Greetings from Scotland

[Ullevi83]

Hi everyone!

I’m Alex, and I’m thrilled to be part of this forum! I’ve recently started my reef tank journey / been keeping a reef tank for over a year and am eager to learn from all of you.

Currently, my setup is a 40 gallon tank with:

• 2 clowns,
• bicolour blenny,
• dusky damsel,
• 3 green chromis,
• pyjama cardinal,
• yellow watchman goby and tiger pistol shrimp
• Babylonian nassarius snail
• 3 small nassarius snails
• 2 Mexican turbo snails,
• 2 strawberry conches,
• glass shrimp,
• emerald crab
• decorator crab.

Also, until yesterday, a Lamarck Angel which I found dead at bottom of tank in the morning. I had been cleaning hair algae from soe of the rocks and carried out a small water change (10%) previous day. Angel fish didn’t seem to appreciate the disturbance to its habitat and was zooming around at nighttime which it doesn’t usually do. Ph level was a little low in the morning, so I raised it a little as Blenny, Chromis and Damsel seemed distressed from the death (added some stress coat as well) but thankfully all seem to be cool again today. Have had this population for 6 months and apart from loss of one emerald crab all seemed well.

I’m especially keen to know how to keep the reddish-brown algae from getting on the glass, cleaning the live sand of detritus, removing carpet algae as it seems to creep back very quickly. Ideas for aqua scaping (I have live rock precariously balanced but thankfully no avalanches have occurred).

I’d love to hear your advice, especially on "maintaining stable alkalinity" or any additions to the tank e.g. replacement for Lamarck (probably at max population right now as inhabitants seem very happy and healthy.

Looking forward to connecting with you all!

Cheers,
Alex

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R Alex!

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Welcome to Reef2Reef! Be sure to make a build thread so we can follow your tank's progress!

 

[fishface NJ]

Welcome to R2R!

Are you using a doser?

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Brisk]

Welcome!

 

[Ocean_Queenie]

Hello & Welcome Alex!

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[Ullevi83]

Welcome to R2R!

Are you using a doser?

Hi there,
No doser, it's a little bit too complex for my more simple tank. I did install a UV filter on the tank as I had an issue with an algae bloom several months ago and it works great for water bourne crud but I am regularly clearing the algae on bottom and little bit on the rock manually. It's a pain but necessary.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Hello and welcome! As for alkalinity the Alkatronic is a great tool to maintain stable alkalinity. I’ve had one for 4 years and it’s flawless! I haven even changed the hoses like they recommend as part of the maintenance :p there’s also the aquawiz and that’s fairly new. It will test alkalinity but I believe you may need a separate doser.
Anyway good luck and feel free to reach out if you have questions!

 

[edsbeaker]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!!!

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Welcome to Reef2Reef

 

[petcellar]

Welcome!

 

[zheka757]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

 

[Anna K]

Welcome to the community Alex! I'd love to see some pictures of your tank

 

[CoralB]

Welcome !!