New to the Hobby - In need of lots of help

[MattnBonnie]

I have a new 110 gallon reef ready system set up Sep 11. I have two power heads and the T-5 Light. The sump is a wet dry sump with Bio Balls, but I use several additional filters at the water sump intake area. Ive been getting some advise from stores... which all have different ideas and answers. Ive seen little pods or baby shrimp looking which is what I have been adding. I have tons of snails and crabs... since that is the only think I seem to not kill. I have three bags of sand and about 130lbs of live rock with two additional rocks in my sump as well as chaito. I have a few coral, a Brain, mushrooms, zoas, some type of leather tree, a stoney coral, and a flat coral that might be stony it sits on the bottom of the tank in the sand. For Fish I have 1 fox face rabbit, V-tang, Scopa tang, 2 devil fish, two small light blue fish. I also have a pencil urchin, decorator crab and horse shoe crab. Snails I have two conch, two red foots, several doves, turbos, margarita, astra snails, three cleaner shrimp three peppermint shrimp, sand-star, a star serpent that is tan with black strips with a black star on his top, and a few other things.

(yeah the terms might not be correct but Ive also noticed people use different names for the same items... including the stores)

So I will start off with a few questions but I thing of new ones all the time!

1. Should you have 1 snail/crab for every gallon of water? that would be 110 for me which seems like a lot and I do have a lot!

2. Would the mightymight DI unit the small one work for making water for my tank or is that to small?

3. My Tank seems to always look like it has stuff floating around in it... I will up load pics soon. I am not sure I have the sump set up correctly, Ive changed in a few times now and it still has floating things. I cleaned out the sump in december but there is sand in there again is this ok? Should this happen.

4. I have a chemical schedule and feeding schedule I do not follow because its not working... I add live algae frequently.

5. My system was working great until... I had purple slime. that was taking care of but then a spike in nitrates. Several water changes lots of them for the last three months now its still showing high... except the store says its not so i am not sure. Today the ammonia also read high in my home test. this also was not helpful since they sold me an anemone that went to the back of the rocks and I believe died... to never be seen again sometime in december. I shake my chemicals in the tube and add the drops shake again and let set. I am not getting the same reading as the store... but I went to another store and they even had different readings.

I will upload pics soon and hopefully this hobby can turn into something fun again soon.

Thank you for all your help and taking the time to read this post. I am open for any suggestions.

 

[MattnBonnie]

Here are the attachments not sure if it helps. I could not upload the pic of the particles floating in the water.

 

[Jedidad]

how often do you change out your filter material? how often and how much water do you change? what kind of water are you using for your water changes? what kind of test kits are you using and are they in date?

 

[ghellin]

Hi and welcome! Glad you found us!!!! I use the mighty mite I just replaced the filters a few weeks ago the filters that came with it got me though an entire year. It is a great unit to start with it makes 5 gallons in 2 hours on my water pressure. I just fill the jugs in my sink make about 25 gallons a week with it. I wonder if Chris still has the mighty mite he won in January he might be looking to sell it LOL.

 

[MBryant]

We all need professional help for being in the hobby.

 

[MattnBonnie]

how often do you change out your filter material? how often and how much water do you change? what kind of water are you using for your water changes? what kind of test kits are you using and are they in date?

I change the filters when I do a water change which was once about every two weeks until the spike then it was about every weekend. My last water change was 12 Feb, so I am due for one, however 25 Feb I had my water checked at the store and they said it was fine but will need a water change before to long, within the next week or two. My tank is 110 and I do 25-30 gallon exchange which should be more than enough at least I think.

The filters I have in my tank and have been using is: a Polly Filter; Carbon aqua pure filter, PolyFiber filter, and recently I also added Nitrate Reducer Infused Media Pad and API Nitra-Zorb pouch, which I rinsed prior to utilizing. Ive actually been using these alot and it does not seem to change the effects. To also lower the nitrates I have used Prime.

I feed pellets just a small pinch about every two to three days and provide seaweed also.

I was told by the reef shop to vacuum the sand and sucking it up a little in the vacuum thing, however steves wet pet said not to vacuum the sand but just close.. not sure which is correct. Wet pets did say when you vacuum the sand it can cause the red slime issue I had.

I buy all my water from the reef shop, but I want to start making my own.

