PLS HELP 1st TIME CORAL OWNER

[kileki]

Hi All! I have a 40 Gal tank that was FOWLR since November until Friday when I added this leather toadstool.

It looks like this and I want to know if I need to be worried or not!?

It was laying like this on the rock I initially had it on so I moved it lower thinking it was getting too much light but it’s still like this on the bottom of the tank now too.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Should I look into buying a liquid phosphate remover in the mean time to be safe?

I would do larger water changes than you do, or you could do phosphate remover. Also, feed your tank less, which can lower your phosphates and nitrates.

 

[Glowurm]

Should I look into buying a liquid phosphate remover in the mean time to be safe?

I would look at the cause first rather than the treatment. You got high phosphate and high nitrate, which is probably because you got a fish only tank with nothing but water changes to remove the excess nutrients.

Do you feed heavy? Do you run a skimmer? What's your filtration look like? Do you have any clean up crew? Do you have a sump? Refugium an option?

Personally feel you should leave dosing till you've exhausted natural solutions (if that makes sense). See a number of threads were ppl try to treat a problem with chemicals only to kick start a chain of other issues which they are not equipped to resolve.

 

[GSPClown94]

I just moved it down because I thought it was maybe getting too much light, it was originally on a rock, but I will move it back up.

My parameters are:
pH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20 (I do water changes every 2 weeks but it never changes. My LFS assured me it was okay everything I read says it should be 3-5)

kH: 6.4
mg: 1350
Ca: 380
PO4: 1

I have a fluval sea marine 3.0 light on the tank, this is my current light cycle

What’s your salinity at?

 

[kileki]

I would do larger water changes than you do, or you could do phosphate remover. Also, feed your tank less, which can lower your phosphates and nitrates.

I just did a 20% water change 2 days ago, should I increase my water change frequency?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I just did a 20% water change 2 days ago, should I increase my water change frequency?

When I had high phosphates, I did 2 25% water changes over 2-3 days. I would keep doing more minor water changes, around 20%, and do them twice a week (I did those two rapid water changes because I had high nitrates and phosphates with coral that was struggling)

 

[kileki]

I would look at the cause first rather than the treatment. You got high phosphate and high nitrate, which is probably because you got a fish only tank with nothing but water changes to remove the excess nutrients.

Do you feed heavy? Do you run a skimmer? What's your filtration look like? Do you have any clean up crew? Do you have a sump? Refugium an option?

Personally feel you should leave dosing till you've exhausted natural solutions (if that makes sense). See a number of threads were ppl try to treat a problem with chemicals only to kick start a chain of other issues which they are not equipped to resolve.

I feed a pinch of flake fish food every morning. I do not own a skimmer, refugium, or sump. I've thought about investing in a HOB Skimmer, my LFS advised me that I didn't need to. I currently have a Fluval AquaClear 70 as my filter with 2 sponges with the biomax pouch.

Bioload in the tank is: 2 clowns, and 3 damsels with now 1 leather toadstool.

 

[kileki]

What’s your salinity at?

Salinity 35.3

 

[kileki]

When I had high phosphates, I did 2 25% water changes over 2-3 days. I would keep doing more minor water changes, around 20%, and do them twice a week (I did those two rapid water changes because I had high nitrates and phosphates with coral that was struggling)

You use RO/DI water on your water changes, right? I ask, because my nitrate has never changed since my tank cycled. I originally thought I had a bad test kit or something, because it wasn't showing Nitrates for a while when I first set up the tank, but since it started showing Nitrates, it has been pretty rock solid at 20ppm with every water change.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

You use RO/DI water on your water changes, right?

I sure do! I am currently making some right now, haha

 

[kileki]

I sure do! I am currently making some right now, haha

I ask, because my nitrate has never changed since my tank cycled. I originally thought I had a bad test kit or something, because it wasn't showing Nitrates for a while when I first set up the tank, but since it started showing Nitrates, it has been pretty rock solid at 20ppm with every water change. I have to go to my LFS for RODI water, I do not have a unit or the space to make it myself in my condo.

