Reef tank frustration

[Blitz06]

Hey all I’ve been in this hobby for a few years now and I’m at a point where I’m really just frustrated. I’ve had a passion for the ocean and always wanted to keep a piece of that in my home. No matter what I do i just can’t seem to have a successful tank. Currently have a 40 gallon AIO setup for about 6 months and very little coral growth. I’ve struggled with a huge amount of detritus buildup in the rear chamber. This has led to cyano outbreaks. i only have a few small fish and feed very lightly. My lighting could play a part as it’s just a simple black box. I love this hobby and I’m just looking to get some advice on how to keep and how to have a balance so I can get the most joy out of this hobby.Has anyone else experienced this? I’m not trying to complain but just want to seek some guidance. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

[Cell]

Coral growth can be tough in a system's first year and detritus buildup in AIO chambers is quite common. I don't think you are experiencing anything incredibly unique. I would just let the tank mature a bit and see if your current corals recover with time and stability.

If you post a full tank shot and full parameters, there may be something specific that sticks out.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

I have a few questions.

What kind of live rocks are you using and how much of it?
What kind of corals is in your tank?
what kind of salt?
what are your parameters?
What are your light settings? the black box is powerful but very generic kind of lighting.
Do you have a pic of your tank?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Lighting, flow, parameters, and time are the most important factors to coral growth. Unfortunately you haven't shared any of that info so its really hard to offer any meaningful feedback.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We need some basic tank info before we can give feedback on what should be done. Also, pictures are always helpful

 

[VirginiaReefer]

what is your lighting schedule? i do blues for 11 hours and whites for only 1 hour a day. and also white is at 5% and blues max out at 60%

 

[Blitz06]

We need some basic tank info before we can give feedback on what should be done. Also, pictures are always helpful

Here is a pic of the tank

 

[Blitz06]

Lighting, flow, parameters, and time are the most important factors to coral growth. Unfortunately you haven't shared any of that info so it’s really hard to offer any meaningful feedback.

For flow I have two basic power heads one positioned high and one low. For lighting I run a simple full spectrum black box light and parameters.
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
And nitrate about 5-10 ppm
Phosphate 0.25

 

[Blitz06]

what is your lighting schedule? i do blues for 11 hours and whites for only 1 hour a day. and also white is at 5% and blues max out at 60%

I run it from 8 to 6:30 at 35% and I can’t change the spectrum unless I put it on it’s all blue setting

 

[Blitz06]

I have a few questions.

What kind of live rocks are you using and how much of it?
What kind of corals is in your tank?
what kind of salt?
what are your parameters?
What are your light settings? the black box is powerful but very generic kind of lighting.
Do you have a pic of your tank?

I have a few peices of dry rock I don’t know the exact amount.
I just have a few soft corals and a small rainbow bubble tip
My light settings is 35% full spectrum and I can’t change the %of blues and whites
Here’s a pic a little cloudy because of a recent water change

 

[Blitz06]

Thank you all for the replies hope this added information helps

 

[Aquavaj]

Good to see another local reefer. Looks like you're off to a good start. At around 6 months most tanks are barely starting to mature. I'd say keep up with what you're doing and you should start seeing growth going forward.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A par meter would really help you know if they are receiving adequate lighting, corals get 90% of their energy from the light. What I see is low flow, low lighting, not enough rock, and no proper testing equipment. I understand the idea of the "budget reef", I don't mean to offend (honestly), but being straightforward (I'm an older guy), budget equipment is getting you budget results, that's whats happening here.

 

[VintageReefer]

Hello!

Plenty have success with certain black boxes. What kind is yours?
Viparspectra is a very popular one that has proven results

Also, you don’t need full spectrum. You can run the blue channel only if you wish and it may help.

As for detritus in the all in one chamber, very common. Do you use a filter sock? You may need to use a shop vac to suck that’s stuff out and then a filter sock for a few days/weeks until things settle. Are you stirring / vacuuming sand? If so, you shouldn’t. Not needed and will just cause cloudiness and then detritus in those chambers. But I don’t think the detritus is the root of the problem.

