Still feel like a newbie at the 2yr 1m. Mark: Tank ok

[CamDAX]

Well my 55gal. tank has been setup for 2yrs and 1 month.
I've battled Aiptasisa and won (Berghia's).
I had a green period which looking back was really ugly judging from photos.
I've had fish die for some unknown reason in the main tank and I've tried to cure some sick fish in a QT and failed. 6 Line Wrasse was acclimated and put right in the tank (LFS said I could safely), he died Dottyback chased him a bit. A few weeks later the clown pair I had (had from feb 16th 2014-Jan 21 2015) died, one was down at the bottom of the tank breathing heavily two days later perfectly fine for a few days and then back to the heavily breathing then dead the . Blue Tang & Coral Beauty started flashing (tang first) in 20gal. QT, first thought it was flukes so I did prazipro to no avail, then did tank transfer method (in 5gal. buckets) to cover my bases they died during the 3rd transfer, maybe high ammonia.

As far as coral goes, I have purchased several different kinds (see list bellow) and all have done great except the following died Birds Nest (bleached, high phosphates), Red Montipora(bleached after lots of growth, high phosphates), Orange Mushrooms(too small wouldn't attach), Xenia(stopped growing and disintegrated).

Lastly inverts have been difficult, I tried Cleaner Shrimp (3 times, I thought first it was bad luck now IDK), Red Linkia Starfish (accidentally ripped off some feed trying to move him), Emerald Crab (died after a couple of months), Bubble Tip Anemone (Melted apart and cause high phosphates, not enough water changes).

I feel like I'm on the home stretch to having a beautiful tank but I'm stressed with the issues I have and trying to figure them out. Any help would be much appreciated.

Water Parameters
CA 440ppm
Alk 184ppm
Mg 1410ppm
Ph 8.2
Natrate 0 (API kit)
Temp. 76
Salt mix was reef crystals now I am using Red Sea Coral Pro.

Issues: in order of need/want to solve
Coral and Clam loss of color.
More Fish
Keeping a shrimp alive.
Keeping an Anemone.


Coral I have now
Zoanthids
Jedi Mind Trick Montipora
Purple Haze Montipora
Fluorescent Green Star Polyps
-Not open as often as I'd expect
Superman Montipora
Orange Ricordea Mushroom
Blue Snowflake Polyps
Purple Stylophora
Kryptonite Candy Cane
Green Duncan
Duncan


Fish & Inverts I have now
Purple Dottyback
- Only fish I have and he was the first ever fish I purchased
Blue Tuxedo Urchin
-Tried to feed him nori and he wouldn't touch it but the crabs come running and gobble it all up.
Blue Rim Golden Derasa Clam (Had since June 26th 2015)
- Has some folding on mantle going to do a 30min. Ph matched freshwater dip
2x Emerald Crabs
-Take care of bubble algae
Red Linkia Starfish (Had since Oct 30 2015 ~3 months)
-Don't feed him anyhing

 

[reefiness]

everyone will always feel like a newbie in this hobby. There is always so much more to learn and experience. You will never know it all.

 

[Sk8r]

Equipment changes and there are always new mistakes to make---I've been at this for decades, and now and again I have to shake my head and say, well, *that* bwas interesting...

 

[mvallee_ma]

Two years in here as well and while I have learned a lot, mostly patience and how to walk around with an empty wallet I am still having unexplained things happen despite my best efforts. I go and look at someone else's established tank and am like I want that, so beautiful but when I look at my tank all I see are the things that are wrong. Funny thing is then someone comes over my house and they pull up a seat and stare commenting on how beautiful my tank is and how they wish their tank looked like this.

 

[EPopper]

I feel your pain and was ready to give up on the whole hobby, but I just couldn't. We have a FOWLR, so I can't comment on coral. After continuous deaths of so called "hardy" fish, I decided to step back and look at my equipment. I just had a small canister filter on a 75 gallon tank, so purchased a Penguin 350 to go with it. Also purchased an RO/DI for water changes instead of using tap. My next purchase will be a nice LED light and also thinking about a UV sterilizer.
I absolutely LOVE beautiful marine fish, but was sick and tired of scooping them off the bottom of my tank…and spending so much on fish that were doomed.
I know there are way more people on here with much better experience, but the more you can do for overall water quality the better. Good luck!

 

[AshlynnsDad]

...when I look at my tank all I see are the things that are wrong.

I'm the exact same way. All my friends say my tank is awesome but when I look at it I see a barren wasteland. I think I need to lower my expectations. I made the major mistake (happily) of starting a second tank because my main tank wasn't progressing as quickly as I wanted. Although I don't regret it and am having fun, I really should have avoided the temptation and stuck with spending the money on improving my first.

Another thing I regret is running out of things to buy. if you had asked me 2 years ago if I would ever have enough money to get my tank right I would have said no. 2 years in and I'm having to scour the interwebs to find that next thing for my tank. I'm down to wanting a calcium reactor and a sulfur reactor. I probably won't get either as I don't really need them.