Just need to vent

[CBonito]

Agreed. I used to drain fluids out, but now I have little containers that I throw 2 cubes in, a little selcon, then top off with tank water. Shake it up, then dump it all in.

That's how I do it. An hour or two later, it's in the skimmer cup anyway.

 

[BryanM]

Do you think .1-.3 phosphate is within limits for SPS? I try to keep mine at .1 or lower. Just curious if Im over thinking it.

well, I'm not an SPS guy, but from what I can tell it does seem that SPS benefit from cleaner tanks.... I still know of some people who have SPS with these numbers, but if I were setting up an SPS tank I'd probably be in the 5 nitrate range, and .06 phos range.

What I know right now is: I don't want that headache, so I am avoiding SPS - I also have a mixed reef today, which I dont think can support the flow needs of SPS, and I do not have room for another tank in my house.

 

[Red_Beard]

Do you think .1-.3 phosphate is within limits for SPS? I try to keep mine at .1 or lower. Just curious if Im over thinking it.

absolutely. I have had them up to .6 before with SPS. I aim now for .1-.2, but they can tolerate more. I have found that SPS can tolerate quite a swing if it is localized to 1 thing. When you swing more than one thing at a time is when you really start having problems.

 

[Dom]

Did you use live rock or dry rock in your setup?

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

That's how I do it. An hour or two later, it's in the skimmer cup anyway.

Exactly, and anything that can filter it out, loves it im sure

 

[CHSUB]

I saw this post yesterday and looked at the build thread, and today saw your current tank. I’m a little shocked at the pictures and what you are doing? Could be wrong, but I don’t see any corals. What are you trying to accomplish, a FOWLR? At six months, in a similar sized tank I had ~25 coral. It is time to get going and give algae some competition for real estate, otherwise nothing you are doing matters much for fish only.

Also skimmer should be on regardless, they are not as effective as people think.

 

[spencjw]

Did you use live rock or dry rock in your setup?

I used dry rock.

 

[spencjw]

I saw this post yesterday and looked at the build thread, and today saw your current tank. I’m a little shocked at the pictures and what you are doing? Could be wrong, but I don’t see any corals. What are you trying to accomplish, a FOWLR? At six months, in a similar sized tank I had ~25 coral. It is time to get going and give algae some competition for real estate, otherwise nothing you are doing matters much for fish only.

Also skimmer should be on regardless, they are not as effective as people think.

I have wanted to start going crazy with coral but didn’t want to put them in a system with algae and until I got my parameters in check.

 

[BrettMallette]

Im running .15ppm PO4 and sticks dont seem to care... Montis seem to be growing like crazy. Plating and branching... None of the above seemed to like it above .5. Really werent happy above 2.

 

[spencjw]

I have only been in the hobby for around 6 months. I have felt from all the videos and research I have done I was going well and it was fun and easy. Man was I wrong, I have been dealing with hair algae and I can’t figure out how to beat it. I get turned around with the guidance or tips I get from web searches, videos and forums. I don’t know if the algae is throwing off my numbers. I know that the algae will come back if I don’t get my numbers in check but I feel like I can’t truly know what they are or get them in check until the algae is gone but I can’t seem to get rid of them. I plan tomorrow to take my rock out and in old tank water scrub all the algae off the best I can and replace. Right now my nitrates are at 2.3, phosphate at .01, my alk is crazy low 6.4 (new Hanna checker so hope doing right) by calcium is 600 and mag is 1450. It’s a 25 gal lagoon. I use Red Sea blue bucket. All and all up to this point it has been pretty good. I feel like this is where the true learning and test comes. Thanks for the vent, wish me luck.

How often are you doing water changes? Have a skimmer? When you take the rock out to scrub, spray some hydrogen peroxide on it. Will kill the algae.

I try my best to do a 5 gal WC weekly I sometimes and miss and do them every other week it most. Using REDSEA blue bucket and RO/DI water, not tap.

 

[CHSUB]

I have wanted to start going crazy with coral but didn’t want to put them in a system with algae and until I got my parameters in check.

