Need advice about flow and detritus

[mbedak]

Hello,

I have some problems (or not problems) with my tank (120g), i can’t get the sand clean it’s always brownish, also my pumps get brown a few days after cleaning. The corals are growing well, even acros. I have a roller filter, skimmer and algae reactor. Parameters are alk 10, cal 410-420, mag 1500, no3 0, and phos 0.03-0.06. Maybe some advice about flow pump placement? Or something else? For the last 7 days the water is cloudy a bit, but I think bacterial bloom because I killed some clove polips ( maybe a few died in tank and caused a spike). Tank is a year old next week.

 

[56longroof]

Add more CUC. A cleaner package from Reef Cleaners would be a good start. Maybe a couple fish to stir up the sand and to add more nitrates. Brittle stars are a good addition also. I'd also add a couple powerheads on the back glass pointing up twords the opposite corner. This puts good flow across the sandbed without blasting the sand. For a example I have 5 powerheads in my 4' 150 gallon. Plus RFGs on 2 returns.

 

[BonnieB]

Your tank inhabitants look great! I’m surprised you have zero nitrates. You definitely need to get those up into detectable levels. Do you have a CUC crew? A sand sifting fish (or star but star is not my choice personally) would help as well as nassarius snails to get under the sand and churn. There are lots of choices for CUC that can help with sand. Your bloom I feel is the most likely culprit. Throw in some activated carbon to clear it up and reevaluate your clean up crew.

 

[56longroof]

A sand sifting star would only be a temporary measure. Once the sand is clean it would starve to death. It takes alot more to support one of those.

 

[mbedak]

Hello, i added more pumps and have a solid solid flow now. I do have a lot of snails. Nitrates probably low because the cheato grows like a weed

 

[BonnieB]

Hello, i added more pumps and have a solid solid flow now. I do have a lot of snails. Nitrates probably low because the cheato grows like a weed

Good job being on top of it!

 

[BryanM]

Your tank doesn't look much different than mine.... Unless that sand look gets worse than the pics show anyway.

I'd dose something to increase nitrates. Zero nitrates is never good, and generally causes nuisance algae issues.

 

[mbedak]

Good job being on top of it!

Now I have a big problem with clove polyps.

 

[BonnieB]

Good job being on top of it!

Now I have a big problem with clove polyps.

Oh dear! Get as much out as you can and keep on top of it…invasive if left to their own devises!

 

[mbedak]

But how? Every time I touch them they grow back, or I accidentally seed them somewhere, tried with aptasia X , grew back in a week