Tank has been up for a year. Still having issues. Video!!

Hi everyone.

I used to read up in this forum every day when I started my tank around a year ago.

I got busy with school. (Just graduated as an RN!! ;D)

My tank has done well for the most part. I haven't had any deaths, other than a couple crabs and a fish that I'm sure was just old.

I have had constant algae problems... from bright green to red slime. Now I have some brown crap covering everything. You'll notice in the vid the back glass and rocks are covered in it. This is not an accurate representation... yesterday I spent 2 hours scrubbing it off the rocks and everything else. It is absolutely taking over.

I feel like maybe I just need some snails and hermits to take care of the brown stuff.

Basically, I'm ready to advance, and start getting my tank ready for some soft corals.

The goal is to have an anemone for my clowns, since my tank is one year old, I figure with a few months of hard work that is do-able.

Take a look and give me some advice please!

You'll notice my mangroves are doing well, just totally can't fit anymore. I need a fuge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY9AV94dXao

Make sure you watch it in HD.

I apologize for the awful camera work... I just broke my clavicle and I'm stuck in a sling. :-/

 

Do you use any chemical filtration? You could use a phosban reactor and then could help soak up the PO4's. Also since you cleaned all the rocks and everything go on reefcleaners and you could order a good clean up crew that would keep it nice and clean. Do you have any CUC? Also what lighting do you have? Some bulbs help promote algae growth than others.

 

some water numbers would help people. Also how big is the tank? how often and how big are your water changes? or water or tap water? total tank inhabitants? filtration?

 

Your mangroves sure look nice and healthy.

I would increase the surface agitation by either including a more powerful powerhead or playing with the direction of the existing ones.

Add some turbo snails, chitons, or a small pin cushion sea urchin.

Some chemipure-elite for equiv.

All the fish look very healthy, seems like starting with some soft corals would be a good thing. Colt, xenia, mushrooms would probably all do well.

Congradulations on your RN, that is a major feat. Ouch clavicle hmmmmm.

Also if you want list parameters and water source.

Good luck.

 

Thanks for the fast replies. I love this forum, it's such an awesome resource!

I'll try answer everything to the best of my knowledge...

Inhabitants: 1 Pajama Cardinal, 2 Clowns, 1 Blue/ Yellow Damsel, 1 blue hermit (probably need 10 of em'), and 1 random crab. No Idea what he is.

Equipment: 25 gallon tank, with a Hydor Theo heater (temp at 75), Koralia powerhead (I think it's a Koralia 3), HOB filter rated for a 50 gallon tank. I also have a HOB Aqua C remora skimmer. Lighting is Coralife lunar aqualight - 2x 65w [one actinic]. The bulbs are around a year old, so I guess it's time for new ones?

I'll test the water and get the parameters up shortly.

Thanks for the help. My goal is to have a tank I'm proud of by summer, with at least 5 different soft corals.

I really want an anemone for my clowns too.

Oh. I use distilled water, and do water changes every 2 weeks (6 gallons). I use reef crystals salt. I don't have any chemical filtration.

 

get rodi water instead of distilled and see how that works for you. Distilled water is not always filtered and can still have bad stuff in it. Are you running carbon in you hob filter? I would. I think your right on about the cuc, but I don't really think you need a fuge not that it would be a bad thing. I ran a 29 with a penguin 200 and a aqua c for 3 years before I got it full enough to need a fuge. It would not be bad to get a little more rock too