Seasoned reefers/difference between tanks

[Flounder's Reef]

Back story. Ok so I have been reefing since 2016 and have had several tanks since then. I set up a folwer tank 155 with live rock from my lfs. I then set up another tank a reef tank 60 gallon using dry rock. No real issues so far. I then upgrade the fowler to the current 250 gallon and the reef tank to a 150 in 2022. Since the set up of the 150 i have had hair algae from coating everything to just being here and ther but always present. I have done blackouts snails crabs tangs sea hair abalone. Dr tims bacteria dosing. Nothing works. I did have dinoflagellates and beat that. Now my parameters are

Alk 8.7
Cal 455
Mag 1320
Phosphate .07
Nitrite 8.5

My corals do great I have grown and sold plenty of colonies of hammers.

Now my 250 has large angelfish tangs a dog facepuffer.

My problem is the 250 has virtually no algae and my 150 can't stop growing it. It gets very thick on the sand which is cleaned by weekly. Could this be a biological issue should I take rock from the 250 and place it in the 150? Thought?

250 water

Nitrite 25
Phosphate .40
I don't test anything else usually

 

[Reefing_addiction]

So what do you feed the tanks?

What’s the fish stock in the coral tank?

 

[Flounder's Reef]

I feed a home made blend. Fresh clams, scallops, squid, shrimp, tilapia, krill, mysis, lots of nori, selcon. I feed about a 1/2 teaspoon to the cotal tank every other day. And a tablespoon to the fowler system everyday.

Fish list coral tank

Purple tang
Sailfin tang
Lavender tang
Dottyback
Bicolor blenny
Pair of clown fish constantly laying eggs
Long nose hawkfish

9 urchins 4 tuxedo 5 pincuhons
Blue leg hermit about 30
Mix of various snails 50

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I feed a home made blend. Fresh clams, scallops, squid, shrimp, tilapia, krill, mysis, lots of nori, selcon. I feed about a 1/2 teaspoon to the cotal tank every other day. And a tablespoon to the fowler system everyday.

Fish list coral tank

Purple tang
Sailfin tang
Lavender tang
Dottyback
Bicolor blenny
Pair of clown fish constantly laying eggs
Long nose hawkfish

9 urchins 4 tuxedo 5 pincuhons
Blue leg hermit about 30
Mix of various snails 50

whats the filtration on the coral tank?

With the hair algae eating up nutrients the numbers are skewed

Have you added any live bacteria? You may need more diversity of beneficial bacteria.

I used dry rock in my tank. Plus live rock from other tanks and some KP aquatics live rock. I’ve also dosed Biodigest.

If the rocks don’t have corals on them you could pull them and scrub them with a brush to remove the GHA. Do it in salt water so you don’t kill off the good bacteria.

If you can add a couple rocks from your other tanks that would be helpful.

 

[Flounder's Reef]

I have been doing lots of manual removal of the hair algae it's the only way to keep it in check.

Filtration I use filter floss
Skimmer is reef octopus 200 regal int
36 watt uv
Advast marine kalkwasser k2

 

[Flounder's Reef]

whats the filtration on the coral tank?

With the hair algae eating up nutrients the numbers are skewed

Have you added any live bacteria? You may need more diversity of beneficial bacteria.

I used dry rock in my tank. Plus live rock from other tanks and some KP aquatics live rock. I’ve also dosed Biodigest.

If the rocks don’t have corals on them you could pull them and scrub them with a brush to remove the GHA. Do it in salt water so you don’t kill off the good bacteria.

If you can add a couple rocks from your other tanks that would be helpful.

My only concern is taking rock from my old system is that was doesd with copper back in 2016 since then the rock has trippled do to upgraded now I do have an urchin and snails in there i have done icp no copper is present. My other concern is i get i stringy white film where the light doesn't hit

 

[Reefing_addiction]

@fishguy242 @Slocke @tbrown @felda001 (yall feel free to add more to this conversation) to help with the algae

@ISpeakForTheSeas to help with the white fluff

 

[Reefing_addiction]

My only concern is taking rock from my old system is that was doesd with copper back in 2016 since then the rock has trippled do to upgraded now I do have an urchin and snails in there i have done icp no copper is present. My other concern is i get i stringy white film where the light doesn't hit

The white stuff looks like a sponge type thing maybe???


I would think if no copper is present than the rocks are safe to add.

Or you could see if you can get some rock from another tank or your LFS (if it’s true live rock).

Or add microbacter or another form of beneficial bacteria

 

[Reefing_addiction]

@robanister may also be able to help

 

[Flounder's Reef]

It does look like maybe a sponge to me as well. I have dose mb7 in the past and dr.tims refresh, one and only, waste away. They have cured rock not sure about true live rock. They have them in 300 gallon rubber made containers. I believe it was dry rock seeded by real reef rubble. But I worry about pests since I have been very good at not introducing anything.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

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[Reefing_addiction]

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[Reefing_addiction]

I’ve used the Biodigest before
Tank is 5yrs old. It did sit a bake for about 2 yrs after a crash (it crashed after I moved, had been up for about 2yrs)

 

[Flounder's Reef]

I’ve used the Biodigest before
Tank is 5yrs old. It did sit a bake for about 2 yrs after a crash (it crashed after I moved, had been up for about 2yrs)

That tank is a masterpiece

 

[Reefing_addiction]

That tank is a masterpiece

I feel like it’s a mishmash of everything lol

I just keep cramming things in

 

[Flounder's Reef]

I feel like it’s a mishmash of everything lol

I just keep cramming things in

That's what makes the great!!!!

 

[Reefing_addiction]

That's what makes the great!!!!

My last order

 

[fishguy242]

1st thought ? skimmer not big enough ? octo 200 for heavy load 155+sump ?

 

[robanister]

@robanister may also be able to help

Copper is gone . Just do a few flushes and retest. As for white things. Congrats you are a 10 year or over reefer and have these. Signs of a mature tank. Just don't let them take over overflows and the like

 

[robanister]

Also I use microbactor 7 on monthly basis and dr Tim's to start tanks