Reef struggles

[vetteguy53081]

As we know there are many struggles and challenges in this hobby whether it be cycling, chemistry issues, fish not eating, coral dying or getting bleached, missing fish and mechanical failure of equipment as examples.
Many of us have struggled with something or are struggling but are afraid to ask or speak up. Be honest as you may get answers as soon as today.

What one thing(s) do you struggle with or are currently struggling with and would like to fix the issue once and for all?

Although better controlled, mine has been stable PH

 

[Dburr1014]

All of a sudden my phosphate the past month has went from 0.1 to point 0.38ppm
Don't fully understand why but I am monitoring.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

As we know there are many struggles and challenges in this hobby whether it be cycling, chemistry issues, fish not eating, coral dying or getting bleached, missing fish and mechanical failure of equipment as examples.
Many of us have struggled with something or are struggling but are afraid to ask or speak up. Be honest as you may get answers as soon as today.

What one thing(s) do you struggle with or are currently struggling with and would like to fix the issue once and for all?

Although better controlled, mine has been stable PH

I second your PH! I do not open my windows in a house with 2 adults and 2 dogs, so PH has always been an issue for me. I di purchase a CO2 scrubber recently. BUT, after researching which house plants best control CO2, I now have 5 snake plants in the room with the tank. PH is so far steady at 8.2

 

[Mschmidt]

My n and p are stable... at 46 and .6 (+- 10%)

 

[esquare]

Best thing I ever did for PH was to add an ERV (energy recovery ventilator) to the house to continuously swap fresh outside air for stale inside air. I did the install myself which made it much more financially feasible. Second best thing I've done for PH is run an air line from outside to the skimmer.

The thing I'm struggling with now is PO4 and NO3 reading zero but obviously being present due to nuisance algae. I've started dosing Phos-NP to see what happens.

***Edit***
Plus-NP not Phos-NP

 

[BrettE]

New-ish tank and reefer. I think it's 7 months old.

• Hydroids on my Zoas. I may remove the Zoas to treat, but I need to setup a tank for that.
• Nitrate won't stay up. Dosing NeoNitro and maybe that's getting better.
• Cyano, GHA, and Dinoflagellates everywhere and encroaching on the few frags I have.
• My Alk had been right bout 8.7 for a few months. Suddenly dipped to 7.7. Upped dosage. Keeping a closer eye, looking for dosing problems, etc. Perhaps I didn't transfer the right dosage when my Apex lost the ability to connect to my DŌS and I had to re-program it.
• 2 of 4 heads on my Dragon Soul Torch bailed. I moved it to get more flow after someone suggested it looked like it wasn't moving enough. Moved it back where it had been happier.

 

[vetteguy53081]

New-ish tank and reefer. I think it's 7 months old.

• Hydroids on my Zoas. I may remove the Zoas to treat, but I need to setup a tank for that.
• Nitrate won't stay up. Dosing NeoNitro and maybe that's getting better.
• Cyano, GHA, and Dinoflagellates everywhere and encroaching on the few frags I have.
• My Alk had been right bout 8.7 for a few months. Suddenly dipped to 7.7. Upped dosage. Keeping a closer eye, looking for dosing problems, etc. Perhaps I didn't transfer the right dosage when my Apex lost the ability to connect to my DŌS and I had to re-program it.
• 2 of 4 heads on my Dragon Soul Torch bailed. I moved it to get more flow after someone suggested it looked like it wasn't moving enough. Moved it back where it had been happier.

If you have both cyano and Dino, it suggests there is a nutrient imbalance existing in your tank. Add GHA and it leads towards higher levels. When we see zero readings, automatically we assume this is the cause but by the time you see zero numbers, its because the dino has consumed the po4 and no3 and are multiplying and in turn many dose no3 and po4 to bring numbers up not realizing they are feeding these flagellates even more.
Is your tank at or near a window by chance?

 

[shakacuz]

had a nutrient swing that caused GHA/Dino’s. chaeto was out competed by the GHA in the sump. as my sump CUC died off.

i’m looking to get more CUC for the DT and sump while i continue to manually remove as much GHA as i can. using hydrogen peroxide during the night to kill off any GHA in the DT. once that battle is over i’ll work on the dino’s with copepods and phosphate dosing (which im slowly doing as well)

 

[ReeferFive-0]

Saving up for a larger aquarium and equipment...the struggle is real.

 

[VintageReefer]

Saving up for a larger aquarium and equipment...the struggle is real.

How large

 

[BrettE]

If you have both cyano and Dino, it suggests there is a nutrient imbalance existing in your tank. Add GHA and it leads towards higher levels. When we see zero readings, automatically we assume this is the cause but by the time you see zero numbers, its because the dino has consumed the po4 and no3 and are multiplying and in turn many dose no3 and po4 to bring numbers up not realizing they are feeding these flagellates even more.
Is your tank at or near a window by chance?

Tank is not near a window.

About 3 weeks ago after getting nitrates up, cyano completely disappeared over the course of a day. Then GHA started. Then I slacked on keeping the nitrate up cyano reappeared. I added a doser to remedy the forgetful reefer.

Yesterdays results:
Nitrate: 5.2 ppm
Phosphate: 0.02 ppm

 

[ReeferFive-0]

How large

I'm currently looking at the IM 100...probably the INT model. I need to get new carpet and furniture before so the tank will fit well and I won't need to move it any time soon.

 

[VintageReefer]

I'm currently looking at the IM100...either EXT or INT, not sure yet. I need to get new carpet and furniture before so the tank will fit well and I won't need to move it any time soon.

If you want to save a ton of money, join the club

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...of-2024-whose-looking-for-a-new-tank.1037349/
It’s extremely similar in dimensions, 48x20x20 for half the price and free shipping

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tank is not near a window.

About 3 weeks ago after getting nitrates up, cyano completely disappeared over the course of a day. Then GHA started. Then I slacked on keeping the nitrate up cyano reappeared. I added a doser to remedy the forgetful reefer.

Yesterdays results:
Nitrate: 5.2 ppm
Phosphate: 0.02 ppm

Dont let the Phos drop any further as you may potentially resort back to dino

 

[ReeferFive-0]

If you want to save a ton of money, join the club

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...of-2024-whose-looking-for-a-new-tank.1037349/
It’s extremely similar in dimensions, 48x20x20 for half the price and free shipping

Thanks I'll keep an eye on it, I'm just not ready to pull the trigger yet. I also have these things called kids that like to eat...lol

 

[cdemoss01]

As we know there are many struggles and challenges in this hobby whether it be cycling, chemistry issues, fish not eating, coral dying or getting bleached, missing fish and mechanical failure of equipment as examples.
Many of us have struggled with something or are struggling but are afraid to ask or speak up. Be honest as you may get answers as soon as today.

What one thing(s) do you struggle with or are currently struggling with and would like to fix the issue once and for all?

Although better controlled, mine has been stable PH

I had very bad hair algae and now I'm dealing with different types of glass algae that I cant even reach too scrape.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I had very bad hair algae and now I'm dealing with different types of glass algae that I cant even reach too scrape.

Astrea snails take care of my back glass well

 

[cdemoss01]

Astrea snails take care of my back glass well

I have about 8 of them but 6 of them are babies just bought them yesterday other two are fully grown. Do you know any other glass cleaner?

 

[KQuillan]

Ich

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have about 8 of them but 6 of them are babies just bought them yesterday other two are fully grown. Do you know any other glass cleaner?

I have about 26. Other would be cerith and trochus snails