HELP! What can i do to fix this mess?

[dave72787]

Hello, New to the community and have a bunch of questions I'd like to ask everyone. First, my tank is dealing with insane pest/nuisance problems. Can you identify what pests/algae is in my tank, and how do I get rid of them. I have a wrasse in this tank that I'll be draining this weekend and catching to move to a new tank since he kills every CUC addition , and most likely my flame hawk as well cause he's just a jerk to everyone also. I'd like to know multiple options and opinions please. Like for example, maybe just a huge cuc can take care of it, or maybe chemical. Most of my corals have died except a goni , duncan, leather, and cane coral. This is a 40 gallon btw.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

i love your rockwork! how old is the tank?

 

[dave72787]

i love your rockwork! how old is the tank?

Thanks, my wife aquascaped it. The tank will be a year old this December 8th, so little over 10 months old

 

[DanP-SD]

Looks like the primary nuisance is hair algae. If your nutrient levels are high, lowering them through water changes and some sort of nutrient export (refugium, turf scrubber, biopellets, carbon dosing) would address that.

For any nuisance anemones or any sessile organism you want to remove, Majano Wanda work well.

Rather than drain the tank to remove the wrasse, try a bubble trap. If you put an overturned snail in it, he’ll probably swim right in.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Looks like you are dealing with some aptasia anemones and some algae. For the algae I would rely on manual removal as much as you can and having a deeper look at your nutrients. Make sure the ratio between your nitrates and phosphates are good. (Post values here so we can help you get that done).

For the Aptasia you have commercial products available to get rid of them by injection of some chemicals in its mouth (they do not hurt your reef). I personally never had a lot of luck using these products, but I’m pretty sure that is due to my lack of patience and dedication to do this in a good way. You also have an aptaisia eating filefish that can fit in a 40 gallon tank. For me the natural way of having a predator to take care of them has always worked the best to keep them under control.

Note: Looking at your sandbed and the nuisance algae, could it be that your tank is quite new? In that case I wouldn’t worry too much about the algae yet.

 

[dave72787]

Looks like you are dealing with some aptasia anemones and some algae. For the algae I would rely on manual removal as much as you can and having a deeper look at your nutrients. Make sure the ratio between your nitrates and phosphates are good. (Post values here so we can help you get that done).

For the Aptasia you have commercial products available to get rid of them by injection of some chemicals in its mouth (they do not hurt your reef). I personally never had a lot of luck using these products, but I’m pretty sure that is due to my lack of patience and dedication to do this in a good way. You also have an aptaisia eating filefish that can fit in a 40 gallon tank. For me the natural way of having a predator to take care of them has always worked the best to keep them under control.

Note: Looking at your sandbed and the nuisance algae, could it be that your tank is quite new? In that case I wouldn’t worry too much about the algae yet.

Tank is over 10 months old so fairly new. I've had my nitrates around 16.5nit/0.05phos

 

[Euphyllia97]

Did the algae go through cycles? Or was it always a problem? Looking at your nutrient levels, I would suggest to slightly lower your nitrates towards 10 (16 is not bad if you prefer to stick to that number). And increase your phosphates. Redfield ratio talks about 10:1 nitrates/phosphates. So aim for 1.0 phosphates if using 10 ppm nitrate or aim to increase to 1,5 ish if maintaining your current nitrate level

 

[dave72787]

Did the algae go through cycles? Or was it always a problem? Looking at your nutrient levels, I would suggest to slightly lower your nitrates towards 10 (16 is not bad if you prefer to stick to that number). And increase your phosphates. Redfield ratio talks about 10:1 nitrates/phosphates. So aim for 1.0 phosphates if using 10 ppm nitrate or aim to increase to 1,5 ish if maintaining your current nitrate level

Yea I plan on having 10 to 8 nit and 1.0 to .08 phos, think that will keep corals happy enough. As for a cuc, besides the file fish, any other suggestions , and could that be briopsis and no gha?

 

[Euphyllia97]

Yea I plan on having 10 to 8 nit and 1.0 to .08 phos, think that will keep corals happy enough. As for a cuc, besides the file fish, any other suggestions , and could that be briopsis and no gha?

Sounds like a plan! Nassarius snails for the sandbed, Lawnmower blenny for algae or trochus snails if you don’t want to add that fish. A LOT of copepods and maybe a small tuxedo urchin (check for compatibility with your corals, they can knock frags down).

For the green algae where your picture is focusing on I’m afraid I don’t know the answer… For me it actually looks like some chaetomorpha (maybe antennina) But maybe someone else can give a more conclusive answer.

 

[dave72787]

Sounds like a plan! Nassarius snails for the sandbed, Lawnmower blenny for algae or trochus snails if you don’t want to add that fish. A LOT of copepods and maybe a small tuxedo urchin (check for compatibility with your corals, they can knock frags down).

For the green algae where your picture is focusing on I’m afraid I don’t know the answer… For me it actually looks like some chaetomorpha (maybe antennina) But maybe someone else can give a more conclusive answer.

Thanks for the advice