I do have a sump, but check out my detritus. It’s as deep as the eggcrate in my first chamber

Chamber 2 is a cryptic zone with an algae scrubber

Chamber 3 is my return pump and also filled with detritus

Yet despite all this detritus…

So, while I do think it’s good to remove it in your situation, I don’t think it’s the root cause of your experiences

I would investigate lighting, flow, and add more rock. Can you also let us know what is inside your aio chambers ?

 

[Blitz06]

Hello!

Plenty have success with certain black boxes. What kind is yours?
Viparspectra is a very popular one that has proven results

Also, you don’t need full spectrum. You can run the blue channel only if you wish and it may help.

As for detritus in the all in one chamber, very common. Do you use a filter sock? You may need to use a shop vac to suck that’s stuff out and then a filter sock for a few days/weeks until things settle. Are you stirring / vacuuming sand? If so, you shouldn’t. Not needed and will just cause cloudiness and then detritus in those chambers. But I don’t think the detritus is the root of the problem.

I do have a sump, but check out my detritus. It’s as deep as the eggcrate in my first chamber

Chamber 2 is a cryptic zone with an algae scrubber

Chamber 3 is my return pump and also filled with detritus

Yet despite all this detritus…

So, while I do think it’s good to remove it in your situation, I don’t think it’s the root cause of your experiences

I would investigate lighting, flow, and add more rock. Can you also let us know what is inside your aio chambers ?

Yes thank you for the reply it’s good to know I’m on the right path
Chamber 1 filter sock and filter pad
Chamber two another sponge, chemi pure blue and marine pure gems
Chamber 3 return pump
Lighting is a philizon reef led
The glass is dirty in that area but this was the best picture i could get

 

[Blitz06]

A par meter would really help you know if they are receiving adequate lighting, corals get 90% of their energy from the light. What I see is low flow, low lighting, not enough rock, and no proper testing equipment. I understand the idea of the "budget reef", I don't mean to offend (honestly), but being straightforward (I'm an older guy), budget equipment is getting you budget results, that's whats happening here.

Thank you for the reply one thing I was considering was going smaller and then getting higher end equipment but i would have to save up as I’m only 17. I would like to stick with this tank if possible though.

 

[Blitz06]

Good to see another local reefer. Looks like you're off to a good start. At around 6 months most tanks are barely starting to mature. I'd say keep up with what you're doing and you should start seeing growth going forward.

Thank you I hope you’re right so you have any tips on the annenome it’s alive but always pretty retracted

 

[Doctorgori]

a fair question is how are you measuring “success” ? I mean would starting off with rock flower anemones be OK vs achieving similar with high end acros?
Just suggesting you could cut your teeth on sure fire livestock then play for the national championship later….
basically schedule the easy games now, play Alabama next year
..rock flower anemones
- green star polyps
- galaxea
- duncans
blastos et et

 

[Blitz06]

a fair question is how are you measuring “success” ? I mean would starting off with rock flower anemones be OK vs achieving similar with high end acros?
Just suggesting you could cut your teeth on sure fire livestock then play for the national championship later….
basically schedule the easy games now, play Alabama next year
..rock flower anemones
- green star polyps
- galaxea
- duncans
blastos et et

My success would be growth stability and a quality home for my livestock the hardest thing I’d like to keep is a BTA. I have some softies now and plan on lps in the future

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

First off, YOU CAN DO THIS. we have all been there.
Breathe.
read until you cant anymore! Lol.
let the tank mature.
idk if ur aio has filter socks or a cup with floss to filter out junk. To each his own. I ditched socks and just use filter floss. Cheaper and easier but to each his own. Either works.
Just read. I wont tell you how bad my first 6 months was. But you will make it. Good luck.

https://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/keeping-anemones/

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