Please help! What is wrong with my tank?

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

So recently, I lost a frogspawn and I do not know why. My hammer currently doesn't look well and I wan to know if there is anything I can do. Also I want to know if there are advice or help I can get for this to become successful because currently it isn't happy at all. I am new to the reef hobby but not the fish keeping hobby.

All I have inside my media basket is one with only filter floss and the other has filter floss and one bag of seachem phosguard.

I have my own specture pure RODI system that I get my water from. My IN TDS is 5, and my out is 0.

Tank has been up since beginning of January 2017.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate ~.25
Ca 440
Kh 11.2
Mg 1400
My water is pretty cloudy as well.

I have one clown fish since he was very little, grown big and only feed light once a day. For the coral, I feed reef roids once a week.

I use red sea reef salt.
Just did a water change on 3/30/2017.
My ph and temp.

My lighting schedule

And here are pictures of my tank.

My hammer

RyanCSGO · Mar 31, 2017

do you have a way to measure phosphate levels?

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

RyanCSGO said:
do you have a way to measure phosphate levels?

No :(

RyanCSGO · Mar 31, 2017

If you are able too, call a local fish store and see if they can test for phosphates for you
high phosphates are not good.
not saying this is the issue, but will help eliminate possibilities.
when is the last time you changed out the phosguard? if im not mistaken, phosguard will collect phosphates, but once the build up reaches a certain point it can release them back into the water if left in for an extended period of time.

also having slightly higher nitrates 5-10 range is not a bad thing when having LPS.

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

RyanCSGO said:
If you are able too, call a local fish store and see if they can test for phosphates for you
high phosphates are not good.
not saying this is the issue, but will help eliminate possibilities.
when is the last time you changed out the phosguard? if im not mistaken, phosguard will collect phosphates, but once the build up reaches a certain point it can release them back into the water if left in for an extended period of time.

also having slightly higher nitrates 5-10 range is not a bad thing when having LPS.

I might buy a test kit pretty soon here. What would you recommend on me getting that's not a hanna checker.
Phosguard has been in there for about 4 days now.

thejuice24 · Mar 31, 2017

You tank is pretty young... cloudness could be bacteria bloom.

happyhourhero · Mar 31, 2017

My take would be too high of alk. Looks like a tremendous amount of flow for that little tank as well.

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

happyhourhero said:
My take would be too high of alk. Looks like a tremendous amount of flow for that little tank as well.

the intensity of the Powerhead is only around 30-50 percent.

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

but is my hammer doing well? im scared for it right now.

RyanCSGO · Mar 31, 2017

can you rotate your return nozzles? if so i would aim those up to break the surface, promotes gas exchange in the water column.
you could try salifert for the test kit

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

RyanCSGO said:
can you rotate your return nozzles? if so i would aim those up to break the surface, promotes gas exchange in the water column.
you could try salifert for the test kit

Alright, I turned the nozzles upwards.

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

I feel like my hammer is dead. Sad how my hammer didnt make it but my torch is so happy.

RyanCSGO · Mar 31, 2017

I agree with the bacterial bloom as well for the cloudiness, had the same thing in my tank for a few days when it was "newer". cleared up on its own.
I've always aimed for around 9-10

flow is definitely a good thing, just dont have it be so direct, if LPS gets beat up the tissue will begin to recede and can tear. you want a gentle sway/wiggle from the coral.
definitely keep the nozzles pointed up to break the surface of the water.

jsker · Mar 31, 2017

Run some carbon to clear up the water and I agree find out what the nutrients are .
Phosphates should be around .02 to .04 and nitrates around 3 to 8 ppm
Your alk is high and should be down around 8.5. Red Sea coral pro tends to have high alk readings though.

I would suggest try direct feeding with some reef nutrition oyster feast right into the hammer or long tentacle corals :)

Your tank is 3 to 4 months old and your parameter are pretty good for that age of a tank.

Ryushei · Mar 31, 2017

Is there anymore advice or things that can make this tank a lot better? My skimmer is pulling a lot of gunk out and I was thinking about getting a HOB Refugium.

hatrix11 · Mar 31, 2017

did you change anything recently? salt brands? what is your salinity at? I feel like if it was phosphate there would be other red flags such as algae blooming.

jsker · Mar 31, 2017

Ryushei said:
Is there anymore advice or things that can make this tank a lot better? My skimmer is pulling a lot of gunk out and I was thinking about getting a HOB Refugium.

:):) Thank you time, your tank still has another 8 or 9 months to really get established.
That is good the skimmer is working like it supposed too.
get back with us when you get all of your parameters
Ca
Mg
Alk
PO4
No3
PH
salinity
temp
You have most.
Now following along.

RyanCSGO · Mar 31, 2017

Ryushei said:
Is there anymore advice or things that can make this tank a lot better? My skimmer is pulling a lot of gunk out and I was thinking about getting a HOB Refugium.

a lot of the time less is more in reefing. keeping your hand out of the tank and not constantly tinkering with everything can really benefit the tank. its hard because its new and you want to be involved constantly, (trust me we all do it)
a refugium could be a good addition, but ill let someone with more knowledge on those address it as i have never used one.