Ladyluna
New Member
Set up a second-hand 35g bowfront in December. Have (mostly) successfully run freshwater but this is turning into a whole new nightmare.
Will try to provide good details but feel free to ask if I miss anything.
Set up with dry rock. Crushed coral substrate.
Have 2 powerheads for circulation and currently running 2 filters, a HOB Fluval that came with it and a Fluvial 306 canister that we had (previously in freshwater; cleaned out and replaced all filter sponges, media). Filter stuff just sponges and carbon. AI Prime 16HD light. Also a heater, unsure of what it is but keeps tank at 25°C consistently. Although we initially filled with salt mixed at home (Instant Ocean) and tap water with Prime, we then started getting all our water from the local reef supply premixed. We did VERY consistent water changes, sometimes daily. Tank "cycled" and we added a few molly fry and then some recommended corals from local shop. We waited about another month then added an anemone and attempted to add 2 clownfish - they both went into immediate death spirals after being released from acclimation ( at least 15 mins temp then about 30 of adding tank water to bag ).
We scooped out and put in a container of fresh saltwater from store. 1 lived and was returned to store to wait for its new home to be safe. Store tested ammonia high (1.5) Did large 50% water change then daily/bi-daily changes and used lots of MicroBacter bottle bac. Seemed better, then spiked again. Got filter pad from another tank and 5g of their water, did another 50% change and used super high end bottle bac stuff and more MicroBacter. Got better, ammonia and nitrite were 0, nitrates climbing. Then suddenly after a few weeks ammonia climbed again. Did another large change, used BioSpira bottle bac, went back to 0 ammonia and nitrite. Now is spiking up yet again.
At home I had been testing API and almost always got .25. Read lots on how that is a common reading. Also used tetra strips and would get minimal or no ammonia. Ammonia Alert Seachem badge always shows yellow. Have used Prime and/or Amguard. Continually trying different bottle bac. Mollies stay alive, anemone is super unhappy seeming constantly at deaths door, toadstools leathers both died, one zoanthid frag melted away other corals (zoas, blastomussa, hammer and favia) living but wouldn't say thriving.
I feed very minimally, a slight dust of flake every day for the fishies, barely what sticks to my finger.
Once every week or two a bit of mysis.
Still doing weekly 15% or more water changes. Store said dont use Prime anymore but Im terrified the ammonia will kill everything without a stopgaps.
Salifert tests: (recently bought all these so In not running across city 2x/wk to get the tests done there
Alkalinity has been 8-8.5
Magnesium HIGH 1500
Calcium high 500
Phosphate was highish but now 0
Ammonia 1
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~30ish
API test
Ammonia .25 (.5 when snail dies)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~20ish
PH 7.4
Tetra test
Ammonia between 0 and .5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40
KH more than 120ppm but under 180ppm
PH 7.8
I have had to dose Red Sea Foundation occasionally for alkalinity. Store has told me to ignore ph, initially used Seachem Marine Buffer but stopped as they said not too bother.
A few weeks back I also used some Vibrant for the out of control algae that was choking out my zoanthids.
Current live occupants are 2 juvenile mollies, 2 astrea snails, 3 other snails (type?), 3 hermit crabs, and an emerald crab (have not seen since adding).
Oh and salinity generally about 1.026
Any input/advice/help GREATLY appreciated. Have spent thousands and am almost at the "throw it all out" point.
Will try to provide good details but feel free to ask if I miss anything.
Set up with dry rock. Crushed coral substrate.
Have 2 powerheads for circulation and currently running 2 filters, a HOB Fluval that came with it and a Fluvial 306 canister that we had (previously in freshwater; cleaned out and replaced all filter sponges, media). Filter stuff just sponges and carbon. AI Prime 16HD light. Also a heater, unsure of what it is but keeps tank at 25°C consistently. Although we initially filled with salt mixed at home (Instant Ocean) and tap water with Prime, we then started getting all our water from the local reef supply premixed. We did VERY consistent water changes, sometimes daily. Tank "cycled" and we added a few molly fry and then some recommended corals from local shop. We waited about another month then added an anemone and attempted to add 2 clownfish - they both went into immediate death spirals after being released from acclimation ( at least 15 mins temp then about 30 of adding tank water to bag ).
We scooped out and put in a container of fresh saltwater from store. 1 lived and was returned to store to wait for its new home to be safe. Store tested ammonia high (1.5) Did large 50% water change then daily/bi-daily changes and used lots of MicroBacter bottle bac. Seemed better, then spiked again. Got filter pad from another tank and 5g of their water, did another 50% change and used super high end bottle bac stuff and more MicroBacter. Got better, ammonia and nitrite were 0, nitrates climbing. Then suddenly after a few weeks ammonia climbed again. Did another large change, used BioSpira bottle bac, went back to 0 ammonia and nitrite. Now is spiking up yet again.
At home I had been testing API and almost always got .25. Read lots on how that is a common reading. Also used tetra strips and would get minimal or no ammonia. Ammonia Alert Seachem badge always shows yellow. Have used Prime and/or Amguard. Continually trying different bottle bac. Mollies stay alive, anemone is super unhappy seeming constantly at deaths door, toadstools leathers both died, one zoanthid frag melted away other corals (zoas, blastomussa, hammer and favia) living but wouldn't say thriving.
I feed very minimally, a slight dust of flake every day for the fishies, barely what sticks to my finger.
Once every week or two a bit of mysis.
Still doing weekly 15% or more water changes. Store said dont use Prime anymore but Im terrified the ammonia will kill everything without a stopgaps.
Salifert tests: (recently bought all these so In not running across city 2x/wk to get the tests done there
Alkalinity has been 8-8.5
Magnesium HIGH 1500
Calcium high 500
Phosphate was highish but now 0
Ammonia 1
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~30ish
API test
Ammonia .25 (.5 when snail dies)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~20ish
PH 7.4
Tetra test
Ammonia between 0 and .5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 40
KH more than 120ppm but under 180ppm
PH 7.8
I have had to dose Red Sea Foundation occasionally for alkalinity. Store has told me to ignore ph, initially used Seachem Marine Buffer but stopped as they said not too bother.
A few weeks back I also used some Vibrant for the out of control algae that was choking out my zoanthids.
Current live occupants are 2 juvenile mollies, 2 astrea snails, 3 other snails (type?), 3 hermit crabs, and an emerald crab (have not seen since adding).
Oh and salinity generally about 1.026
Any input/advice/help GREATLY appreciated. Have spent thousands and am almost at the "throw it all out" point.
