Looking for help/guidance, too much parameter swing? Something else?

[Chunkyfuzzbucket]

Hello!
Looking for some help/guidance. I apologize it's such a long post, but just trying to provide as much detail as I can. I'm a little discouraged with how it's going. Any help/insight is greatly appreciated

Started my tank around April 14, 2026. It is an IM Lagoon 25 gallon AIO.
I had diatoms, went away after a couple weeks, then got Dino's, which went away with a 3 day blackout. Then had cyano for over a month, so I dosed chemiclean- gone in 2 days.

While this is happening, checked my mag (1000), calcium (320), alk(6.5), all low - I was using reef crystals and trying to not do weekly water changes since I wanted the nitrate/phosphate to stay up (12 and .05 respectively) due to the Dino's. Once gone, I started water changes. Mistake on my part, it let my other parameters get too low. Did a water change, after 2 days, my hammer (which wasn't looking great anyway) completely died, so I removed from tank.

Got my parameters back into good range over the next few weeks using magnesion and alkalin8.6 - mag 1380, calcium at 420, alk at 8.6. Then about 2 weeks later, Dino's came back - these seem to disappear at night time, the sand and rock work look great a couple hours after the lights go out. Going to buy a UV light to see if that helps

Then last week, did a 4 gallon water change on 9/16, and before I went on vacation my parameters on 9/17 were:

Mag - 1335
Calcium - 450
Alk - 8.6
Nitrate - 10
Phosphate- 0.1
Ph - 8.0
salinity - 1.026

All tests done using salifert test kits

Came home and did a 4 gallon water change (switched to Fritz salt so alk wasn't such a swing), then next day on 9/25, I tested they were:

Mag - 1230
Calcium - 420
Alk - 7.0
Nitrate - 2
Phosphate- 0.03 (barely blue)
Ph - 8.0
salinity - 1.026

So, apparently my mag and alk dropped significantly over 8 days. I don't think I have that much in my tank, each coral I have is no bigger than the frag plug it is on. Would they still cause such a swing??

Here is my current Stocking list
Cleaner Shrimp
Royal Gramma
Tailspot Bennie
Clownfish(2)
Springers damsel
Pithos crab
Tuxedo Urchin

Snails
Cerith (4)
Nessarius (3)
Trochus (1)
Astrea (2)
Tiger sand Conch (1)

Hermit Crabs
Blue leg (3)

Corals
Zoas (4)
Mushrooms(2)
Leathers (1 cabbage leather)
LPS
Candycane (2 heads)
Favia
torch
Duncan (2 heads)

SPS
1 branching
2 encrusting

Would having just these cause that much of a swing over 8 days? Also, it's tough keeping my nitrates/phosphates up as well, I would like to get them a little higher, but I can't stop water changes due to the others being used. I do use some neophos and neonitrate to help keep them up.

Zoas and mushrooms look great and growing/multiplying. Candy cane is starting to look less puffy. Torch is retracted and looks a little bleached (sits in 120-150 par) and the Duncan never fully extends, never did since I brought it hope 3 months ago.

Do I just continue dosing? Or do I add another fish? (Don't want to overstock it)

Again, sorry for the long post and scattered thoughts. I'd like to get to a point where the nitrate/phosphates are maintained without dosing and to do water changes to replenish the others. Understand I may need to just supplement/dose, but didn't think I'd be there yet

Any thoughts/steps to get this back on track?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can we see a tank picture? Pictures really help.
Sounds like there has been a lot going on in your tank since you started about 5 months ago. Do you still have dino's?
How often do you feed the fish?
I would not add another fish to your tank, you have a full tank IMO, especially with that damsel in there, there's a good chance it won't allow any new additions.

 

[Chunkyfuzzbucket]

Can we see a tank picture? Pictures really help.
Sounds like there has been a lot going on in your tank since you started about 5 months ago. Do you still have dino's?
How often do you feed the fish?
I would not add another fish to your tank, you have a full tank IMO, especially with that damsel in there, there's a good chance it won't allow any new additions.

Yes, it's been non-stop with things going on. I'll get a pic shortly and post back. Yes, still have Dino's, seem to go away at night, need to purchase a UV light.

It's funny, the royal gramma usually keeps the springers damsel in check. I'd rather not get any new fish anyway

I feed them once a day with frozen mysis and some coral gumbo mixed in all in all, maybe, 1/4 or 1/5 of a frozen cube, once per day

 

[Chunkyfuzzbucket]

After lights out

Lights on, using a filter

I'm also using a nicrew navareef 135, with blues around 35-40% with whites/red/greens at less than 5

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The magnesium change is test error. I advise not measuring it at all for that reason. It cannot drop that much.

