Razor

My tank is 9 weeks old now and I wanted to get some advice and comments on its progress. I seem to have all of this green algae that I cannot kick and I think it's affecting my zoanthids. I would also like to know if this is what a new tank 9 weeks old should look like or if I'm "out-of-whack" with it. Thanks for your comments and advice. Equipment in use: 29 gallon tall Current USA Sundial T5 lights (2-10K and 2- 460nm Actinic High Output T5 lamps) 2- #2 Koralia power heads 1-#1 Koralia power head Remora C HOB protein Skimmer Penguin filter (size C cartridge) I use for my Active Carbon filters, left over from my freshwater tank RO/DI water (0.00 TDS) Red sea Salt Bio load/balance: ~45 lbs of Live rock 2-3" of crushed coral- vacuuming a little out each water change until I have about ½- 1" deep 1- false percula 2 and a half inches 1- Lawnmower blenny 2 and a half inches 1- Orange Linckia star 1- Brittle star 1- Large snorkel snail 2- Small snorkel snails 5- medium hermit crabs 10- Cerith snails 5- Asterea snails Corals: 2 small Purple digi frags 4 small Pink Birds nest frags 1 small Purple Meradiana frag 4 head Kryptonite Candy Cane Pulsing Xenia that's spreading Orange Cap that attached itself 2 blue hornet zoanthids 3 green dragon eye zoa 15 small gorilla nipple zoa 4 green bay packers' zoa 3 other type small zoas The zoanthids were doing real even spreading their mats and starting small polyps. However, about a week ago they closed up really tight and seemed to stop growing. Two of my blue hornets even turned brown and died. Nothing has changed in the tank and my SPS's are doing really well. They are even showing new growth on them. I do a 5 gallon water change ~ 10-14 days and a top off with RO/DI water. I cannot seem to get rid of the green algae and I think this is what's killing my zoas. I noticed a few days ago that have coralline algae starting to grow in one spot. Parameters: Temp 77.5 – 79d SG 1.025 - 1.026 PH 8.4 dKH- 8 Calcium- 420 Amm- 0 Ni- 0 Na- 0 Phos- 0.25 and < Mag? I bit my nails off each time I try, haven't been able to get a decent reading yet I unfaithfully dose: B-Ionic part 1&2, Purple Tech, S.A.T. TLC, Strontium and Molybduim?..., Ess Elements, Tech I (long term iodine) I try to do each by the label but I forget some nights. I always dose the minimum liquid amount recommended when I do dose (ex. If it says 5-10ml I will use 5) I think this is everything. If there's something I'm missing let me know. I also keep a log of each water change. Thanks again, Shawn

I would be coming from Killeen, would you meet at RCA with a good one? I have one clown and would like to get another.

Yes, it is American made, and it is a matted finish. http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0111760306

S

Man, am I glad last week was pay day so I didn't have to donate anything. I get to keep all my fluids in my body for now! Nice meeting you John. ~Shawn

I use this blue putty with a gray center. You can buy it at walmart in the painting section, by the super/krazy glue. I cut a peice off with my knife and mash the blue and gray together and it hardens just fine under water. You can use a small about of gel glue to hold the rocks in place long enough for the putty to harden.

Yes they are. I just scrolled through the page and noticed the some are marked with the BOGOF offer so I don't know if it applies to everything on there. Anyway, here's the link to to post itself: http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53748 I couldn't help but notice they're selling their Blue Hornet's for like $199.00! I think I'll just stick with my current supplier.

This is a MAAST add I found today. I know there is a lot of people on here that like the Acan's. They've posted a buy one get one free sale. I don't know how the prices are, I just glanced at the page. I'm not in the market for corals right now, but thought I'd share with you all. Pacific East Aquaculture: http://www.pacificeastaquaculture.com/ShowProductCategory.aspx?CategoryId=12

It took me about 10-12 days to get through my amm and trite spike, then the trate and phos set in. I remember watching in 15 min increments the diatoms blooming across my new clean rock. It was stressful, but when that happened my amm/trite had gone to 0. I got some good local live rock from vendors here, I did not order it, so my die off was very little but it still went through the full cycle. I've never used the test strips. I thought about getting them for PH just to see how close they matched up with my liquid test, but I never bought them. I agree totally with moving the rock off the side walls. I'd even suggest that if you're going to use a mag float cleaner go ahead and buy one now just to make sure you have the correct amount of space between the rocks and walls because once those diatoms set in they take over quickly then the algae starts and you don't want to have to mess with the rock then if you can keep from it. Something else, I had a problem with my nitrates not dropping so I added more live rock and now the trates are between .5 and 0 each test. I started with about 25 lbs, then put in another 20 lbs and it seems to be good balance so far.

Well I guess that answered my question! Must have posted while I was slowly typing. Thanks CRmike

Couldn't you just modify and use the magnetic algae scrubbers? From what I recall they're not too expensive and already covered.

+1 for the dead fish??! Takes less than a minute to remove them. Hell, give me a net and I'll get it out. I understand that these fish are very sensitive and will die quickly in a LFS without the proper time devoted to its individual care. However, my wife doesn't realize the same because she hasn't read the books or studied like I have. So when she seeing a dead fish just rotting away it's kind of hard to convince her that I need that $300 set of lights or $200 protein skimmer two isles over.

Hmm ... frags?! What time?

PM Sent

I would love to take one from you, but I don't know if my lights are strong enough for it. I have the 4 bulb Current USA Sundial T5 light. They're 96watts all together in my 29 gallon tank. Let me know if you think they'll survive under that light, because I've read they take alot of light. My current flow is very high (1600 gph+)

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None of my powerheads are for sale. I use all of them for either mixing salt, quarantine tank or in the main tank. I just wanted to let you know before you went out and started buying powerheads like I did. IMO don't even mess with the nano and #1.

I have a 29g tank and it is 30" long so you might want to put a tape measure on it to be sure. Also I currently have two #2 Korlia power heads and they are just the right size. I also have a nano and #1, but I was not impressed at all with their water movement. If you do have a 24" long tank Mhart had a really nice powerful set up for sale about a month ago.

I got two pep shrimp from Barterer and they are both doing great.

It's almost like I'm a crack addict looking for my next fix! This stuff is addictive (saltwater that is). I just sit there staring at the tank for hours.

Is two years up yet? I am so ready for a bigger tank already. I don't think I'm gonna make the 2 year mark with this 29 gallon!

Yeah, I just started a 29 gallon reef about a month ago, I need a bigger tank!

Do you still have any Eye of Rah? PM sent.

What am I suppose to do with the frags attached to plugs? I know this may be a silly question, but I've never really thought about it until it became an issue. How do I get the frag from the plug to the live rock? I don't mind the plugs being in the tank temporarily, but I eventually want them out. What do you all do?

I know Mhart had an awsome deal on a set of T5's that are very strong. I believe they are 24" but you may be able to work something out.