 

[Glowurm]

I feed a pinch of flake fish food every morning. I do not own a skimmer, refugium, or sump. I've thought about investing in a HOB Skimmer, my LFS advised me that I didn't need to. I currently have a Fluval AquaClear 70 as my filter with 2 sponges with the biomax pouch.

Bioload in the tank is: 2 clowns, and 3 damsels with now 1 leather toadstool

Hmmm so your only way to extract nutrients from the tank is water changes. Think you're going to struggle to keep nutrient levels down over the longer term and your corals may (or may not suffer depending on what you stock).

 

[kileki]

Hmmm so your only way to extract nutrients from the tank is water changes. Think you're going to struggle to keep nutrient levels down over the longer term and your corals may (or may not suffer depending on what you stock).

So you would say it's worth investing in a protein skimmer? I do not want to invest into a sump quite yet, I was looking more towards the HOB options. Or would it be possible/beneficial just to add a 2nd smaller filter? It's so hard to get consistent information researching online.

 

[slythy]

So you would say it's worth investing in a protein skimmer? I do not want to invest into a sump quite yet, I was looking more towards the HOB options. Or would it be possible/beneficial just to add a 2nd smaller filter? It's so hard to get consistent information researching online.

I would do the Hang on skimmer over another small filter. Most of your filtering comes from the rocks and sand. The small amount of mechanical filtering can help if you stay on top of it but there are tons of people who dont even run any mechanical.

Currently you have no way to export organics through a refugium or through a skimmer. Either one will help you. Skimmer will take out organics before they become nitrates/phosphates and a refugium will remove them when they are nitrates/phosphates.

I am a huge fan of Reef Octopus skimmers, I use their sump models and have been very happy. I have also in the early 2000's ran a HOB refugium but with how thin a 40b tank is with no middle brace I would be more weary of hanging that on there.

 

[Glowurm]

So you would say it's worth investing in a protein skimmer? I do not want to invest into a sump quite yet, I was looking more towards the HOB options. Or would it be possible/beneficial just to add a 2nd smaller filter? It's so hard to get consistent information researching online

I hear you, the problem with advice is nobody really knows what direction your taking with the tank, how often you maintain it, conduct water changes, clean it, feed etc etc. So the advice many offer is anecdotal at best...

Best advice i've seen given is "slow down" nothing goods happens by making rapid changes to the tank, in fact from what i've read on here is the classic newbie mistake which compounds on the original one.

In regards to the skimmer i would venture that its probably a worthwhile investment if you want to provide more stability (and sure there are those who dont, but they are usually very experienced reefers) to your tank and provide a means to export waste.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The aquaclear filter isn't doing anything for your tank. I agree to increase the water changes or add a skimmer. A skimmer is always a good idea anyway.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I ask, because my nitrate has never changed since my tank cycled. I originally thought I had a bad test kit or something, because it wasn't showing Nitrates for a while when I first set up the tank, but since it started showing Nitrates, it has been pretty rock solid at 20ppm with every water change. I have to go to my LFS for RODI water, I do not have a unit or the space to make it myself in my condo.

I have a rodi setup under a sink in my townhouse with a small 5g bucket. I don't know if this would be possible for you, but it is how I made it work in my small living space.

 

[kileki]

I have a rodi setup under a sink in my townhouse with a small 5g bucket. I don't know if this would be possible for you, but it is how I made it work in my small living space.

Would you be able to link the setup you have please??

 

[kileki]

The aquaclear filter isn't doing anything for your tank. I agree to increase the water changes or add a skimmer. A skimmer is always a good idea anyway.

Any suggestions on what skimmer? Preferably HOB. I dont have space under my tank nor the capital to go full blown into a sump, refugium, the works. Getting married in a couple months, and trying to not blow thousands more on the tank

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Would you be able to link the setup you have please??

I sure can! This is a thread I made when I first set it up. I'll get a recent photo in a second.

 

[Gumbies R Us]