46 Gallon Reeftank Setup Journal

Thanks Eejrr,

Nitrates are very low. I don't really care to introduce more live rock, but I will get the mechanical filtration going again.

What I have left as far as cleaning critters is about a dozen snails (turbo and nassarius), 8 hermit crabs (6 blue and one scarlet), a skunk cleaner shrimp, a brittle star, and a serpent star. Not sure if I need more than that in a 46 gal. tank, but I'm considering getting some more scarlet hermit to help control algae.

I don't think I'm overfeeding, but I've cut back in any case,

My lighting schedule is from 7-9 am and from 2-10 pm for about 10 hrs. per day. The tank does get about 2 hours a day of sunlight (can't be helped.)

 

Well I know from experience that 2 hours of sunlight on your tank is probably part of your problem. (Curtains or blinds from Home Depot or Lowe's will probably be the same cost as a few hermits) And speaking of hermits, I think you could probably easily double your hermit population and pick up a cleaner shrimp or 2...

I do have question though...Explain the rationale for the lighting schedule. Why the 9a-2p break in the middle of the day. Doesn't seem like a natural lighting. I'm just doing 9a to 8p in my tank. Should I have a mid day break?

 

Oh , just thought of one other thing: If you are still using florescent bulbs, don't they need to be changed every 4-6 months. (Assuming yout using the same lights as when you started) Maybe your not getting the "right kind" of light to support your rock as your bulbs age. I guess you don't need to change the metal halide lights ever.....

 

Oh, just a warning Eejjrr. I had to get rid of my peppermint shrip as they were eating my atlantic carpet anemone... killed it in fact. Keep an eye on that. My anemone moved all over the place to, including onto the sides of the tank. Possibly in an effort to get away from the peppermints.

 

I installed an Eheim 2026 Pro filter and it cleaned up my water nicely. I used carbon for the first 2 weeks, and will likely remove it this weekend. My green Bubbke Tip Anemone is doing great. I have my water chemistry down pretty well (trying to keep it at 8.2-8.4 pH is difficult, but doable), and removing the top from my tank hood has eliminated my issues with keeping the tank at 72-75C.

Now for some fine tuning. I have a maxi-jet 1200 pump on my Remora skimmer, and I'm wondering if a sponge filter on the intake would be counterproductive. Anyone know? I've already added a sponge filter to my other maxi-jet 1200 powerhead, whihc means I have a ready source of bacteria for setting up my isolation tank, something I was lacking previously.

I could really use some help with getting rid of green hair algae. Neither the turbo snails,, nor the scarlet hermits put a dent in it. I picked up a lettuce nudibranch, which went to town on the stuff, but ti looks like I'd need about 20 of them to do the job (~$350.00.) Too expensive. I don't like the poison ink associated with a Sea Hare... any other suggestions? A fish type that eats the stuff voraciously?