 

[ScottJ]

Hello!
Looking for some help/guidance. I apologize it's such a long post, but just trying to provide as much detail as I can. I'm a little discouraged with how it's going. Any help/insight is greatly appreciated

Started my tank around April 14, 2026. It is an IM Lagoon 25 gallon AIO.
I had diatoms, went away after a couple weeks, then got Dino's, which went away with a 3 day blackout. Then had cyano for over a month, so I dosed chemiclean- gone in 2 days.

While this is happening, checked my mag (1000), calcium (320), alk(6.5), all low - I was using reef crystals and trying to not do weekly water changes since I wanted the nitrate/phosphate to stay up (12 and .05 respectively) due to the Dino's. Once gone, I started water changes. Mistake on my part, it let my other parameters get too low. Did a water change, after 2 days, my hammer (which wasn't looking great anyway) completely died, so I removed from tank.

Got my parameters back into good range over the next few weeks using magnesion and alkalin8.6 - mag 1380, calcium at 420, alk at 8.6. Then about 2 weeks later, Dino's came back - these seem to disappear at night time, the sand and rock work look great a couple hours after the lights go out. Going to buy a UV light to see if that helps

Then last week, did a 4 gallon water change on 9/16, and before I went on vacation my parameters on 9/17 were:

Mag - 1335
Calcium - 450
Alk - 8.6
Nitrate - 10
Phosphate- 0.1
Ph - 8.0
salinity - 1.026

All tests done using salifert test kits

Came home and did a 4 gallon water change (switched to Fritz salt so alk wasn't such a swing), then next day on 9/25, I tested they were:

Mag - 1230
Calcium - 420
Alk - 7.0
Nitrate - 2
Phosphate- 0.03 (barely blue)
Ph - 8.0
salinity - 1.026

So, apparently my mag and alk dropped significantly over 8 days. I don't think I have that much in my tank, each coral I have is no bigger than the frag plug it is on. Would they still cause such a swing??

Here is my current Stocking list
Cleaner Shrimp
Royal Gramma
Tailspot Bennie
Clownfish(2)
Springers damsel
Pithos crab
Tuxedo Urchin

Snails
Cerith (4)
Nessarius (3)
Trochus (1)
Astrea (2)
Tiger sand Conch (1)

Hermit Crabs
Blue leg (3)

Corals
Zoas (4)
Mushrooms(2)
Leathers (1 cabbage leather)
LPS
Candycane (2 heads)
Favia
torch
Duncan (2 heads)

SPS
1 branching
2 encrusting

Would having just these cause that much of a swing over 8 days? Also, it's tough keeping my nitrates/phosphates up as well, I would like to get them a little higher, but I can't stop water changes due to the others being used. I do use some neophos and neonitrate to help keep them up.

Zoas and mushrooms look great and growing/multiplying. Candy cane is starting to look less puffy. Torch is retracted and looks a little bleached (sits in 120-150 par) and the Duncan never fully extends, never did since I brought it hope 3 months ago.

Do I just continue dosing? Or do I add another fish? (Don't want to overstock it)

Again, sorry for the long post and scattered thoughts. I'd like to get to a point where the nitrate/phosphates are maintained without dosing and to do water changes to replenish the others. Understand I may need to just supplement/dose, but didn't think I'd be there yet

Any thoughts/steps to get this back on track?

My 2 cents;
A UV won't hurt anything, not a bad idea to try one. The tank is very young and is going thru the ugly stage. This can take a LONG time. Personally, I wouldn't add any more 'fix in a bottle' things. They seem to cause more problems than they help. I know this from personal experience. I know the urge is to try to make the tank a perfect looking reef, but nature has to do her thing on her own time scale. All that algae and bacteria are fighting for real estate right now, and you really can't stop it.

I would do just a 2 to 3 gallon water change once a week with the salt you started the tank with. Blow off the rocks and vac the sand, pull any hair algae, you know, the usual good husbandry tasks.

I wouldn't test Mag (per Randy) pH (can't really do anything about it in a small tank anyway except open a window) Calcium (the tank isn't using much at this point, and water changes will be more than enough). Test Nitrate, Phosphate, and Alk once a week (or a week and a few days) and see where things stand. Watch how your corals react. Don't chase numbers, and take your time