Very Discouraged

Have you tried adding some mangroves or macro???
I started with a 10gal then moved to a 20T then to a 29g. Just for added swimming room and such.
With the addition of mangroves and macro and doubleing my water volume the tank became much more stable and easier to keep overall. Corraline algae didn't really take off till the 6th month mark.

 

yes, i would advise moving to a larger tank and using the 10 as a refugium. As everyone else has already said, the larger water volume will help keep your params stable.

 

i hate to tell you this but we need the qustions answered so we can give you answers. theirs a million diffet ways to take this on

 

I get so frustrated with the mentality of nano tanks being good starter tanks. Its just so sad...

Considering you have other tanks, you probably knew this, but it just sucks how "the smaller, the more difficult"...

If I were you I would go 40 gal breeder, they are fun and IMO are the line between small and large volume tanks...

as for now, keep it up because im 100% sure some members here will give you amazing advice... as for me, ive got to go to practice. Good Luck and dont give up!

 

OceanSurf - Garry

whilst I understand the frustration you may be going through
many people unless given numbers, would be reluctant to accept a blanket statement like "My parameters are fine"

Gary - my parameters are mag 1470, - ca 410, - DKH 8.6, - PO4, 0- Nitrate, 0
I have not tested PH for ages to be honest, the battery died on my Aquastar PH tester and I dont have a liquid test at present to check
but with my other numbers being good, and my knowledge that there are some perfectly healthy tanks with a PH as low as 7.8 - it means Im not that worried anyway


Gary - humour us please - post your numbers , if you do know your numbers
if you do not know your numbers - do as I just did and state "I dont know that number or I dont test that number"

there are loads of people on this site, who want you to succeed
myself included

if it where my tank, I could see it, I could test it, I could work out solutions to the problem drawing from experience
if that threw up a blank - I would post the full story on here, includng my numbers from the previous Sunday to my post
and then people could either dismiss parameters as part of the problem
or tell me that one of my numbers needed attention

Gary, if your not testing
or if you are not taking water to your LFS often enough? due to convenience, travel distance etc, then maybe you do have a problem with water quality/ parameters, and you and everyone else on this thread are fighting an uphill battle, trying to work out what is going on in your tank


some general thoughts
carbon - if your not using any, start now- change it every 4 weeks max
water changes - once you start using carbon, cut down to 5% weekly


I ran a 5 gallon tank for 9 months until circumstances forced me to take it down, with no issues
so you should be able to run a sensibly stocked, 10 gallon without issues


Steve

 

I just ran across your other thread where you said your hand gets the sting from the nem just touching the water now. That means anything else in the water is getting it too, including your corals. The advice given there was to run carbon. Did you or are you going to do that?

I ran a 3 gallon for 4 years, and it was my first SW tank. I didn't have a fish or anything that could "war" or sting in it.

 

Gary,

Freshwater is certainly easier, but not as rewarding. You can get a larger tank for a good price. A 10 gallon sounds too small for an anemone, let alone a clown. I have two ten gallons, a 28, and a 29 gallon set up. One of my 10s has a Halloween Hermit and rock, nothing else. Another has 2 goldfish. If you look into a larger tank, I know that Petsmart is having great sales on their 55-75 gallons. I think a 55 is maybe $180, and a 75 $250. And a 60 somewhere in between. And i also think they have 125 gals for $350. It's worth some consideration.

 

IMO, you have a basic misunderstanding of water chemistry. In your previous threads you have mentioned that you check salinity and calcium (which was 360). You tried "fertilizing", or dosing, and that did not go well. I don't think that we can assume that all water parameters are fine and go from there. I believe that you are doing something basically wrong, and easy for others to help you with, however, you are not giving enough information to find a solution.

 

Wow your just like me except my tank cracked. I'm also having trouble with my corals and what not but I'm still continuing; you should do the same IMO, but it's your decision and I would advise that you think clearly and know that you want to continue saltwater. You've had experience now, so learn from your mistakes and don't do the same thing that you did wrong again.

 

Gary,

I agree with all of the info given to you so far in this thread. A larger system would make things a little easier for you, but I think you should awnser the questions that all of us are asking so that we can HELP you be successful with your 10 gallon. I wouldn't tell you to go out and buy a bigger tank just yet. If you are doing something wrong with the 10 gallon, you'll most likely make the same mistake with a larger system IMO. I also ran a healthy nano tank for a few years as my starter tank, and have now upgraded. This hobby can be stressful at times, but is very rewarding!! Please help us help you...