About a year ago I started my saltwater tank.
My tank:
29 gallon regular
5 gallon bucket sump
protein skimmer SCA 301
2-3 inches of reef sand
(2) 30" HO T5 bulbs, actinic and white (forgot wavelength)
30 lb of Caribsea base rock
Instant ocean salt mix
I use RODI water
Inhabitants:
2 clown fish, 1 chromis, 1 watchman goby, 2 peppermint shimp, 1 snail, few corals frags, torch, bubble, xenia, candycane, as well as a bunch that have since died off.
I have always had algae problems, even when feeding very sparingly. Ive had at at least 8-10 snails die, which probably contributed to the problem. Fish have always been fine. Maybe last late summer, I stopped buying more corals to let my tank "stabilize", plus I was tired of wasting money.
Last few months, I been trying to correct this problem. Weekly 5 gallon water changes, turkey basting detritus off rocks and sand, etc. I bought phosphorus RX a year ago, and I'm hesitant on using it regularly. I recently bought phosguard and have been using about 2 tablespoons every week. I was considering GFO, but it seemed like a hassle compared to phosguard.
I think I need to do something with my rocks. I have 1 piece of real live rock and it has no algae on it. All of my other rocks are green on the surface where the light shines. I read that these types of rocks leach phosphates. I do not have an accurate phosphate test. My api kit shows near 0 phosphates, but who knows. My alkalinity is fairly constant at 8.
Anyway, I have about 8-10 softball to honeydew sized rocks. Do you think it's a good idea to acid wash some of these rocks in rotation?
Thanks
My tank:
29 gallon regular
5 gallon bucket sump
protein skimmer SCA 301
2-3 inches of reef sand
(2) 30" HO T5 bulbs, actinic and white (forgot wavelength)
30 lb of Caribsea base rock
Instant ocean salt mix
I use RODI water
Inhabitants:
2 clown fish, 1 chromis, 1 watchman goby, 2 peppermint shimp, 1 snail, few corals frags, torch, bubble, xenia, candycane, as well as a bunch that have since died off.
I have always had algae problems, even when feeding very sparingly. Ive had at at least 8-10 snails die, which probably contributed to the problem. Fish have always been fine. Maybe last late summer, I stopped buying more corals to let my tank "stabilize", plus I was tired of wasting money.
Last few months, I been trying to correct this problem. Weekly 5 gallon water changes, turkey basting detritus off rocks and sand, etc. I bought phosphorus RX a year ago, and I'm hesitant on using it regularly. I recently bought phosguard and have been using about 2 tablespoons every week. I was considering GFO, but it seemed like a hassle compared to phosguard.
I think I need to do something with my rocks. I have 1 piece of real live rock and it has no algae on it. All of my other rocks are green on the surface where the light shines. I read that these types of rocks leach phosphates. I do not have an accurate phosphate test. My api kit shows near 0 phosphates, but who knows. My alkalinity is fairly constant at 8.
Anyway, I have about 8-10 softball to honeydew sized rocks. Do you think it's a good idea to acid wash some of these rocks in rotation?
Thanks
