Luck be a Lady

[LadyMac]

Mornin!

Toadstool is closed, maybe shedding. Still learning about these things lol. Seems to be trying to move but it’s tied to a plug and while I can see the thread a little I don’t think I can cut it, and it’s starting to encase the rock beside.

My little RFA has vanished. I’ve looked and no sign of his little green self. He seemed to have been growing only slightly, but maybe he just got mad and bailed.

Vodka dosing again, this time going by what I’ve read as opposed to what a friend suggested. I feel he was giving me too much to start with and that in turn dropped things too fast and allowed the dinos to pop up. Yo to 1.1ml currently, and nitrates went from 50ish to 25. I believe once I hit this next week at 1.6 ml it should bring them to what would be just fine for the corals to thrive.

I still can’t get good photos.

 

[tbrown]

Mornin!

Toadstool is closed, maybe shedding. Still learning about these things lol. Seems to be trying to move but it’s tied to a plug and while I can see the thread a little I don’t think I can cut it, and it’s starting to encase the rock beside.

My little RFA has vanished. I’ve looked and no sign of his little green self. He seemed to have been growing only slightly, but maybe he just got mad and bailed.

Vodka dosing again, this time going by what I’ve read as opposed to what a friend suggested. I feel he was giving me too much to start with and that in turn dropped things too fast and allowed the dinos to pop up. Yo to 1.1ml currently, and nitrates went from 50ish to 25. I believe once I hit this next week at 1.6 ml it should bring them to what would be just fine for the corals to thrive.

I still can’t get good photos.

My RFA spent three weeks on the backside of my rockwork completely out of sight. I thought for sure he was gone until one day he was out in the open and acting all purdy and stuff.

Toadstools and most softies in general are often tied to a rock rubble or frag plug with fishing line since gluing doesn't work.

 

[LadyMac]

Toadstool still closed. Nitrate is about 10 now. Still have cyano and hair algae growing.


I think what I’m going to do is work towards a complete reset of this tank. Now sand and new rock.

Currently my first goal is a kraken reef lid for the 35.2. Luckily i won’t need any measurements, just it with the feed hole. I’d love the cup but that’s extra and not in my budget. Well the lid isn’t either.

Once this is taken care of I’ll start to slowly gather up new bags of sand and new rock. Just completely get rid of what is on there now. For some reason I cannot lower the nitrates no matter how many water changes I do. Low stock, skimming dry. I’m so confused and just exhausted.

So suggestions on good sand to go back with and a good source for rock. I suspect the rock had a lot to do with my issues. It was dry rock but it was also started by me with tap water. Maybe I didn’t clean it well enough. Idk. I have a 20 long outside that I will out the fish while I recycle when that time comes.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

What are your phosphate numbers?

 

[LadyMac]

What are your phosphate numbers?

0.03.

 

[fishguy242]

have you tried metazorb ?
makes me think high iron in water from the start up ?

 

[LadyMac]

I’ve never heard of that. Will look into it

 

[Nate Chalk]

I’ve never heard of that. Will look into it

two fishes

 

[tbrown]

have you tried metazorb ?
makes me think high iron in water from the start up ?

That's what caused mine... Rusty magnet leached and HUGE amounts of hair algae. Got the magnet out, hit it with some Flux RX and within about 3 days all GHA was gone

 

[fishguy242]

thinking rock bound ?

 

[LadyMac]

thinking rock bound ?

I was. Idk. Today durning my maintenance I noticed the bottom of the emergency drain pipe was not attached in the sump. It was full of verminteds. Shone a flashlight and the whole sump was pretty full especially in the chamber where the water comes from the tank. Sigh. Will they help raise the nitrates? Like would they count towards my “stocking level” and cause me to essentially be overstocked? lol.

 

[fishguy242]

I was. Idk. Today durning my maintenance I noticed the bottom of the emergency drain pipe was not attached in the sump. It was full of verminteds. Shone a flashlight and the whole sump was pretty full especially in the chamber where the water comes from the tank. Sigh. Will they help raise the nitrates? Like would they count towards my “stocking level” and cause me to essentially be overstocked? lol.

No, steal alk and cal, almost sucking nutrients out of water, get rid of all you can.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

I was. Idk. Today durning my maintenance I noticed the bottom of the emergency drain pipe was not attached in the sump. It was full of verminteds. Shone a flashlight and the whole sump was pretty full especially in the chamber where the water comes from the tank. Sigh. Will they help raise the nitrates? Like would they count towards my “stocking level” and cause me to essentially be overstocked? lol.

