5.5g nano log

[kevxross]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7975383#post7975383 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmac4978
I've been having problems with my heaters. I started with one, and it was wierd as it would be set on 79, but would be on when the water was 81. So I threw it out and bought a new one. That one was working well for about a week and now its doing the same thing. I have it set at 75!! Yet its was reading 81.5 and the heater light was on. I dont want to buy any more, but I will go get one more. If it doesnt work, I dont know what I'll do, but I'll be very ticked off. I'll probably just keep buying new ones every week :lol: Do you guys have any preference on brands? I think I remember reading that Stealth was a good one? Maybe not. The one I am using now is from Marineland, but dont know the model. Its a 25 watt.

First of all, nice job. It's lookin' great so far. As for the heater, what type are you using? I had a VisiTherm Deluxe and had the same problems. Its internal thermostat was borked. I replaced it with a Jager and the temp has been pegged at exactly 79F ever since.

With that said though, don't be too quick to just throw a heater out if it's not keeping the temp at exactly the number you set it. Heaters aren't always accurate, but that's ok, you only need them to be precise. For instance, you may set it at 79F and it'll keep the temp at 81F. As long as it's constant, that's the key. Just turn the heater down to 77F and see if that doesn't work.

 

[madscientist]

You shouldn't have to worry about the lights heating up the water too much. I have a diy wood canopy with 2 24w PC bulb on my 5.5 and my heater still runs with the lights on (set at 78f). I had an alge bloom like yours in my tank too. It didn't start until the tank was up for about a month, and it went for about a month. I have been doing 1 gallon per week water changes with catalina filtered ocean water from petco and everything has been thriving. My zoas and GSP were covered with algae but it all died off and looks great now.

 

[Zero-2-Sixty]

nifty little tank i must say

 

[AngeloM3]

pull as much algae out if you want....... and take about 2hrs off the lighting cycle until its all gone

also once all the algae is gone..... you'll have to get rid of that nudi or he'll/she'll die

nice start though

 

[AngeloM3]

what kind of light or light fixture are you using for the main display?

pics would be nice of the light fixture too

 

[kase]

i like your set-up, i'm also in the planning stage of 5.5gallon nano.

what lighting are you planning to use?

 

[jmac4978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005687#post8005687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AngeloM3
pull as much algae out if you want....... and take about 2hrs off the lighting cycle until its all gone

also once all the algae is gone..... you'll have to get rid of that nudi or he'll/she'll die

nice start though

Actually, after only 1 day, the nudi and 2 blue legs have put quite a dent into it. I'm very impressed! Hopefully they keep going and it wasnt just because they were starved at the LFS. Isnt there always algae in your tank? I was under the impression that once this hair is gone, nudi would move onto the other algaes in the tank. IE algae on the glass, various on the rocks and the such. Is this right?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005696#post8005696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AngeloM3
what kind of light or light fixture are you using for the main display?

pics would be nice of the light fixture too

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8005814#post8005814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kase
i like your set-up, i'm also in the planning stage of 5.5gallon nano.

what lighting are you planning to use?

Thanks for the comments! Its coming together slowly but surely. As for the lights...all I can say is I am a lazy you-know-what! I have started the canopy, but have yet to put a lid on it and stain it. Thats all I have to do and I've been putting it off for about 2-3 weeks now. Anyway, initially I'll be using retrofit Sunpaq 32w PCs, but I've been looking at adding another for 64w PC lighting. I believe 32 watts in sufficient for the easy 'beginner' corals, but I'll soon out grow them and want something a bit more intense. There are no intentions of a MH in the near future, but I'm sure it can be done. I've see the ones that (look to me like) clip onto the back, but have yet to find where to purchase them.

 

[jmac4978]

Here it is. So far the cheapest is at Hellolights for $239.00. I only found it in 150w, but I'd like to find 70w.

 

[jmac4978]

Well, the algae is still there, and spreading. I am seriously considering pulling the rock and putting it into my FOWLR and let my foxface have at it. But I dont have as much lighting in that tank and fear it may not be sufficient for the corals. Has anyone had any experience with some sort of phosphate remover? I believe this will be my next resort.

The other night I came upon a deal I couldnt resist. I got 4 mushrooms, frag of orange polyps, green polyps, and some button polyps I think, and a toadstool for the incredible price of...free! So I threw them in 2 days ago and all seems well. I just hope theres enough lighting for the toadstool. He had his polyps out but he's keeled over, bent in the middle of his trunk. From what I've read, I should consider this normal as he's getting used to his new home, but I'm still concerned.

The blue legs continue to do a wonderful job on the algae, but I believe its spreading too quickly for them. I think I'll get 2 more this week. The nudi seems to also be eating his fair share. The other day, I found the nudi sucked into the filter intake. I pulled him out and thought for sure he had passed on, but I put him back in the water to make sure. He sank to the bottom of the tank right onto a rock full of algae and he returned to munching away on it. Lucky slug! So I bought an ugly cover to put on the intake. ITS HUGE!!! I hate it, but it keeps my sea slug safe and I guess thats what really matters. Anyway, heres some recent pics of the additions.

