I'm a newbie

[Louis1959]

Hi Guys and gals,
I am into to my tank about 6 months now with fairly decent succes.
54 gallon bow tank. Indonesian Live rock. Live Sand base. Live frag rock in sump. Protein Skimmer. Using MarineLand Premium activated Carbon, along with ROWA phos PO4 & SiO2 adsorber. Using one coarse pad and one fine pad in sump.
My water chemistry vitals; presently testing testing with API test kits for all of the following;
PH = 8.0/8.2
SPG = 1.025/1.026
Phosphates = 0.25 ppm
KH (alkalinity = 9°
Nitrates = 5-10 ppm sometimes I get lower, but mostly around 5-8 ppm
Nitrites = 0 ppm
Ammonia = 0 ppm
Calcium = easily 500+ ppm

using RED SEA for
Magnesium = 1400+ ppm.

If anyone feels there are better and more accurate test kits out there, please feel free to recommend which ones and where to purchase.

I am using Hi Quality DI water from where I work. Going forward I will be using ESV salt for salinating water.

I am presently having issues keeping nitrates down and have green hair algae issue.
I tried sea hares unsuccessfully.
I have one blue claw hermit that has no interest in hair algae.
My pyramid Snails don't last.
I have like two small hermits, one orange claws, one black.
1 red shrimp.
1 Sally Lightfoot crab.
1 Yellow Wrasse.
2 Domestic bred Clown fish.
3 Firefish.
1 FoxFace.
1 Cardial
1 Madarin dragonet.
All are coexisting very well. I wish my dragonet would eat a little more vigorously, but so far he seems to be ok.
I introduced the FoxFace and a long spine sea urchin at the same time.

Unfortunately I made stupid basic chemistry mistake unknowingly previous to adding these guys. I would add sea salt water solution everytime I needed to replace evaporated water. My SPG must have been over 1.030 by the time introduced sea urchin and foxface.

I lost the sea urchin, but managed to keep the foxface alive.

I need help on getting rid of Hair Algae, and keeping my nitrate levels down. I am going to purchase another sea urchin once I have my SPG locked back into 1.025/1.026 (hoping that will do for sea urchin).

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to keep hair algae out and nitrate levels at around 2-3 ppm. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If any other info is needed , please let me know.

Thank you Lou

 

[jchindo]

Maybe change the rows phos out more often. Are you running it through a reactor? You can always think about vodka dosing or bio pellets as well

 

[sealtea116]

Emerald crabs love hair and bubble algae

 

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

Your nitrates are high because you've over stocked your tank. You will never be able to control your nitrates with your current stock list. If it were me, I would 100% return the tang. It requires a 125 gallon tank. I would also take 2 or 3 other fish back as well. Do not buy another urchin until you get the nitrates in check. Once your nitrates are in check your hair algae will go away.

 

[Sapelo]

I tend to agree that you have too much livestock in your tank. I cannot find mention of a tang(maybe I missed something?) but foxfaces do need more than your tank can provide. To be safe, I think I'd plan on looking at "nano" fish. You're concerned about exporting excess waste and I think that's what your tank is telling you.

 

[Louis1959]

Maybe change the rows phos out more often. Are you running it through a reactor? You can always think about vodka dosing or bio pellets as well

No reactor. I am changing out rows phos 1 / month.
I am real New so vodka dosing scares me. What is that all about, I read a little.

 

[Louis1959]

No Tang in tank. So really, too many fish in tank? All are under 3".

 

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

I tend to agree that you have too much livestock in your tank. I cannot find mention of a tang(maybe I missed something?) but foxfaces do need more than your tank can provide. To be safe, I think I'd plan on looking at "nano" fish. You're concerned about exporting excess waste and I think that's what your tank is telling you.

That would be my fault. I always refer to a Foxface as a tang. Bad habbit I guess. Every time I'm corrected on it I make a mental note and then 3 days later I make the same mistake. One day I'll get it right.

 

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

No Tang in tank. So really, too many fish in tank? All are under 3".

The general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per 5 gallons. Even if all your fish are only 2in long you're still almost double what you can have.

 

[Louis1959]

That would be my fault. I always refer to a Foxface as a tang. Bad habbit I guess. Every time I'm corrected on it I make a mental note and then 3 days later I make the same mistake. One day I'll get it right.

No worries. What is the the ratio fish per gallon of water?
Also what about adding anenomes, live coral.

 

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

No worries. What is the the ratio fish per gallon of water?
Also what about adding anenomes, live coral.

The high nitrates will make it very difficult to keep live coral and anemones. Also, if you choose to keep your foxface then you may have an issue with the fox face nipping at and eating soft corals.

In case you didn't see it in my other post. The ratio is 1 in of fish per 5 gallons of water. That ratio does not account for swimming space for larger fish.

 

[W1ngz]

Frag rock in the sump may be trapping a lot of crap in there too without any sort of critters to consume it. Deteriorating and decomposing organics = nitrates.

 

[Louis1959]

Frag rock in the sump may be trapping a lot of crap in there too without any sort of critters to consume it. Deteriorating and decomposing organics = nitrates.

I think Part of my issue just may have been flow rate. I just changed out Activated Carbon and ROWA Phos. Water is flowing better by at least 50%.
I'm thinking this may have been at least a small part of issue.

It's only been 3 weeks since I've changed media, but maybe it's a factor. I will keep my on water chemistry and record data every two days for the next two weeks. This way I will see if and when there are corrections and water flow that need to be taken care of.

I have one interesting question. I have these shrimp like creatures in my sump. They are definitely living and breeding in my live frag rock in the sump. May I also add a blue claw Hermit crab down there to munch on any other crap that may collect down there. Any suggestions on ideal creatures down there.

Also, I do not have a separate refugium. As a matter a fact, I don't have one at all. I understand this is an excellent manner in which to help the fight against high nitrate levels.

My problem is where tank is located, I have no place to set up a refugium in my living room. It would end up being at same level as display tank and above my sump, several feet away which would also mean unsightly PVC piping. My wife will not go for it, I am preety sure.

My shop where I purchase my goods for hobby had recommended I throw these leafy plants into the sump, mixed within the live frag rock area. I did it and did not see any benefits in nitrate levels.

With some literature I've been reading I understand Red Mangrove is the way to go. My dilemma is as i mentioned, no room for an outside refugium.

Here is the billion dollar question! Can Red Mangrove survive in my sump with Live Frag rock being the only substrate available for it to root into?

I have seen a wonderful way to get plants to regenerate roots by using styrofoam tubing. cutting 1/2" discs, make single cut in one side of resulting donut shaped styrofoam. place individual Mangrove plant in center. Tie wrap in order to allow plant to remain vertical and wa la, done.

does any one have any feed back?