The test kit I use is called API salterwater master test kit. I check the PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. I do not see a date on the testing bottles nor the container it came in. We bought it sometime in October this past year

 

[MattnBonnie]

Ghellin, thanks for the info earlier. I looked up the mighty might but it said it was only able to support tanks 50 gal or less. I was thinking you made several each week but I wanted to make sure. If it supports your water needs I would assume it would fit mine as well.

If you know anyone that has one they would like to sell let me know. I need to figure out what type of salt to also buy. I read where some does not have the nutritions necessary so I thought I better do some research on that too before I buy any.

Again, thank you for all your help, this might just save my hubbies tank so I assure you he will also be thankful.

On a different note, in becoming a member, its individual or family, does that mean if my daughter wants to come to the meeting she has to be registered?

 

[JimmyS]

Hello and welcome!

There will always be a variety of answers to your questions from different people, even from this group. Many different types of techniques can work.

1. I have never followed the 1 snail per gallon rule, was always to many and they starved. For me it all depended on what I needed them for.

2. You will see better results by making your own water, for several different reasons. I use Reef Crystals salt mix.

3. Do you have a bubble trap/baffles in your sump? The floaty things could be micro bubbles from your pump. It could also be the chaeto getting into the propeller.

5. Personally I would remove the bio balls, replace with live rock or rubble. Also remove the rock and cheato from the return chamber and place in the filter chamber. Bio balls can be little nitrate factories. Do not remove them all at once. Add a little rock/rubble, remove a few balls. Wait a week or so and repeat.

In the picture of the tank, it looks green. Is that how it looks or is it just the camera shot? How old are the bulbs in your fixture?

 

[cjilge]

Also you will want to buy good Alk, mag, and Cal test kits. I check my own but I have taken water to Aquariums of Edmond to check my #'s. They should be close. but I'm with JimmyS on getting rid of the bioballs slowly. They could be a big part of your problem. I stir my sand bed about twice a month which stirs up a lot of crap but has helped with nitrate and slime algea issues in the past. Also you can use a powerhead to blow off your rocks once a month or so which will help. I use Reef Crystals salt and probably have used almost evry brand out there but seem to like RC's the best. On salt, you will get 100 answers but its preference.

Do you have a skimmer? If not you will want to invest in a decent skimmer soon.

I sold the RODI unti at the meeting, Sorry! AWI has a great unit, I use the 150gpd extreme and it is well worth the money! Comes with more tds meters than you can shake a stick at.

AS for snails and crabs, what ever keeps your tank clean IMHO, I probably have 150 hermits, 75-100 snails, multiple shrimp qty6, and a serpent star

Post your parameters, and the stores #'s. so we can see. Include ALK, Cal, and mag if the store has the kits. Anyone can come to the meeting with out being a member. Your membership would be $25 + $10 for each additional family member in your house if they wanted to join. My daughter comes and is a member she is my "good luck" charm as she usually wins the best door prizes. Kind long butr hope it helps!

Good luck

 

[MattnBonnie]

Hello and welcome!

There will always be a variety of answers to your questions from different people, even from this group. Many different types of techniques can work.

I agree but on certain things like different water readings I dont think should happen, I mean huge differences, like you have very little nitrates no need for water change to reading 180 super high the same day, again from two different places/stores?

1. I have never followed the 1 snail per gallon rule, was always to many and they starved. For me it all depended on what I needed them for.

I was thinking the same and I dont want to get too many since its such a new tank im trying to build the micro system at the same time need enough to get the sand moved and keep issues down too.


2. You will see better results by making your own water, for several different reasons. I use Reef Crystals salt mix.
Is there a store to purchase or do you have to order on-line?


3. Do you have a bubble trap/baffles in your sump? The floaty things could be micro bubbles from your pump. It could also be the chaeto getting into the propeller.
I dont have a bubble trap in the sump but I just recently added the chaeto to the sump and have rocks around the pump to keep it out of the pump and it has worked but its only a temp arrangement, I was hoping to get some input to make things work better. The floating things is actually debris, some might be little bubbles, I can tell when that happens, some is also sand which I find odd, the tank is deep how is the sand getting to the over flow into the sump?