Toadstool.....

Button Polyps.....

Mushroom......

Orange polyps.....

Green Polyps......

Full tank shot with the algae in all its glory....

 

[brian is cool]

that sucks about the algea-one of my crabs got to big for its shell and it killed 4 of my snails befor it found a shell(all in one night)and i havent been able to get to my LFS to buy more so my tank in parts is looking like urs.
and u sed u wanted a HM 70 W did u happen to see this one http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=JB9111
i am thinking about putting that in my 3g.

tank looks good besides the algea

 

[Gordonious]

What type of water are you using for this tank? You may have said and I missed it. If it's RO make sure your TDS isn't up.

 

[clown fanatic]

maybe i missed it somewhere in this thread, but have you done any water changes? it looks to me (sorry if im wrong) but you are having water problems and yet you continue to add corals?

im not meaning to take a stab at you, im just suggesting that maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to do water changes as often as it takes to get your parameters in check, and maybe a couple of turbo snails would help. THEN add corals

also your red hair algae looks to me to be cyano. along with water changes maybe something to sift your sand might be a good idea, maybe some nas snails?

good luck

 

[brian is cool]

the red stuff on the sand and walls is cyano(my friend has it much worse than u)the only real way o get rid of it is to pull it out by havd and make sure that u turn up ur sand evryonce and a while. u can not suck up cyano-it is too heavy.
and the turbo snail idea is not very good because the turbo snails will knock off all ur rocks and corals and if u did buy more than one the would get rid of the algea but not the cyano and they would run out of food in about 4 days. so just get a lot of astea sanils and u will be good

 

[jmac4978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8026811#post8026811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gordonious
What type of water are you using for this tank? You may have said and I missed it. If it's RO make sure your TDS isn't up.

I'm using Distilled water from the local supermarket. I dont have room in the budget nor the negotiating skills to get it added to the budget for a RO/DI filter. (Although, I'd love one!) And my LFS doesnt sell it.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8030634#post8030634 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clown fanatic
maybe i missed it somewhere in this thread, but have you done any water changes? it looks to me (sorry if im wrong) but you are having water problems and yet you continue to add corals?

im not meaning to take a stab at you, im just suggesting that maybe it would be cheaper in the long run to do water changes as often as it takes to get your parameters in check, and maybe a couple of turbo snails would help. THEN add corals

also your red hair algae looks to me to be cyano. along with water changes maybe something to sift your sand might be a good idea, maybe some nas snails?

good luck

Well, I have been doing small WC, but I started doing larger ones more frequently (15-20%). The water params are a little out of wack, nitrates are at 20ppm, so thats my first concern. And the corals that I just added were at the low low price of free, so I had to take them and put them in there as I dont have the necessary lighting on my 55.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8030975#post8030975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brian is cool
the red stuff on the sand and walls is cyano(my friend has it much worse than u)the only real way o get rid of it is to pull it out by havd and make sure that u turn up ur sand evryonce and a while. u can not suck up cyano-it is too heavy.
and the turbo snail idea is not very good because the turbo snails will knock off all ur rocks and corals and if u did buy more than one the would get rid of the algea but not the cyano and they would run out of food in about 4 days. so just get a lot of astea sanils and u will be good

The pics dont really show the red algae very well, but its hairy. Pretty much just like the green, only its red, and its not a slimy substance. I really dont think its cyano, also because 5.5g with an AC70 make the whole tank a high flow area. But I'll yank on it and get it out anyway. I agree, I dont want to get the turbos either. They're too big and strong for such a delicate tank.

I bought 5 astrea snails and 2 more blue legged hermits yesterday. I also started some damage control by adding some Phos-Lock Phosphate remover, and new carbon. Also did a 20% water change and added some salt as it was a little low. I didnt check the params, but I'll do that tonight after work. Thanks for your help guys, I really do appreciate it. Oh, also, I put the big rock with alot of hair algae on it, into my FOWLER and my foxface made short work of it. So now it doesnt look quite as bad, but I want to knock it out, not just controll it.

 

[jmac4978]

Well, after a week of doing 1/2 to 1 gallon water changes every day, my params might be coming down, but definately not enough. My ammonia is 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20! I cant get it down any more. Am I not doing enough per water change? 1 gallon is roughly 20% and I figured that was a bit much. Should I do more like 1.5 gallon WC, or 30%, or more? I think I'll sift thru the sand and see if one of my nassarius snails has died. I havent seen them in weeks and usually I see them every now and again at least.

Anyway, I addressed my heating problem, hopefully its solved. I bought a new heater and followed the instructions precisely on set up. (Like they are hard, but I havent had much luck with these dam things) So far so good, for the 10 minutes it has been in there. :smokin: Also, I bought a Marineland Mini-jet 404. Its the smallest power head I could find. I like the amount of flow it puts out, I just need to hide it somewhere behind the "rockuascape". Hopefully, the cyano will not like the flow and will die off and not give me too much of an ammonia spike.

