That Random Nano!

[i cant think]

I’m hitting a BIG BIG BIG problem, my tank is on the verge of crashing with high nitrates, I can’t figure out what it is or why… what’s the BEST move here?
My parameters are:
Nitrates: 25 mg/l
Phosphates: 0.1 mg/l
KH: 7.0 DKH
Salinity: 1.025
Magnesium: between 960 & 920 PPM
Calcium: <290 PPM

Also, I mixed up my tests, I test Mg/Kh/Ca with the Red Sea Test Kit and my Nitrates/Phosphates with the Sera Test Kit.

 

[i cant think]

So, that test kit isn’t measuring nitrates correctly, everything else is in track and there is no sign of my nutrients being out of whack other than phosphates but they’re low. It definitely measures them correctly since before rowaphos went in they were INCREDIBLY high and now there’s very little or no phosphates.
Here’s my new results:

I have a new test kit coming on Wednesday so I will double check nitrates.

 

[i cant think]

So, I had a thought after looking at a dry conch shell (The conch that used to be in this tank) and had a rummage through all of my boxes to find my rock/shell collection. All of these rocks are dry and dead, I had a thought that if I did the right process I could use some if not all of these rocks to make a rubble effect in my tank. Is it possible? Also yes all these rocks are from beaches and have been dried up for a couple months (I think I got most of them in September).

Any thoughts on if this could work and what the best process would be? They have a bunch of crevices and cracks for pods to escape to so I thought this could be a nice way to boost my pods with breeding.

 

[i cant think]

I know how insane this sounds but I now plan to try own a total of 4-7 gobies, yes ontop of the fish I own already. I figured if I went with most of them being smaller ones (1 inch or less) and then two being nocturnal I could get away with it. Also hoping to own a Signigobius biocellatus.

I do plan to have another “rubble pile” with some shells mixed in with frag rock for pod growth.

 

[i cant think]

Also, earlier I found a thermometer (Went through EVERYTHING to find it) and my temperature is at a nice 24.5 degrees Celsius (77.9 Degrees Fahrenheit)

 

[i cant think]

Rechecked the levels and I have no nitrates and a Ph of 7.8

 

[PokeFish]

So, that test kit isn’t measuring nitrates correctly, everything else is in track and there is no sign of my nutrients being out of whack other than phosphates but they’re low. It definitely measures them correctly since before rowaphos went in they were INCREDIBLY high and now there’s very little or no phosphates.
Here’s my new results:

I have a new test kit coming on Wednesday so I will double check nitrates.

mag and calc seems to be off...

Rechecked the levels and I have no nitrates and a Ph of 7.8

0 nitrates is not good

 

[i cant think]

mag and calc seems to be off...

0 nitrates is not good

I know, I’ll try to raise them a bit and calcium and magnesium are definitely low so I’ll raise them.

 

[chipchipbro]

Yes, you gotta go for some Nitrates in your water.
Also raise Ca and Mag - thats a problem that low.

No wonder your corals didnt do well in the past brother.

 

[i cant think]

Yes, you gotta go for some Nitrates in your water.
Also raise Ca and Mag - thats a problem that low.

No wonder your corals didnt do well in the past brother.

I did checks in the past and Ca/Mg were right, nitrates were right, phosphates were on the rise but didn’t kill them (Cyano suffocated the monti). Only recently did Po4 rise that high for some reason (I think the previous row aphis was releasing Po4 since it hadn’t been replaced for a while).

 

[chipchipbro]

I did checks in the past and Ca/Mg were right, nitrates were right, phosphates were on the rise but didn’t kill them (Cyano suffocated the monti). Only recently did Po4 rise that high for some reason (I think the previous row aphis was releasing Po4 since it hadn’t been replaced for a while).

Care with rowaphos, I also used it and bottomed out PO4 in no time in a nano.

However, you should try to keep your parameters stable if you really wanna keep corals.
Otherwise you will always walk into this issue though.

For me, I use Tropic Marin All-For-Reef and everything is in check. Just try to rise Mag and Calc to your desired levels and then start with AFR to keep them stable. (You wont need much to dose and the powder is pretty cheap)

Id say go for 450 Calc and 1350 Mag

 

[i cant think]

Care with rowaphos, I also used it and bottomed out PO4 in no time in a nano.