5. Personally I would remove the bio balls, replace with live rock or rubble. Also remove the rock and cheato from the return chamber and place in the filter chamber. Bio balls can be little nitrate factories. Do not remove them all at once. Add a little rock/rubble, remove a few balls. Wait a week or so and repeat.

Ive heard that about the Bio-Balls. If the live rock is added, does it not have to be submerged in water or can some be out too just the top or what water dripping down from the filter?

In the picture of the tank, it looks green. Is that how it looks or is it just the camera shot? How old are the bulbs in your fixture?

No the system to me does not look green, the pics were taken with a phone, however the day time light to me... gives it a not so nice took. The lighting system is new I purchased it with the tank in September. I have the lid on top of one side.. but I think I might today clean and remove it today, any thoughts on that.. does and donts? The tank does have s tall hood that hides the lights and has two doors to open for feeing and to keep whatever in the tank too, but Ive noticed a salt build up on the glass top which could also block the light.


Thanks for the help, I am going to figure out which DI system to get and get soon. GHellin has the mightmight and it works well for him too. I just want to buy the right one... I bought and have done everything the store has told me to do and didnt expect issues and now... which I would have purchased a different sump.

Im sure they know what they are doing its just frustrating to buy and pay so much and still have issues. i have literally bought everything they have suggested for the system to be properly running, the sand tons of live rock and all the critters not to mention I thought one of the best light systems.

 

[cjilge]

All sugestions including from a store are just that, you can and probably will have an issue at some point, but thats what keeps us all in the hobby and constantly wanting to improve our systems. Trust me we all have been there or flooded the floor or something terrible at some point, you are in the right spot to ask questions and good solid advice from some of the best in the hobby. We have some great stores in the metro area to.

 

[MattnBonnie]

Also you will want to buy good Alk, mag, and Cal test kits. I check my own but I have taken water to Aquariums of Edmond to check my #'s.
I keep my readings from my tank almost weekly from the store, but my testing system does not check the Alk, Mag and cal. I guess I need to get a new kit too.
They should be close. but I'm with JimmyS on getting rid of the bioballs slowly. They could be a big part of your problem. I stir my sand bed about twice a month which stirs up a lot of crap but has helped with nitrate and slime algea issues in the past.
Ok I will do that too and see if it changes my readings. I am going to the store soon today to get water for a change and all new filtes again, but I have not seen a difference... well I have not seen a difference in my readings but the store says its not so bad. My concern was I use the same store and the other day I was close to a different store and stopped and they gave me a different reading which was high. I went to my normal store to buy water and had it checked and it was not so bad?... Very confusing
Also you can use a powerhead to blow off your rocks once a month or so which will help. I use Reef Crystals salt and probably have used almost evry brand out there but seem to like RC's the best. On salt, you will get 100 answers but its preference.
Ok I think that is probably the one Ghellin also uses and his tank looks awesome! I read about different salts and never would have known they have different nutrients so I would have bought whatever.. this is the kind of stuff I am trying to avoid but when you dont know you dont know there is so much to learn so quick.

Do you have a skimmer? If not you will want to invest in a decent skimmer soon.
I do not have a skimmer. I dont know anything about them. I asked the store and they said it was not necessary.....If my system would work better than I am all for it, jut need to get it figured out and how to add to my sump and such, again its the which one for my tank and learning before buying since my system is all up and running I dont want to interrupt it but I want to do and get what it needs to be great.

I sold the RODI unti at the meeting, Sorry! AWI has a great unit, I use the 150gpd extreme and it is well worth the money! Comes with more tds meters than you can shake a stick at.
I looked at the RODI systems and honestly the only one that did not look overwhelming to me was the mighty might... why are there so many containers what do they do and how to they install with my sump... well or do they hook up to my Faucet. My tank is no where near a water supply so running a house sounds great but I dont think that will work for my house but I dont mind adding water as needed either. i just need to get it. I hate most of the stuff comes off line, I am visual and looking and reading does not work well for me at least in this situation.


AS for snails and crabs, what ever keeps your tank clean IMHO, I probably have 150 hermits, 75-100 snails, multiple shrimp qty6, and a serpent star

Post your parameters, and the stores #'s. so we can see. Include ALK, Cal, and mag if the store has the kits. Anyone can come to the meeting with out being a member. Your membership would be $25 + $10 for each additional family member in your house if they wanted to join. My daughter comes and is a member she is my "good luck" charm as she usually wins the best door prizes. Kind long butr hope it helps!

