Totally new to saltwater

[Marinevrablic]

Hey yall, this is my first time on a forum ever. I just got a 60 gallon high cube from a friend. I set it up and had it running for a good 2 months now. I took his fish too cause he was moving. It also came with a sump 40 gallons. I have an ok amount of cheato 2 clowns, an eel, fire hawk, hamlet, yellow tang and 2 damsels. Starting on Monday I noticed the glass getting green with algea don't know what kind but I clean the glass daily and it's all over the rocks too. When I clean it with the mag float it looks like green dust. But when I touch it or try to shake it off the rocks it won't move and is slimy. So I don't know what to do. I'm trying for natural filtration without skimmer. I have been in freshwater for a long time and that tank is crystal clear and never had problems. This saltwater business seems a lot more complicated to me. Any advise or help would be awesome. Yes I have a clean up crew. Had a starfish too but he got eaten. So yea complete newb but LOVE fish it helps my PTSD.

 

[Salty1962]

Welcome to R2R! Algae growth is a natural progression to cycling a tank. High nutrients are also a major cause of algae. I know you said you wanted to go natural but at least consider a protein skimmer with that much bio load to export some nutrients. Good Luck!

 

[Marinevrablic]

Welcome to R2R! Algae growth is a natural progression to cycling a tank. High nutrients are also a major cause of algae. I know you said you wanted to go natural but at least consider a protein skimmer with that much bio load to export some nutrients. Good Luck!

What kind of protine skimmer will I need? And to get rid of ich? I know I can use some drops in my freshwater tank and it will clear it up....how about my saltwater?

 

[4FordFamily]

Welcome home, you'll love it here!

Post some pics!

 

[morpheas]

Medication in saltwater is a whole another business because of the invertebrates inhabiting your tank. You didn't mention if you have any corals as well. If it's a FOWLR tank then medication in the main tank could be feasible but the best practice is a hospital/QT tank.

On the skimmer, if you could post dimensions of your sump and a budget we might be able to steer you in a direction. My experience has been good with reef octopus which are fairly cheap as well (as skimmers go). The reef octopus Int 110 might be a good fit.

 

[salttanklife]

Does this green algae seem pretty hard to clean off? Does it seem to have a calcium makeup? Pictures would be nice because you could just be getting green corraline. Green will usually come around the 2nd month with the pinks/purples coming in the 3rd.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Here's some pictures

 

[CodyRVA]

Stuff on the glass is normal, happens to my tank every day. Algae on the rock work may be a simple nutrient problem. How big is your clean up crew? +1 on a skimmer. Reef Octopus and Skimz are my person favorites. Welcome! :D

 

[morpheas]

I understand you recently moved the tank which means the balance was knocked off. It's completely normal to go through an algae bloom (got mine in the second month as well). All you gotta do is make sure you're not pilling up your nutrients (test and limit food/enlarge export accordingly) and it will go away soon. If you really wanted to take action you could look into a skimmer (which would be recommended in general but not necessary) or carbon dosing (which is probably an over reaction to this normal problem) or a tuxedo urchin (which will be a fun guy to have around).

 

[Marinevrablic]

I have a snowflake eel....he ate all my starfish and would love to munch on the urchin lol I'm more concerned about my tang having ich. I want that gone or 50 bucks on a fish was to waste.

 

[Marinevrablic]

My tank is a FOWLR. Well my clean up crew of course. My sump is a 40 gallon high. I'll take a pic of the fuge for yall.

 

[Marinevrablic]

This is my sump

 

[morpheas]

About the tang it appears that the safest bet is medication in a QT tank.

 

[morpheas]

Invertebrates and copper (the mainstream treatment for ich) don't mix well. Also copper has a lingering effect i.e. once you put it in you can't really take it out. So the best practice has been to medicate on a QT tank.

 

[Marinevrablic]

Ok so a QT tank.....I have an extra 10 gallon....and I think a HOB for it.....would that work?

 

[Marinevrablic]

What medication do I get for my tangs ich?

 

[sNaFu]

WELCOME TO THE R2R COMMUNITY, I JUST PURCHASED A BUBBLE MAGNUS, THEY ARE HIGHLY RATED AND RESONABLY PRICED. I PURCHASED A CURVE 7 WHICH IS RATED AT 140GAL, AND HAS A RELATIVELY SMALL FOOTPRINT WHICH MAKES IT EASY TO GET IN AND OUT OF A TALL SUMP TO CLEAN

 

[Marinevrablic]

Thanks for the info on your skimmer. Looks amazing. But that price though... that's why I'm trying to go natural without a skimmer....I don't have that kind of money.

 

[sNaFu]

I HEAR YA, THIS IS DEFINETLY NOT A CHEAP HOBBY

 

[morpheas]

Ok so a QT tank.....I have an extra 10 gallon....and I think a HOB for it.....would that work?

I am not sure how big your tang is but 10 might be a little small. Petco has the $1 per gallon sale so if I were you I would probably go for a 20 long. On the HOB, you don't want to run carbon on your QT (that will filter the med out!). Most people have the QT running at all times so no cycling is needed. In your case I'd use some live rock from the sump or display if possible. An ammonia badge is good to have as well. Now, since you don't have a QT in standby and if you're sure it's Ich maybe TTM is more suitable for you. More details here https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/

What medication do I get for my tangs ich?

Usually they are all copper based if you decide to go this way. I think seachem has a pretty good one.

Maybe someone more experienced will be able to pitch in and fill in the blanks or give better guidance [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG]