First Saltwater Tank (HR15)

[Ben's Pico Reefing]

I have had many of fish go through the overflow so sorry about the tailspot. I really do enjoy mine lots of character. Hopefully the next one isn't as adventurous lol. I have found though screens tend to clog so you will be cleaning regularly just FYI. Clowns look nice though will probably outgrow tank since appear to be maroon. But you should have some time with them.

 

[Jon B.]

Thanks to my wife for this shot! Wow.

 

[Jon B.]

Been dealing with a bit of a bacterial bloom for the past week. My wife accidentally dumped a bunch of food into the tank, and I did get most of it out, and did two separate water changes.

I've added some hermit crabs to help with the bits of food the snails and shrimp don't eat, as well as an N-Clear Nano today. Hopefully I can get that dialed and the water will start to clear up soon.

 

[Jon B.]

So, today I learned that I have not been vacuuming the sandbed nearly well enough. Definitely has been part of the reason the tank has been so cloudy! I did about half the sand bed with the water change today, and it cleared up a lot. I'll do the other half next week, and I'm expecting the clarity to be back to "normal".

 

[Rhetoric]

Cool nano!

Unsolicited thoughts - I didn't start with live rock and it all works out. Just took a little more time.

The hazy water will clear up, no need for additives, just stay the course.

I think adding coral helped balance it all out. Don't be afraid to put some in now, simple and hardy to start.

Cheers

 

[tbrown]

Cool nano!

Unsolicited thoughts - I didn't start with live rock and it all works out. Just took a little more time.

The hazy water will clear up, no need for additives, just stay the course.

I think adding coral helped balance it all out. Don't be afraid to put some in now, simple and hardy to start.

Cheers

Mushrooms, Zoas, leathers, etc. are good for nutrient export and fairly easy usually.

 

[Jon B.]

I appreciate the insight y'all. I definitely had higher phosphates even prior to the food spill. I'm just trying to get it back to "square one" and doing right by the tank inhabitants.

I am trying to stay with "natural" methods of import/export rather than chemical. I have the tropic marin all for reef, and the balling additives (I use their reef salt) for when I'm managing the corals. I don't want a fix in a bottle if I can help it. I did add a bag of chemi-pure blue to see if it would help phosphate, but as I had this slip up I can't say it's doing anything.

 

[Jon B.]

In case anyone is curious, I just swapped out my first roll for the N-Clear Nano. Made it exactly four weeks!

We also added a couple Nems (plus an Anemone Shrimp) the other day since my parameters have been essentially the same week to week for a while now. Fingers crossed they settle in and start thriving. I really think the weekly water changes keep this so steady.

I did try adding a Skimmer, but there simply isn't enough room in the rear of the tank for it to fit without modification (Tunze Comline 9001). So, it'll just go on a future tank. Nbd.