Yes I get it and maybe prudent if you’re inexperienced. However, you’re 7 months in and your lack of corals is making it more difficult. I’m a little over a year and you’re not to far behind me and this is my tank….you’re ready, get some easy leathers, Zoas, mushroom and fill in the bottom and In a short time add some SPS and LPs higher up if desired.

 

[backbayreef]

I truly think that we should start a new sticky thread educating new reefers to start with at lest 50% live rocks (ideally, 100% LRs) going forward. There are so many new reefers getting discouraged, "vent", spent $$$ on magic bottles, and might even gave up on the hobby. I'm a huge believer in 100% (clean) live rocks, if at all possible.

 

[CHSUB]

I truly think that we should start a new sticky thread educating new reefers to start with at lest 50% live rocks (ideally, 100% LRs) going forward. There are so many new reefers getting discouraged, "vent", spent $$$ on magic bottles, and might even gave up on the hobby. I'm a huge believer in 100% (clean) live rocks, if at all possible.

I agree. However, in this case the op has nice looking clean rock with a little problem hair algae. He is off to a great start. I would have it spotless in a few hours with a toothbrush, blowing and a WC. Tomorrow it would be filled with a dozen corals and away we go! I think he is suffering from “paralysis by analysis”!

 

[akma]

I truly think that we should start a new sticky thread educating new reefers to start with at lest 50% live rocks (ideally, 100% LRs) going forward. There are so many new reefers getting discouraged, "vent", spent $$$ on magic bottles, and might even gave up on the hobby. I'm a huge believer in 100% (clean) live rocks, if at all possible.

+1 to live rock. I ordered live rock from kpaquatics and 6 months in I started stocking my tank with sps.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I second the live rock. I went all dry rock and had the worst, incessant ugly phase. Some live rock from a local reefer fixed all my problems.

 

[BrettMallette]

Theres always gonna be some things to deal with. Not live rock right there just gotta deal with the phase and it goes away as shown on the front side of same rock. Plus anywhere there is coral its giving them a couple of inches where it just wont grow

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Also, corals uptake some nutrients as well, so even if you get it absolutely dialed right in, perfect input and output of nutrients, thats all going to change as you add corals, soooo I'd also be one to enable you to get some hardy corals OP

 

[BryanM]

I always advise to use live rock - IF you can afford it.

It is extremely expensive, and you can certainly use dry rock, it is just a journey to start with and you need to be extremely patient.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I always advise to use live rock - IF you can afford it.

It is extremely expensive, and you can certainly use dry rock, it is just a journey to start with and you need to be extremely patient.

At least a few peices

 

[Pat's Reef]

I have only been in the hobby for around 6 months. I have felt from all the videos and research I have done I was going well and it was fun and easy. Man was I wrong, I have been dealing with hair algae and I can’t figure out how to beat it. I get turned around with the guidance or tips I get from web searches, videos and forums. I don’t know if the algae is throwing off my numbers. I know that the algae will come back if I don’t get my numbers in check but I feel like I can’t truly know what they are or get them in check until the algae is gone but I can’t seem to get rid of them. I plan tomorrow to take my rock out and in old tank water scrub all the algae off the best I can and replace. Right now my nitrates are at 2.3, phosphate at .01, my alk is crazy low 6.4 (new Hanna checker so hope doing right) by calcium is 600 and mag is 1450. It’s a 25 gal lagoon. I use Red Sea blue bucket. All and all up to this point it has been pretty good. I feel like this is where the true learning and test comes. Thanks for the vent, wish me luck.

This type of hair algae is a species of Bryopsis. The only effective way to eradicate it is a Fluconazole treatment like Reef Flux or Flux RX. Double the dosage if it is widespread. It’s harmless to animal life and reef safe. Bryopsis is the only thing that I recommend a chemical treatment to fix, simply because there’s no other way to kill it due to it being the hardiest and most durable life form in any tank. Ignore the blenny,,accidentally added it.