Will restrict flow too but are filter feeders. Like Frank said get rid of them. Soak pipe in vinegar or citric acid

 

[LadyMac]

Thanks y’all. I’ve got some in the main tank but most in the sump. I’ll work on getting them gone. The pipe I used a paintbrush and just “scrubbed” the inside lol. Got it nice and clean. Used an ingles card to scrape off what I could reach in the sump. It’s all in the back chamber, hard to reach, of course.

Fish are mad. Instead of just a normal waterchange I scrubbed most everything down. Moved some rock a little. I had to get to the Little Rock flower. He’s currently on the sand under a cup. I’ll have to fashion something to keep him safe and allow flow without him escaping. Such a little thing. I think I hurt his foot as he was in the very back corner at the bottom.

Moved the light more center as well. Idk if the toadstool is shedding or what. It’s still not opened. Will check today as lights come on. I moved the powerhead back to blowing mostly on it so will see if that helps.

I’m still thinking of getting some new rock and stuff.

Oh, I also thought. I have a small five gallon. Maybe I should put the little anemone in there. I have the orbit marine led over the pallifinas. I can re hang and light it too. I hate that he’s shrunk.

Snap pics once the lights come on.

 

[d2mini]

I was. Idk. Today durning my maintenance I noticed the bottom of the emergency drain pipe was not attached in the sump. It was full of verminteds. Shone a flashlight and the whole sump was pretty full especially in the chamber where the water comes from the tank. Sigh. Will they help raise the nitrates? Like would they count towards my “stocking level” and cause me to essentially be overstocked? lol.

Are you sure those are vermatids? Or are they tube worms?
I have a bunch of tube worms in my overflow (looks just like yours), If you look in when its dark and see feather dusters sticking out, it's tube worms. I'm leaving them for now... figure they are helping filter the water.

 

[Mschmidt]

You have about local that can 3d print you a mushroom cage for the rfa? I have one, but will take time to get to you, so won't help today.

 

[LadyMac]

I believe my dinos are back.

I may have to just toss the towel in on this guys. I can’t afford a reef tank it seems.

 

[Nano_Man]

Oh
Keep going
There is a saying that you have to have bad times to know what good times are . Also you don’t need to be rich to run a reef tank it only gets expensive if you go down the rabbit hole on fancy not needed equipment. Your tank will go through phases in its life. But please don’t give up a basic tank can become a outstanding reef tank with time . Passing good luck to you from the uk

 

[LadyMac]

Oh
Keep going
There is a saying that you have to have bad times to know what good times are . Also you don’t need to be rich to run a reef tank it only gets expensive if you go down the rabbit hole on fancy not needed equipment. Your tank will go through phases in its life. But please don’t give up a basic tank can become an outstanding reef tank with time . Passing good luck to you from the uk

It’s not just fancy equipment. It’s anything. We are in a bad place at home, and my health isn’t great. I’ve a significant painting to work in but it’s going to take me a few years at least to get it done.

It’s just that I’ve been hit with nothing but bad for a couple years now. It’s exhausting. I need pods. Like, a constant supply. And some microbacter 7 I guess? And to replenish my clean up crew. And better lights. And to find the best way for the powerheads. I just cannot get it right. The fish are thriving. The dinos are also thriving. My new corals are smothering. The UV isn’t helping this time and idk if a blackout will help. I really want to keep this. But nothing has been right. I thought about moving the fish and few corals to a smaller tank and just draining this, working towards new everything. Then dipping the corals and moving things back if they survive.

Or I can just leave it to smother everything out like it’s doing cause right now I’m so confused. High nitrates, maybe. My test kits old and always has read the exact same thing since purchase. Phosphates low. But if I do a waterchange it explodes. Maybe it’s the salt. It’s the reef crystals. Maybe my skimmers not working right even though I get some dark muck. But it doesn’t “smell bad”. My RODI unit needs new stuff by now I’m sure. Im just… I feel so defeated with this. I’m not sure what I can do that doesn’t involve money to help.

For now I’m going to toss something over it and leave the lights off for a week or three. Hopefully everyone will be ok. You know you’re bad when GSP won’t thrive.

 

[Nano_Man]

I feel for you after reading your post if you don't mind. I am going to contact some other members to give you good advice. And why your waiting everything will sort it self out
@vetteguy53081
@Fish Styx
@Paul B
@Subsea
@i cant think
Please look at post above can any of you help and sort theses problems you all have vast experience on reef keeping. Thank you