Should I start over

[tootsiedaisy]

I have a 120gal I have zero growth now have aptasia all parameters are great 9kh,ca at 410 I run reactor ,phos @.02, nitrate undectable ,lighting 2 250watt radiums with Luminarc reflectors bulbs changed every 6 mos,started bio pellets no change in anything.sand bed about 1.5" just frustrated why I'm having problems tank has been running about 2.5 yrs I'm ready to start over what is everyone's thoughts? Pests maybe I don't see any

 

[tmb22]

What are your magnesium levels? Also, is your tank completely infested with aptasia? You can mix a little bit of RO water with some kalkwasser powder and squirt it into the aptasia's mouth to kill it. Use a small eye dropper or something similar to squirt it in. How often are you doing water changes? You should probably start doing bi-weekly water changes of at least 10% volume.

 

[tootsiedaisy]

Sorry mag at 1350 aptasia not completely taken over but there quite a few of them, also sand bed has turned to concrete in some spots I don't have a clue why

 

[tmb22]

Okay, 1350 is a good magnesium level. Depending on how many Aptasia you have in your tank, you might be able to spot-kill them all with the kalk/RO water squirter. How often do you do water changes? And as far as your sand bed, getting a diamond goby to sift through your sand could be helpful. You might want to stir up small regions of your "concrete sand" at a time, to avoid a rise in unwanted nutrients.

 

[Acronic]

the sand bed is likely a bacteria bloom. It populates the sand bed at a rapid rate and the bacteria produces glucose and "fuses" the sand together IIRC