Tank is currently going through the uglies.. anything I can do?

[Lavey29]

Until you get your phosphate up you're going to have issues. I had same problems as you at 4 months. My nitrate and phosphate bottomed out. Once I got those numbers up the tank cleared and corals were very happy. I clean glass once a week now. At almost 9 months, have moderate GHA but good cleaner crew and coraline forming so it should out compete the GHA. At 4 months your tank is not to bad at all. Try and stabilize those numbers and avoid dumping chemicals in to fix everything. It just throws off all balance.

 

[Dad2Wyatt]

Until you get your phosphate up you're going to have issues. I had same problems as you at 4 months. My nitrate and phosphate bottomed out. Once I got those numbers up the tank cleared and corals were very happy. I clean glass once a week now. At almost 9 months, have moderate GHA but good cleaner crew and coraline forming so it should out compete the GHA. At 4 months your tank is not to bad at all. Try and stabilize those numbers and avoid dumping chemicals in to fix everything. It just throws off all balance.

What do you run your phosphates at? Don’t want to have them too high and harm corals!

also this is the lowest my nitrates have been. I got them in the 10-20 range last water change so im assuming the algae growth is continuing to lower them at this point

 

[Lavey29]

Phosphate generally will not harm coral or fish. Unless hugely high. Mine sits close to .1 little higher little lower. Keep your nitrates around 10.

 

[Lavey29]

You're only on month 4 so the ugliest will be off and on for 8 more months. Try and keep a natural approach and not fall back to chemicals to fix problems. It only creates more problems. Nothing in this hobby happens fast. If you make an adjustment it may take months before you see the results. Stay the course, focus on consistent parameters.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Why not let it play out, it’s an ecosystem…

Keep phosphates in check, run skimmer, and do water changes weekly. It will pull through

 

[Tamberav]

Just do regular maintenance, put some floss in your HOB to change every few days. It just takes time.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

This is so expected. As the last few posts say, just wait it out. Give it a good 1 year!

 

[vetteguy53081]

As much as I hate to say, you are preparing to chase numbers and anything else to reverse this which is a no no. There is algae and diatoms. Siohoning is perfectly ok.
What you can do is siphon - clean glass as needed-reduce white light intensity- add liquid bacteria such as Bacter XLM at 1.5ml per 10 gals during the day for 7-10 days.
Add a few snails such as:
astrea
turbo
cerith
nassarius
Chiton

Emerals crab female may help also with bubble.

 

[Lavey29]

As much as I hate to say, you are preparing to chase numbers and anything else to reverse this which is a no no. There is algae and diatoms. Siohoning is perfectly ok.
What you can do is siphon - clean glass as needed-reduce white light intensity- add liquid bacteria such as Bacter XLM at 1.5ml per 10 gals during the day for 7-10 days.
Add a few snails such as:
astrea
turbo
cerith
nassarius
Chiton

Emerals crab female may help also with bubble.

How do you know a female emerald versus a male?

 

[Tamberav]

How do you know a female emerald versus a male?

I had my LFS pick them up and hold their bottoms to the glass.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

How do you know a female emerald versus a male?

I don’t know about emerald crabs but when I eat Maryland blue crabs males have a spiked thingy on their ventral surface while it’s more rounded in females!

 

[Lavey29]

I had my LFS pick them up and hold their bottoms to the glass.

I have no idea what's in my tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

How do you know a female emerald versus a male?

Male will have a large claw

 

[Cjeippert]

Update: after I got done ranting I cleaned my glass and my water is actually a bit cloudy today(was clear before bed last night) could 0 phosphates have something to do with that? Also any phosphate tests you recommend?

Hanna phosphorus checker works best for me, but I do usually have .01 to .04. I find it to be more reliable and consistent in the ultra low range.

 

[Lavey29]

Male will have a large claw

I just bought another torch and when I was dipping it. A nice emerald crab dropped out of it.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I just bought another torch and when I was dipping it. A nice emerald crab dropped out of it.

If that happens often enough this hobby might pay for itself!

 

[Lavey29]

If that happens often enough this hobby might pay for itself!

I thought he would attach to the same coral in my tank but he disappeared into the rocks.

 

[Dad2Wyatt]

thanks all!
think I’m going to add a few more snails, and an emerald crab or two, get a better phosphorus tester, and just focus on scrubbing and siphoning and reap benefits down the line!

 

[jmichaelh7]

thanks all!
think I’m going to add a few more snails, and an emerald crab or two, get a better phosphorus tester, and just focus on scrubbing and siphoning and reap benefits down the line!

My sump looks like a red cyano , algae growing , tank. But I’m going to let it do it’s thing only few months in

 

[dk2nt9]

There is a group of videos by Tidal Gardens about how they dealt with "ugly phase" in their tanks.

Reef chemistry section has a lot of information about consequences of having no detectable (at Salifert tests sensitivity) phosphates. Too high (detectable at API tests sensitivity) and you can fuel algae.