Someone talk me off the ledge

bradleym

bradleym

Premium Member
If any of you remember me, I still have a 210g, but it's been a struggle, mixed with the occasional disaster for about two years now. Right now I am fighting cyano (have been for a long long time), and all of my BTAs and most of my softies look bad. I know this is going to be asked, so I had my water tested today.

Salinity: 1.025
Nitrates: 10
Alkalinity: 9
Phosphates: 0.06

The advise I got at the store was basically to try changing filters, run GFO and carbon, and hope that something in there is the problem. I don't feed much/often, and I only have 4 small fish. It seems like it should be going better than this, so if someone can weigh in with recommendations, I would love to be able to see something to fight rather than just a shotgun approach. I used to love this hobby, but it's getting hard to appreciate the work without seeing any progress.
 
I'd add bacteria in the form of microbacter7. Or Probio biodigest.

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I have been battling it too. It's the phosphates. I got some new rodi filters and some different LC. Changed photoperiod. I can tell I am beginning to notice a difference. Tommorow I am doing about 28g water change out of 67 total. Hopefully it will be the end of the war.
 
Random thinking, how's the RODI filters when were they last changed?
How frequent are you doing water changes and are they considered big water changes?
How much GFO are you using and how fast is it becoming exhausted?
Vacuuming the sand bed?
Is the sump really nasty/ dirty?
How frequently are you changing out the tank filters? Is it enough?
Have you took all pumps out, cleaned and inspected thoroughly? Skimmer pump too
Have you used like a powerhead to blow the crud out of the rocks?
inspect all magnets in the tank. Making sure seals are not broken

I'd say some big water changes and like the store suggested GFO and carbon after you go through some of these basic checks.

Don't jump!!!! Slow and steady wins Keep us updated
 
I've had thriving anemones and softies with phosphate greater than .5, not .05. And nitrate greater than 100. I'd be looking for some type of chemical or toxin, a pump or magnet going bad. Maybe do a big water change, run a poly filter. Also, check your temp with a lab grade thermometer ($12 at a science store), controller temp probes don't stay reliable.
 
Reefs need nutrient input too. Get a big jug of Flake food and some mysis shrimp and feed!
 
Thanks guys, I will start looking into a few of these suggestions. Let me summarize my replies to all:

Bacteria - that is a good point, my tank has been ridiculously sterile since a big crash a few years ago.

Filters, cleaning equipment, detritus, etc. - I have been fighting that battle for so long, and it all keeps coming back. I've basically stopped feeding the tank out of frustration, the glass only needs cleaning about every two weeks. No algae, just cyano. And sick coral.

Toxin/temp - great idea to check the temp, my A/C has not been doing a great job lately. I will give that a go. Not sure how to check for toxins though.

Nutrients - valid point, I know the levels are pretty low for softies only. I got crazy frustrated and tried to starve out the cyano, to no avail. But maybe that's why the corals are sick. I'll start feeding more.
 
- has refractometer been calibrated recently?
- tank temp?
- flow situation?

Don't quit! This tank was a looker in it's prime. Restore its beauty!
 
In addition to everything everyone has said I would do a Triton test to see if you have any elements out of wack or in dangerous levels. Things like a magnet corroding will show up on that.

Its $50 bux but that information will go a long way IMHO.
 
Does your water contain chloramines and/or are you getting the carbon blocks that also remove chloramines?
 
Not trying to be smart, but over the years there is not much I have found that continuous water changes wont fix. I personally would do large water changes every two days. If you eliminate the phosphates and nitrates it should fix the issue. Just my two cents.
 
On a personal note, I have Cyanobacteria all of the time, currently because my nitrate are zero most likely, I've learned to live with it and remove it with a siphon or turkey blaster occasionally.
 
Nanook said:
On a personal note, I have Cyanobacteria all of the time, currently because my nitrate are zero most likely, I've learned to live with it and remove it with a siphon or turkey blaster occasionally.
Click to expand...
You need good bacteria to out compete it and your nutrients inline and balanced with one another. IMHO.

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