Need help asap.

[wisco-reef]

I've been having alot of problems with algee,fluxuations in nitrate,and every once in awhile when I buy a new coral or frag one will die. I know some of that is to be expected but it's happening far to often. I have a 55gl tank and when I first set it up I was unsure of what I wanted to do with it fish or reef. I went with reef and it's been up and running now for 10-11 months. I had bought crushed coral substrate and thank is what's causing all of the problems. Anyway I talked to a friend of mine that has had alot of reef tank's and he suggested buying 80lbs of regular sand from home depot and then adding 20lbs of live sand on top of this. Has anyone heard of doing this? Any other suggestions. I would love to spend 200$ on all live sand but time's are tough so any other suggestion's are all appreciated. Thanks for all your help.

 

[fishoutawater]

More info on your setup would help. Flow, lighting, filtration, skimmer, live rock, etc. Don't waste your money on "live sand". I would think you would be fine with regular aragonite. I would just leave a bit of your crushed coral in with it and that will help seed the new sand. If you can, include some numbers from your water. Alk, calc, mag, ph, temp, nitrates would help a lot.

 

[drummereef]

I'd be careful with the home depot sand, unless it's the infamous southdown. It wouldn't take much sand for a 55g. Why not just buy a good quality dry aragonite? Since you have live rock I really don't think there's a need to seed it, unless you want to do a dsb. The crushed coral is probably loaded with detritus and that's where a lot of the problem lies. I would start vacuuming it a little at a time during water changes, imo. Another place to look for issues is with your water source. Using RO with a DI stage is the best option to combat algae from the start.

 

[RobbyVonAwesome]

Home depot sand will work, but it has to be the right kind. What you need is finely crushed limestone.

That being said, your crushed coral may not be your problem; as long as it's cleaned regularly it should be fine.

What equipment are you running?

 

[Everyones Hero]

I doubt the substrate is your problem. I'm running crushed coral/argonite in my tank & it's doing just fine.

How much rock do you have? What kind of skimmer, lighting, flow, ect?

It's hard to help find the problem if we don't have information about your setup.

Instead of replacing your sand bed have you considered buying something to clean it? I've heard Cerinth snails are good for clearing up detritus.

 

[wisco-reef]

I use ro/di water, a red sea prizim deluxe skimmer, canister filter, and two tunze power heads. Also vho with new bulbs. It's not really crushed coral like you would think, it's mainly bigger chunk's of coral and shell's.

 

[stricknine]

Ditch the canister and go with a finer substrate (or bare bottom). Both are places to trap a bunch of junk you are truing to get out.

As for the algae; Rinse food, rodi water, CUC, dont overfeed, Check the lights, water changes, etc.

Good luck

 

[Everyones Hero]

Your friend might be right about the substrate. I was imagining mine, which is more like medium grain sand.

The canister filter can be one cause of your nitrate/algae problems. Unless you clean it often waste will get caught up in it & as it breaks down it'll cause nitrates, which in turn causes algae.

Are you getting a lot of skimmate with the prizm?

 

[PRDubois]

Make sure lights are on timer for only 10hr a day.

You probally dont have "Crushed Coral", you probally have "Crushed coral Sand" which is a corse sand like you would find at the tideline of the beach. "Crushed Coral" is basically large pieces and shells.

I would do a 30% water change and filter the sand while doing it.

Wait 5 days and do another 30% water change but do not filter the sand any more.
Wait 5 days and do another 30% water change but do not filter the sand any more.
Normally you do not want to disturb a Deep sand bed, but this bed is already disturbed and that is probally your problem.

Make sure you clean any filters pads & socks weekly.
Make sure the new water is same temp and PH as in the tank.

Water changes and time will fix your issue
CRUSHED CORAL â€"œ BAD FOR NITRATES

CRUSHED CORAL SANDâ€"œ NOT BAD FOR NITRATES

 

[PRDubois]

any luck?