As for the corals I had in there, they are all looking very good, fortunately. The toadstool, however, perished two days ago. I didnt have much hope for him, but figured I'd have a go at it since the price was right.

Tonight I'm adding 5 more blue legs and 2 trochous (sp?) snails. Hopefully they'll be hungry! Thats all for now, thanks for looking and any comments or flames welcome.

 

[jmac4978]

I took a few shots this morning just to update what it looks like. I think the crew is doing a fine job and I finally have enough to eat more than is growing, so it should start to fade away. Slowly but surely at least. I'm starting to get aggitated by the mess and seriously considering using my wife's 10g freshwater tank as my nano. Even though I'm starting to get a handle on the algae, I just think the extra water volume could do some good. I think the only thing holding me back is that I have no stand/canopy or lights for the 10. If I am wrong and the algae is still going strong in the coming weeks, I'll think more seriously about switching tanks. I have an Oceanic stage 1 sump lying around that I could hook up, but I really dont have the room to put it into the system and my wife would freak out if I did it.

Update: The heater worked great through the night. When I woke up, water was sitting at 78.6 degrees (set at 77). Its a little higher than what the dial was set at, but I just want it to keep an expected temp, so I'm very pleased so far. The mini-jet is really quiet, dont even know its turned on. Which is what I need since the tank is in our bedroom (another reason I couldnt hook up a sump, it would have to go under our bed!! :eek1:

I have some small spots of coralline growth on the glass. However, the only place I see this happening is on the front glass, which is where I dont want it! Is it safe to assume that if its growing there, its growing throughout my tank? I have been dosing it with Purpleup for about a week and half, 20% of a capfull. Should I be dosing this into the filter area and letting it fill the tank or should I pour it into the display in a high flow area?

Anyway, here are those shots I took. Nothing new, I just want to keep a good record of events.

New powerhead, Marineland Mini-Jet 404. Set on Max.

Snails are clearing up the algae on the side glass pretty well.

I took off the big ugly sponge on my filter intake and replaced it with this media bag. I still dont like it, but its better than that nasty sponge. Will this work for now until I figure out a better way? Any suggestions what works better? I only have it on there because one day I found my nudibranch sucked in and amazingly he is still alive today. I thought for sure he was dead because he was sucked in and completely twisted and just plain looked horrible in there. I would just get rid of him, but the wife loves him and I saw a new nudi at the LFS last night that I really really like alot. Dont remember the name but he's green with dark green spots and neon orange lines on him. Very nice looking.

And finally a Full Tank Shot.

Until next update...

 

[Gordonious]

Pull more of the hair out soon as you can. Like that huge clump in the front. Shouldn't have any hair on your walls as it is very easy to remove from there. If you try to pull some off and have a lot float around your tank. You can drag a net around on the inside to pull most of it out. If you get a fine net like the "brine nets", you should be able to get most of it and at this point you don't have to worry about catching any fish or scaring any.
The filter bag should work ok as long as flow continues. I would almost bet though that there is a tenth of the water going through your filter right now and as soon as a bit of that hair lands on it the filter will be just about clogged.

I once came home to find my cowry sucked into a power head. :-( it could have been there for a long time as well because I had been away for at least 2-3 weeks.

 

[jmac4978]

Thanks Gordonious. I did like you've been saying, but I pulled everything out and scraped the walls with a credit card. It looks 10x better IMO. I'm seriously thinking of taking the Nudi back to the LFS. I really really like him, but he's hindering me.

Well, my wife came home last night with 3 big and 1 small blue mushrooms. They are very nice! I put them in the tank and neither of us were impressed as they look green. Granted a very nice green, but we want blue! I told her that its because I'm using PC lights and would need a MH to make thier color come out. So she said I'd better go buy one!! :smokin: :eek1: :lol: :rollface: So I researched last night and went to the LFS this morning and bought myself a Sunpaq 70watt MH with 4white/blue LED lights. I love it!! Dont know if its helping the mushrooms but....I got MH and she told me to do it!!! :rollface: Its making the temp go up pretty quickly, so I'll need to go buy a fan to put on it. I guess I'll get one I can clamp onto the back of the tank or something. Any suggestions on one of those?

Here's some pics...

 

[jmac4978]

Comments or suggestions?

 

[Gordonious]

Awesome collection you have going there. Some very pretty corals. Keep in mind with the MH you probably have increased the growth rate of the hair algae. I wouldn't say to much though because it doesn't require much of a lighting to go in the first place... Ok maybe I'm wrong and it's all past what it would ever use optimally.

Careful with your temp. If there was a poll of people asking why they have had tank crashes in the past I would bet the most popular one would be because of temp. I have not yet had to use fans as I haven't been able to afford a lighting system like that. (You lucky sob/gordonious<--so jealous ) I would like to hear what you find out about fans.

Things are looking good, keep us updated.