However, you should try to keep your parameters stable if you really wanna keep corals.
Otherwise you will always walk into this issue though.

For me, I use Tropic Marin All-For-Reef and everything is in check. Just try to rise Mag and Calc to your desired levels and then start with AFR to keep them stable. (You wont need much to dose and the powder is pretty cheap)

Id say go for 450 Calc and 1350 Mag

I’ve just dosed some Calc and Mag, I’ll do the tests in around an hours time and see if they’re level, if not then I’ll try drag them up again tomorrow.

 

[ncmonserud]

Better do an updated stocking list with some nicer pictures :)

Koumansetta hectori:

Gobiiodon strangulatus:

Stonogobiops yasha:

Cirrhilabrus naokoae

Macropharyngodon bipartitus:

Pseudocheilinops ataenia:

Escenius lineatus:
Hiding, will add pictures at some point
Lysmata wurdemanni:

Ricordea yuma:

Duncanopsammia axifuga:

Caulastraea furcata:

Ricordea florida:

Clavularia viridis:

How does your leaperd wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus) do in your nano. I want to find a under one inch long female for my 30 gallon long and I believe she can thrive with a little variety in flow patterns and if she gets to 5" it will be in two to three years maybe by then I would be ready for an upgrade. Any problems with her eating, health... ?

 

[i cant think]

How does your leaperd wrasse (Macropharyngodon bipartitus) do in your nano. I want to find a under one inch long female for my 30 gallon long and I believe she can thrive with a little variety in flow patterns and if she gets to 5" it will be in two to three years maybe by then I would be ready for an upgrade. Any problems with her eating, health... ?

Actually, I have found she thrives. Eats everything and anything! I definitely find it SO much easier to keep finicky fish eating in established smaller tanks. Health is all about the way you get the wrasse when you buy her IMHO, mine is healthy and fat for her size.

 

[ncmonserud]

Actually, I have found she thrives. Eats everything and anything! I definitely find it SO much easier to keep finicky fish eating in established smaller tanks. Health is all about the way you get the wrasse when you buy her IMHO, mine is healthy and fat for her size.

Thank you for your advice, I will definitely trust it and wait till my local store has a beautiful healthy chubby one that eats well, and not just jump at the first thing I see.

 

[i cant think]

Well, I couldn’t resist and since I needed snails anyway, I got a replacement conch. It is a strawberry conch so goes nicely with the Indonesian themed tank.

The other three are trochus snails… acclimation was a nightmare, that’s all I’m saying.
Also I got another rock for the tank to try add height:

 

[i cant think]

You know how EVERYONE loves the pink streaks for those big bug eyes right? Well they can give you a proper scare if you don’t know it’s there then catch it in the corner of your eye:

 

[i cant think]

I just had one of the worst experiences in this hobby. My tilefish decides to hide in his cave and catch me off guard. The second dose of food and he decided he would shoot up, hit my hand and then flop on the floor. I checked the tank then heard flopping on the floor, I had no idea which fish it was and all I caught was the blue body. Luckily I caught it just seconds after it happened and got him in, annoyingly he landed near the radiator. He didn’t flash too much so I think I got him in time, he also came out for feeding almost instantly. I now know not to lift the lid too high up instantly, he almost always shoots up instantly so it should be an average thing for me to know.

I hope to god this fish lasts Atleast the night and isn’t too stressed. When he hit the water he went straight down to the cave and came out a few seconds later to eat so I guess that’s a good thing.

 

[Kan123]

that’s a horrible experience! What kind of lid do you have? Is it net? If yes, I recently got the 3D printed feeding ring cut out available on BRS and I’ve got to say it’s a game changes. I feel far less stressed with forgetting to put the lid back on and gives great amount of peace!

 

[i cant think]

I got two new coral for the nano :D
Waiting for the Hammer to grow and then it’ll be split for the 4’ tank aswell. So the new corals are:
Green rhodactis mushroom to go with my blue disco and two rics. The photo makes it look blue due to the lights dimming.

Green Hammer to go with my LPS collection. I wish I didn’t dip it now I’m seeing life on it, hopefully 10 minutes in iodine didn’t harm that good life. I plan to get some SPS in this tank soon (Hopefully I find myself a blue stag).