I will check my water as well as have the store check today as well and see what the readings are.. actually I think I will go to the store referred by Ghellin and buy water and see if they check the water too. I will also check my own water and see what I get, but honestly I checked the other day and it was high well the Ammonia was greenish and should be yellow, so its high and the nitrates were more a darker red not the preferred light orange.

I will see about getting a different test kit too.

here is the reading from 2-25
salt 1.022
PH 8.2
KH 12
Nitrate 10
Phos 1.0
Calcium 500+

I also add live algae this could possibly be the reason I have some of the floating stuff, is this a good idea? Its super expensive but I am trying to help the system out too. However, that is not a good reason why I would have sand and other things in my sump.

My daughter might enjoy going with me if she is not busy. She attends Choctaw Jr High. They might now each other since they combined the sports with CNP now. She is on the cheer squad and tennis team so she knows a few people from NP. This is only her second year at choctaw but we really like it.



Good luck

 

[cjilge]

We all shoot for params close to

salt 1.025
cal 450
alk/kh 7-9
nitrate 0
phos 0
mag 1250
ph 8.2-8.3
nitrite 0
amonia 0

The algea should be fine, infact I have 5-6 diff kinds in my refugium, depends on where you put in your system. if it got sucked up by your pump it would probably make some floaty stuff lol. Your fish will probably eat it, mine do. My daughter is only 4 1/2 but she has a SW tank in her room. So I would guess your daughter wont know her, lol. But she is welcome to come over to.

 

[Jedidad]

i would recommend that you buy salifert test kits. the api ones are mostly only good for one year from manufacture and they can be hard to interpret colors anyways. some of the algae problems you are having are probably in part due to the system still being new and has to go through the typical phase of getting hit by all the nasty algaes we all hate. Just work on getting your nutrients down and it will clear up. Hang in there.

 

[MattnBonnie]

Just returned from the new store in Moore and was there for quite some time, but had a lot of questions answered... and a few new ones too! My tank is hyper-salinity so I have to do some DI water changes. I am also removing half the bio-balls and replacing with rubble. The owner of the store was great and even gave me a sock for my filter to try. I purchased new test kits too.. Salifert. Come to find out my salt meter does not work. I am going to move the power heads and hopefully we will have some big changes soon and happy fish and coral too!

Thank you all for your help and information there is no telling what I would do if I did not have these resources and finally people to talk to and a NEW STORE for resources.

 

[ghellin]

Glad you are on a path to getting it all corrected! It will all be worth it once you see those corals grow!!!

 

[Jedidad]

glad to hear you may have found the problem. good luck and i look forward to seeing how things progress for you.

 

[MattnBonnie]

Thanks and yes I am glad I am on my way. This time it seems to makes sense. I just finished cleaning the sump, water exchange, removing half the bio balls and adding the sump then adding the sock, which is working great, I also have been watching and adjusting the power heads too, Im hoping they will work now, oh man it looked like a storm brewing when pointed the heads down, there was several mini tornados breaking out with all the stuff swirling around. I am thinking this will make it a lot more clear too, Im excited to come home tomorrow and see what it looks like. Kind of odd but I am excited to see what I find in the sock too! To bad matt cant see it yet, the way I adjusted all the power heads and water output its making shadows as it moves the water around kind of little waves which looks really neat. He wanted waves but I thought it had to have a wave maker and oh my those are like expensive.

I will post tomorrow and send out an update.

 

[cjilge]

By the time he gets home you will have a full reef in there! He isn't going to know what to say. lol Glad you are on the right path. Post in our forum here that you are looking for a skimmer and I bet someone has one lying around they will make you a deal on. Just make sure it fits in your sump and under your stand. Congrats on heading in the right direction.

 

[bobkill]

I would also like to throw some bed experience in here - our tank was a couple inchs off the wall and the plug in was down below - so straw water (somehow) gOt on the back wall and dropped down and started a electrical fire - I had drip loops on the plugs that were in the wall- it didn't end up that bad but almost burned down the house and my roommate literally kicked me in the n u t s when I got home lol- so now we have a 'hot tub' cover that a electrician put in - so make sure your wiring is safe -