55 redo

So my tank turned to crap about 3 months ago after all my fish died from ich. Now im trying to get it back on track. Ive set up a 38g sump with a skimmer and phosphate remover and added 2 koralia 3's. I made a couple mistakes and im kinda glad i get to start over. But i cant get rid of this algae i have on my rocks. Its mainly just on three rocks so its not spreading. Just bought 20 hermits, 10 snails, 2 shrimp, and a bicolor blenny to clean up my tank and they have a little on the sand but they dont seem to like the algae on the rocks to much.

Last time i overpopulated my tank so this time i plan on having less fish. Let me know if this sounds good to everyone. Two clowns, 3 chromis, and a dwarf angel. Plus the blenny i have who hides in my empty coco worm shell. Im going to get a stronger clean up crew too. I think 20 more snails and hermits and a sifting star and i should be good.

My params are off and im going to do a 20 gallon water change tomarow (making water now) to hopefully make things a little better.
I checked two days ago and this is it.
S.G- 1.023
calcium- 340
alkalinity- 9
pH- 7.8
temp-79
mag- test kit goes up to 1500 and it is more then that so this is not good.

You think this water change could make a slight difference or would i have to do a bigger one? Ill post a picture of the algae today when the lights come on

 

The Clean up Crew in my 55 is about 200 snails of 6 or 7 different species. 1 urchin (which I added after the tank was matured a couple years) and an emerald crab.

Compare that to what you have.



ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home


As far as your stocking list. I think it's fine. If you have enough rock and CuC to handle the load. I would not count on the chromis living... they often die off... good luck.

 

My 55 has about 80 snails, mostly dwarf cerinths, but some astrea and nerite too. I also have a burrowing conch. I would avoid the sifting star, they need large areas of open sand and will bury themselves. You will never see it and if it can't find food, it will die and you will not know until it's too late.

What type of algae is it?

Your stocking list sounds good, but keep in mind chromis have very high metabolisms, so they need to be fed small amounts frequently. If not, they will most likely die. I had some that lasted several months, but then all three died.

 

Your parameters aren't that out of line except the Mag. To get an accurate reading (although I don't know what kit you have) you have to exhaust one test (1500 ppm) and then start a second test until you get the appropriate color change and add that to the first test. Cal is low more than likely due to the high Mag.
As far as all the fish dieing do to ich, that was probably just a case of bad mixing of fish and the stress that came from it. The stocking you mention could work depending on the type of clowns. I am a proponent of Marine-Max by Tropical science for prevention of Ich. I am not a proponent of water changes as a means to solving a problem, too disruptive. Adding the sump, skimmer and reactor should, over time, eradicate a lot of algae problems along with staying on top of your light changing regimen. Massive clean up crews work for awhile until food sources dwindle and the crabs rely on the snails for their dinner. The Mag will drop over time and you may want to supplement Cal to bring it up along with a good PH buffer.
Add some live bacteria at double the marine dose to really "seed" the sand and rock. Look for a brand with at least 3 different type bacteria.
I hope this helps and all works out for you and your aquarium adventure.

 

So the algae is starting to clear up on its own i guess cause i havent seen anything eating it.

Unclejed, i think im going to go pick up some of the live bacteria. Ill look for one with three types.

Guitarman, i think im going to scratch the sifting star. Any other types of starfish that will help cleaning? Not a serpernt though i have one and he hides during the day =[. The algae is a rust color and is furry

Peredhill, so i should load up on snails and not as many hermits? I have a crab in my tank that came with the LR but cant get a good sight of him to ID it.


For fish i think im going to change the chromis for something else...any ideas??

 

I had hermits for a long time... they became annoying over time.

They were removed a couple years after initially added. I told John at reefcleaners I needed snails to replace a dozen hermits. Next thing I know, I've got an awesome order being dumped in rebuilding my snail numbers.


Long term, I'd nix the hermits or keep at minimum...

 

Arite yeah ill go for snails instead of the hermits from now. What are some species you have in your tank? Right now i just have astrea snails. Thanks for the advice everyone. Im gunna keep looking for another fish to replace the 3 chromis

 

I like:

tons of dwarf ceriths
several FL ceriths
lots of nerites (of various sizes)
planaxis (I really like these)
handful of nassarius vibex

once the tank is mature, I like to add one or two chitons (but these don't do well in new tanks IME or if they have to compete with hermits)

there are others too, but these are the ones I mainly use.