Ready for throwing in the towel!!!

[theuksnoobreefer]

I feed 3-4 times a day, it might be a bit much for some people, but I usually suggest to feed small amounts at least twice a day. Just don't add more food than the fish can eat in about 30-60 seconds. If you still see food after a minute, add less next time. Its a bit of a learning curve that everyone goes through. Good luck

Just out of curiosity, why do you recommend twice a day?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Just out of curiosity, why do you recommend twice a day?

lol, good question, I don't know, thats just how I was taught to do it when I was young.

But if you google "how often to feed my firefish" (for example), the most usual reply is one to two feedings per day. Some fish need a little more IME, some fish a little less, so twice just works out as a nice round number for me. Plus its fun to feed the fish

 

[exnisstech]

Just out of curiosity, why do you recommend twice a day?

Many of the fish we keep are able to feed continuously all day in the wild so IMO they should have multiple daily feedings. Can they survive on once a day or every other day feeding? Possibly and so could I but I choose not too. I feed multiple small meals throughout the day. It's also nice having fish swim to the front of the tank anytime they see me instead of hiding.
I don't keep track of how much I feed as long as it's eaten quickly each feeding. I also won't starve my fish to keep nutrients at a certain level.

 

[Dom]

Don't throw in the towel. The tank is only running since May 25. That's only 4 months.

 

[slingfox]

Hey all

Just after some help, as per usual!

My Fluval Evo 13.5 has been up and running since May 25 and I'm having nothing but issues.

I've recently experienced lots of bright green algae on my sand bed, redish coloured on the rocks (cyano?) and some hair algae.

I feed every other day, one quarter of mysis shrimp, here's my stocking:

• Six Line Wrasse
• Flametail Blenny
• 2x Hermit (one is a red leg, one is a common)
• Strawberry Conch
• Tuxedo Urchin
• Emerald Crab
• 5x Nassarius (recently purchased these in the hope they'd turn the sand)
• 2x Trochus snails

I also make my own RODI water using this unit https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122094639916?var=421127166939, and I also mix my own salt using Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt. I do a 10% water change weekly.

Here are my most recent testing results:

• Salinity - 1.025
• Ammonia - 0
• Nitrite - 0
• Nitrate - 5-10 (Salifert card is hard to read)
• Phos - 0.03 (unsure if this is actually higher, but the algae is consuming it)

I've been dosing Microbacter 7 for weeks now and have not noticed any changes. I'm on top of water changes and ensuring my filter floss is changed once it shows a bit of discolouration.

Now, just out of the blue, I thought I'd test my RODI that's been in my water can for 3 days ish. I usually fill 2x 10L jerry cans weekly.
The results of the RODI were:

• Nitrate - 0
• Phosphates - 0.25 - 1 (Salifert card is impossible to differentiate).

Could this be the cause? I have not changed any of the filters on my RODI system as my TDS pen shows zero. I ensure I test with the pen every time I'm about to fill up a container.

I've attached some photos, but I'm ready for throwing in the towel, constantly throwing money at it for no return lol.

I do not run any white lights, just turned them to white for the photos.

This doesn’t look too bad. It is possible to get the rockwork spotless but it will take time. For the sand, there is likely to always be some growth in the sandbed. Seems like you are testing, changing water and freely modestly. Keep it up!!