Initial Set up Help? 5g Pico. Zoas doing poorly

Bmgrocks · 10/06/2010, 10:15 AM

Set up a Pico Reef in the Middle of August.

5g Fluval Chi Using Reef Crystals and RODI Water, Initial 5g of water was taken from a established 3yo reef tank.

AC 70 With 2 Bags of Carbon taken from an established tank (to aid in providing beneficial bacteria to a relatively sterile tank)

Half unit of Chemi Pure Elite

5lbs (New) Aragonite fine sand

Visitherm Stealth 25w Heater

Coralife 2x18w PC Fixture

Had the initial Tank Cycle after about 3 weeks from set up presence of diatoms, different types of algae on the glass, pod explosion. Kept up with Water changes, Parameters based on a Stupid Dip Test Kit, (Know they arn't the best, but do provide a general idea)

Nitrate 0-5ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
pH 8.1-8.4

I've had a few ricordea, pepperment shrimp, and a maxima clam for the duration (no other place for them) and they have all been doing well.

However in the case of my zoas, I removed them during the cycle, they did well in my neighbors tank, and come the reintroduction to my tank, a week ago they opened for about 3-4 days, and have since stayed closed, some accumulating a light brown diatom film on the polyps.

Any general ideas? Is my cycle not complete?

I have an artificial reef structure, made from pond foam and eggcrate, so I'm aware that it will take a little extra time for beneficial bacteria to build up. But with almost no Bioload, some established filtration media, and a tank being set up for close to 2 months, what could be the cause for poor extension, and closed polyps

I will definitely be investing in some Test Kits.

pH
Calcium
KH/Alkalinity
Magnesium
Nitrate

Any Ideas as to why they are closing up?
Is my cycle still ongoing?
All other tank inhabitants are doing well, Shrimp, and other inverts doing well, ricordea doing well?

What am I doing wrong? (well besides using adequate testing) Any ideas?

I will also be upgrading my lighting to a LED Fixture within the upcoming weeks. 12 LEDs. Is this a reflection of lighting, or poor water quality.

theatrus · 10/06/2010, 11:07 AM

How much flow are you getting?

The algae on zoas is a bad sign, I would move them out for the time being and see if you can get them back to a healthy state.

zachfishman · 10/06/2010, 11:10 AM

Try removing the shrimp. In a small enough tank peppermints run out of stuff to scavenge and start picking at zoas/rics/etc. It's exactly what happened in my 29 once my peppermint exhausted all the aiptasia and began getting bold. The rics and zoa colony it picked on began showing signs of improvement the first day the peppermint was out.

Bmgrocks · 10/06/2010, 11:12 AM

I'm using a Aquaclear 70 Which Pushes 300gph or about 55x Turn Over Rate
Should I look into a K Nano 240 gph? And bring it to close to 100x Turn Over?

Great observation with the peppermint shrimp, it could def be an irritant. I'm actually looking into purchasing a neon dottyback, when i get a better idea of my water quality. I'm sure He'll make short work of it.

Do you guys think Lighting is also an Issue?
2x18w PCs?

I'm upgrading to 20k LED Picolamp 12x3w LED's
So I'll trust I'll need to light acclimate carefully.

Tony78 · 10/06/2010, 11:30 AM

I had a 5G pico for years with very similar gear to you. I ended up converting the AC 70 to a fuge (threads all over the net on how to), using an aquaC remora nano hang on skimmer, and a K nano for flow.

My water changes were a weekly plastic solo cup full and replace with bottled nutri-seawater.

10/06/2010, 10:15 AM	#1
Bmgrocks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,006	Initial Set up Help? 5g Pico. Zoas doing poorly Set up a Pico Reef in the Middle of August. 5g Fluval Chi Using Reef Crystals and RODI Water, Initial 5g of water was taken from a established 3yo reef tank. AC 70 With 2 Bags of Carbon taken from an established tank (to aid in providing beneficial bacteria to a relatively sterile tank) Half unit of Chemi Pure Elite 5lbs (New) Aragonite fine sand Visitherm Stealth 25w Heater Coralife 2x18w PC Fixture Had the initial Tank Cycle after about 3 weeks from set up presence of diatoms, different types of algae on the glass, pod explosion. Kept up with Water changes, Parameters based on a Stupid Dip Test Kit, (Know they arn't the best, but do provide a general idea) Nitrate 0-5ppm Nitrite 0ppm pH 8.1-8.4 I've had a few ricordea, pepperment shrimp, and a maxima clam for the duration (no other place for them) and they have all been doing well. However in the case of my zoas, I removed them during the cycle, they did well in my neighbors tank, and come the reintroduction to my tank, a week ago they opened for about 3-4 days, and have since stayed closed, some accumulating a light brown diatom film on the polyps. Any general ideas? Is my cycle not complete? I have an artificial reef structure, made from pond foam and eggcrate, so I'm aware that it will take a little extra time for beneficial bacteria to build up. But with almost no Bioload, some established filtration media, and a tank being set up for close to 2 months, what could be the cause for poor extension, and closed polyps I will definitely be investing in some Test Kits. pH Calcium KH/Alkalinity Magnesium Nitrate Any Ideas as to why they are closing up? Is my cycle still ongoing? All other tank inhabitants are doing well, Shrimp, and other inverts doing well, ricordea doing well? What am I doing wrong? (well besides using adequate testing) Any ideas? I will also be upgrading my lighting to a LED Fixture within the upcoming weeks. 12 LEDs. Is this a reflection of lighting, or poor water quality.

10/06/2010, 11:07 AM	#2
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	How much flow are you getting? The algae on zoas is a bad sign, I would move them out for the time being and see if you can get them back to a healthy state. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/06/2010, 11:10 AM	#3
zachfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St Petersburg, FL Posts: 3,577	Try removing the shrimp. In a small enough tank peppermints run out of stuff to scavenge and start picking at zoas/rics/etc. It's exactly what happened in my 29 once my peppermint exhausted all the aiptasia and began getting bold. The rics and zoa colony it picked on began showing signs of improvement the first day the peppermint was out. __________________ Patience is a reefer's best tool. Secret Xenia lover. M.S. Marine Biology Staff - Marine Discovery Center, St. Petersburg FL Tampa Bay Reef Club BOD 2018 Current Tank Info: 34g modded Solana

10/06/2010, 11:12 AM	#4
Bmgrocks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,006	I'm using a Aquaclear 70 Which Pushes 300gph or about 55x Turn Over Rate Should I look into a K Nano 240 gph? And bring it to close to 100x Turn Over? Great observation with the peppermint shrimp, it could def be an irritant. I'm actually looking into purchasing a neon dottyback, when i get a better idea of my water quality. I'm sure He'll make short work of it. Do you guys think Lighting is also an Issue? 2x18w PCs? I'm upgrading to 20k LED Picolamp 12x3w LED's So I'll trust I'll need to light acclimate carefully. Last edited by Bmgrocks; 10/06/2010 at 11:32 AM.

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10/06/2010, 11:30 AM	#5
Tony78 Boston Terrier Fan Club Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bolingbrook IL Posts: 209	I had a 5G pico for years with very similar gear to you. I ended up converting the AC 70 to a fuge (threads all over the net on how to), using an aquaC remora nano hang on skimmer, and a K nano for flow. My water changes were a weekly plastic solo cup full and replace with bottled nutri-seawater.