out in no time. He's also got a monster red pistol (looks to be about 3") - any suggestions on which gobies will pair up with it vs. which are just gonna become lunch?

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

BulkRate;1012790 wrote: It was a pleasure to meet you face to face yesterday. I'm planning to go to a couple of stores tomorrow in the area, will PM you if I see something on your want list.

Other forum folks - apipkin's making all the right moves going forward. Verified that there was still some trace (~4ppm) TDS from his drinking-water grade tap filter... not horrible but definitely a potential source for his cyano problems. The new BRS rig he'd just plumbed into the laundry nook does a much better job ("0" as expected). Siphoning has pretty much cleared his sandbed of crud (and unfortunately much of the actual non-pebble/shell fragment sand) and it's pretty clean, now.

Tank looks MUCH better in person than in the earlier posts - cyano's just a few patches in a couple sections of rock... a little more & diverse clean-up crew and the pending switch over to verified RODI should knock in and the patches of turf algae out in no time. He's also got a monster red pistol (looks to be about 3") - any suggestions on which gobies will pair up with it vs. which are just gonna become lunch?

Thanks for stepping up and helping a fellow new reefer out. This is what makes the ARC so special. Helping others when the time arises. Again, thank you!!

Wannabee

 

[apipkin]

After much deliberation, I am going to have to let the tank go. I will be moving in a few months and I will not be able to take the tank with me. In the meantime, I will just keep reading, learning and enjoying the hobby (as much as possible) sans-fish. I'll cross post here once I get the ad listed. Thanks for all the help and advice!

 

[drydock]

Are you running with the ceramic filter media that came with the RSM? Most of us RSM owners remove that if we have sufficient live rock in the tank. A lot of reefers have had problems with high nitrates when running a reef tank (vs. FO) and the filter media. The portion of the AIO sump that holds the ceramic media is lovingly referred to as "the chamber of death".

 

[apipkin]

@Drydock Yeah I never put the ceramics in the tank, even when first starting off. This was due in part by having a canister filter before I got the RSM and learning the hard way about those things in the ecosystem.