New, kinda sorta..

[dmac15]

I would say I'm new to this as in, I bought a tank a year and a half ago used that was already established, in mediocre shape. It is 32 gallons (The person had aptasia 3-4" tall with thick bases because she thought they looked good). Since then I have added an 18 gal sump via overflow box to replace hob filter. I added a small protein skimmer to the sump and a refugium with just under 1 inch of bagged live sand and some chaeto. That was six months to a year ago. I have tried a small variety of filtration media also, and currently have just a small bag of carbon/ phosphate remover. I have two fist sized maybe slightly larger bags of bio balls. I run a t5 high output with an actinic bulb and the bulb my lfs suggested is the best for choral which is bright white slightly on the blue side. Also I use R.O water

I really enjoy having this tank and watching the inhabitants (1 yellow tang, two tomato clowns and a Clarkeie. Probably 5-8 crabs don't know what kind and 5-8 nassarius snail + one turbo.) everything has been relatively good as far as things go newbie but now I think I am faced a couple issues I just can't google the solution for.

- The previous owner chose a large live gravel substrate for the display tank which I think is difficult for the c.u.c to push through

-I think the entire system is over run with both colonial hydroids and digitate hydroids if not more kinds. The more I read the more confused I am about whether I have to get rid of them or if they are harmless and also how to get rid of them

I have definitely put off joining the online reef community way to long so any advise on where to go from here would be greatly appreciated. I can take good pictures of anything and answer any questions
Thanks!

 

[OrQidz]

32 gallons? Not sure if that was a typo. Sounds like you've made some improvements with adding the sump, good job! But at 32 gallons you are way undersized for a yellow tang. Clowns that aren't paired can fight as well. Have you had all these fish all along?

In terms of the substrate, are you wanting to change that out? You could put the nassarius in your sump. Otherwise the snails should be ok crawling on top of the rocks.

Filled with hydroids would make me nervous! I'm not sure if they are less of a problem in a FOWLR.

I guess the question is, where do you want to go with this tank? Corals? Just fish? That might narrow down what to do next.

 

[jrr98002]

I'm going to leave the hydroid question (assuming they are actually hydriods, although you seem pretty sure so i'll trust you) for others, although I will just say that, in general, if something is going THAT crazy, it would make me a little nervous too. I haven't ever had a hydroid problem, so i'm not sure what the proper course of action is. Addressing the gravel substrate though, it's not going to hurt your CUC, but they won't do as effective a job on gravel because it's hard for them to get in all the little crannies between that coarse of a substrate. You may eventually have problems with nitrates, if you haven't already.

 

[dmac15]

Thanks for the replies guys! it might be 34 but it is 36x12x18 I believe.

I think I do want to change out the substrate, no nitrate problems I gravel vac it when I do water changes to turn it but that's annoying and I would rather be sacking up the detritus in my sump too.

After reading that the digitate hydroids are filter feeders, and that they die off eventually with good tank maintenance (not sure if that's true) I'm going to ramp up water changes, and feed everything a very light diet for a few weeks to see the effects.

The tank is stocked pretty well with soft corals and a few are lps It came with mostly all of them, I only bought 2 new ones frogspawn and I forgot the other lol.

The fish have been all along, used to be 2 clarkies but one got killed by those giant aptasia before I eliminated all of them. The girl had them all in there together. And somehow none of them seem to have grown in all the time I've had them...

So yea I want to continue with corals and fish. I'll definitely have to change the clown situation as it is like watching two mean bullies picking on a little kid everyday. The tang is pretty much cool with everyone.

Once again thanks let me what you think of my course of action! I think I've got a build up of detritus or whatever on just about every rock and the bottom of the sump because I haven't been up on water changes, now that it's an emergency I think I'll get with the program.

 

[Reef Ruler]

Going to be honest I have no idea what to do about hydroids, but give the water changes and light feedings a shot. The only thing I can really advise you of with changing the substrate is to do it slowly, over a few weeks preferably, removing X amount of old substrate at the same time replace it with X amount of new substrate.

Also, be prepared for the "tang police." A lot of people here are going to tell you that you cannot house any tang in a 32 gallon aquarium. Which is true....but you will probably be reading that over and over again in the responses to this thread.

 

[dmac15]

Thanks for the tip on the substrate, that makes sense.

I agree I looked up tangs in a suitable tank that are full size mine is only 3" so I'll ether get a 65 gal in the summer or sell it.

I'm not.sure how to post pics from tapatalk app or if you can but I'm gonna upload pics and keep posted on the hydroids results. There doesn't seem to be much conclusion on those things out there except starting a new tank lol.