Lightwaveguy
New member
I have run the same 55 gal tank for over 17 years now. I do an 18 gal water change every month. I use Instant Oceans reef crystals salt mix. I use a Marine Land Tide pool sump with the SOS overflow. I use a Magdrive 1800 GPH pump in the sump and ¾ PVC piping back up to the tank. There is a wave generator in the opposite side of the tank from the sump return. I run mechanical and chemical filter pads in the trays, charcoal, ammonia, phosphates and nitrate pads, plus active charcoal with nitrate removal in a bag in one of the trays. I also use Seachem Purigen in bags in the sump. I change out the filter pads and Purigen every other month. I do not use additives because I do the monthly water changes that restore the essential elements.
I use a Sea Clone 150 skimmer. I have a Current LED lighting system. My temp is 77.5 to 78. Density is kept at 1.024 and I test all basic parameters and they are all in range except for a slightly elevated nitrate level. My straight tap water has this elevated nitrate level. I use ROM water for all top offs and water changes. I have a 2.5 gallon refugium that runs opposite the main tank lighting schedule. Lots of plants and algae in there, doing very well.
The tank is made up of over 100 Lbs of real coral, I've had some of these pieces for 30 years now, and various forms of live rock, volcanic and Fuji.
I have lots of crabs, snails, a few anemones and other invertebrates, starfish and what not, 12 or so fish, clowns, two large engineering gobies, they mix the substrate on a regular biases, a few damsels, a few wrasses, an angel or two and a few tangs. I think there is a shrimp or two in there too, but they hide very well, sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't. There are sponges growing in one corner, don't even know where they came from. Feather dusters all over, little ones but lots of them. I do have red or purple and green algae on the sides and back of the tank, probably due the elevated nitrates. The snails do a good job of keeping up with it, but something eats a lot of the snails and I have to keep adding them. The engineer gobies bring all the shells to one spot and stack them up for me, they like a neat tank. Lots of Copepods too.
I think that covers my setup.
So my issue is recently is started to add coral, all different kinds. Frog spawn, LPS, SPS, Mushroom, Polyps, but they will only last a month or two tops. They go good for the first month or so then start to fade. Everything else in the tank does very well, some of the fish are 10 years old or more.
Can anyone offer any insight or help?
I use a Sea Clone 150 skimmer. I have a Current LED lighting system. My temp is 77.5 to 78. Density is kept at 1.024 and I test all basic parameters and they are all in range except for a slightly elevated nitrate level. My straight tap water has this elevated nitrate level. I use ROM water for all top offs and water changes. I have a 2.5 gallon refugium that runs opposite the main tank lighting schedule. Lots of plants and algae in there, doing very well.
The tank is made up of over 100 Lbs of real coral, I've had some of these pieces for 30 years now, and various forms of live rock, volcanic and Fuji.
I have lots of crabs, snails, a few anemones and other invertebrates, starfish and what not, 12 or so fish, clowns, two large engineering gobies, they mix the substrate on a regular biases, a few damsels, a few wrasses, an angel or two and a few tangs. I think there is a shrimp or two in there too, but they hide very well, sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't. There are sponges growing in one corner, don't even know where they came from. Feather dusters all over, little ones but lots of them. I do have red or purple and green algae on the sides and back of the tank, probably due the elevated nitrates. The snails do a good job of keeping up with it, but something eats a lot of the snails and I have to keep adding them. The engineer gobies bring all the shells to one spot and stack them up for me, they like a neat tank. Lots of Copepods too.
I think that covers my setup.
So my issue is recently is started to add coral, all different kinds. Frog spawn, LPS, SPS, Mushroom, Polyps, but they will only last a month or two tops. They go good for the first month or so then start to fade. Everything else in the tank does very well, some of the fish are 10 years old or more.
Can anyone offer any insight or help?
