Help!

[tomtom2245]

The changing of the substrate could be part of the problem as well. Taking out all of that old sand more than likely stirred a bunch of gunk up as well and released it into the water column. I suggest bringing the salinity up to 1.025/1.026 slowly through some water changes and make sure no more tap water is used, only use good clean RO/DI water. Once you get the salinity up, then try a snail or two and see if they do better.

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

I put an RO/DI system in the house, I've bought everything I could possibly get to make it work. I'm at my wit's end with this.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Your LFS sounds like the LFS's I have here lol. No knowledge except on how to make money. Keeping things simple is the best way.

SG(salt gravity) needs to be 1.025 -1.026 (I would stay with 1.025 for evaporation)
Temp : 78 deg F give or take 1 or 2 degrees.
4 stage RO/DI is a must.

I would start mixing your own water. Maybe perform a 30% water change with added bacteria like Microbacter7 or Bio-Spira. Then wait a week and start testing water for nitrates and phosphates.

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

The tank is a Red Sea Max 650, it's 150 gallons with a 25 gallon sump, my wife is still mad at me for spending a ridiculous amount of money for a tank..

 

[tomtom2245]

Ok, let's stop blaming the tank for all of the problems. Any tank can be awesome or suck, it all depends on how it's run. Take a breath and settle in for the battle to reclaim your tank and make it look awesome with the help of everyone on here.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Reefing isn't a set it and forget it thing. You need to either invest in someone doing the tank for you or get your elbows wet. For me on my 30g it's a daily job. I couldn't imagine 150 gallons...yet :D

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

I don't blame the tank at all, I blame people who are greedy and are quick to oversell you things with no support. I'm disabled so I have to pay someone to look after it but nobody's been reliable. I would love for someone in my area to come and tend to it at least once a month.

 

[Naiad]

I don't blame the tank at all, I blame people who are greedy and are quick to oversell you things with no support. I'm disabled so I have to pay someone to look after it but nobody's been reliable. I would love for someone in my area to come and tend to it at least once a month.

I do understand the frustration at the LFS screwing you. I am disabled as well so I get that as well. The problem is it is so much harder to fix the mistakes made by the lfs. I do hope a local can help you with the hands on part but I am across country so can only let you know what was done to fix my algea ridden tank.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Are there any local businesses that have reef tanks? Maybe see if you can't find a referal? I see you live in Cali. You would think their are people willing to do an awesome job with such a beautiful tank. I would hate for you to miss out on this hobby. It's very rewarding, I think.

 

[Oceansize]

In my case, the presence of green hair algae (GHA) is 100% dependent on my nitrate level. Unfortunately you can't trust a test to confirm your nitrates at 0 because, as others have said, the algae could be using all available nitrates. It's come to the point where I gauge my nitrate level not by what the test says, but by how frequently I have to scrape my glass. The amount of GHA is a more accurate test for nitrates than the test itself, lol.

Personally, I achieved truly low nitrates and the elimination of GHA by adding a sulphur denitrator. It is the lowest-maintenance way of keeping nitrates at zero that I'm aware of, and is the most important piece of equipment I have related to the elimination of GHA. Some people will tell you that you'll never eliminate your algae issue without pulling all that stuff out, maybe even scrubbing your rock, but in my case the large mass of GHA simply melted away within a few weeks of dialing in the denitrator. I think my protein skimmer grabbed a lot as it was dying off.

The next most important piece of equipment to keep the algae out in my case is a UV sterilizer. For your size tank, however, you'll need a significant amount of wattage to make a difference, which is maybe why you haven't had much success with yours. It seems like most popular devices are in the 5W to 9W range, which are simply not powerful enough to do much good in saltwater. 9W works good for me, but my tank is about a third the size of yours.

The next most important thing related to algae elimination has been the addition of a diamond goby. Any sand-sifting species should achieve similar results, but diamond gobies run a little larger than most and are therefore more efficient at keeping the sand clean. In my experience they are far superior to crabs or snails for cleaning sand, but snails are still necessary for the glass. I used to have brownish sand like yours all the time, but disappeared completely within 2 days of adding the goby, never to return. Then the goby died (in hindsight, I believe I was underfeeding him) and the brown stuff on my sand started coming back within two days. So yeah, I'm a big fan of sand-sifting fish.

Having said all that, the main reason I (we?) use all these gizmos is to cut down on the amount of water changes we do. The fact remains, however, that water changes are the most effective way of eliminating most algae issues. What would probably be much more effective than buying yet even more equipment and stressing your wife out in the process would simply to be better about water changes. I know it's the advice that nobody wants to hear, but it's there for a reason. And, as you appear to have learned already, NEVER use tap water for those water changes.

It's not a hobby for everybody. I wouldn't be able to stick with it if I didn't get a significant amount of joy from the challenge, as opposed to only getting joy from gazing at a fully stocked, beautiful algae-free tank. My wife too put pressure on me during those times when it was an embarrassment visually, but she eventually had to get used to the idea that this was a passion for me. Fortunately for both of us, that passion eventually translated into a tank that solved it's algae issues and is now a joy to behold (although I still manage to kill things from time to time). If the challenge doesn't bring you joy...Good luck!

 

[Tahoe61]

Perhaps contact the local reefing club, the fish store should be able to provide you the name of the one nearest to you or start a thread seeking that information. There has got to be a local club in the Stockton area. Typically reefers are extremely generous and like to assist others in need. If you do decide to get out of the hobby a local reefing club can probably assist you in selling your system and tank inhabitants.
Keep researching the forum, the algae issue can be resolved but not over night as you already know.

 

[d2mini]

All good advice here.
I don't mean to pry, but depending on what your disability is, the members here may have some good suggestions on how to improve your reefing experience and let you avoid the need to bring in outside help.
For instance, if it's a mobility issue that makes tasks like water changes difficult, there are lots of us that have Auto Water Change setups.
There's lots of ways to automate the tank to make things easier.
You just need to have patience and put in the effort to ask and learn.

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

I don't know who to trust anymore so I think it would be best if I just tried to sell the tank. It's just too depressing to even look at it.

 

[Freakyyfort]

Think you need to just think on it for a few days... reef2reef will not steer you wrong just have to take the time to take a step back and learn. Being you've been in this for awhile you know that it takes time and patience.

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

Yeah but ran out of money, LFS cleaned me out and now the wife is on my case about it. Should have went freshwater!

 

[akaemu]

You keep mentioning your wife. Maybe show her the potential of the awesome setup you have and you two could somehow maybe make it work and make it something you both enjoy :)

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

She sees it everytime we go to a LFS and I have to try and explain why ours doesn't look like the display despite being sold everything possible to make it work.

 

[Naiad]

Do you really want help? It sounds like you just want to be done. If that's the case it's fine. If you just want some time to rant because your lfs set you down the wrong path that's fine as well. No one here has anything to gain for giving you advice. I don't make anything off telling you to run some polypads. It is actually a way to save you some money if you are serious about turning this tank around.

 

[d2mini]

She sees it everytime we go to a LFS and I have to try and explain why ours doesn't look like the display despite being sold everything possible to make it work.

FYI, I could turn around and sell my entire setup to a newbie as-is and they could fail miserably.
And someone else could take a craigslist tank and wet/dry filter and create an awesome reef.
The equipment doesn't make the tank. The person behind it does.

 

[AYM4DRIVER]

After blowing over 10k, I'm sure you would be done too.