Finally...125 gal, but with problems

cornraker · 10/09/2010, 02:04 PM

So i finally broke down and bought a big tank. I'm new to SW. I've owned FW for many years but this whole SW thing is new. I bought it off a guy who had it up and running, so me and my buddy broke it down, brought it home, and set it up. The maroon clown that he had survived, and is doing fine. I do have a few problems though. there is aiptasia anemones and they seem to be getting worse. I plan on getting a filefish for that. The second problem is this dark green algae stuff i think its bubble algae. The third and most concerning problem is this brown stuff covering the sand and some of the rock. Its really ugly and it showed up all of a sudden. Any input would be greatly appreciated. It has been exactly a week since i got the tank. Ill try to get pictures up. Thanks

cornraker · 10/09/2010, 02:12 PM

The brown stuff on the sand.

The green algae looking stuff. Maybe bubble algae?

Outbreak of anemones

cornraker · 10/09/2010, 02:13 PM

sorry for the unfocused pictures

Dustin1300 · 10/09/2010, 02:14 PM

If aptasia is out of hand, I'd use something like Joe's Juice/Aptasia X to kill it off before it takes over as it sounds like the previous owner was a bad reefer.

In regards to the bubble, manually remove as much as possible and get Phosphate/Silica in check and what are your trates also?

The brown stuff covering everything sounds like a diatom bloom to me which is typical of new tank cycle. Did you salvage water from previous owner and minimize die off on the live rock?

iLLwiLL · 10/09/2010, 02:17 PM

instead of a file fish, a few peppermint shrimp would also work and there very hardy. if its bubble algae, some have had success with emerald crabs, and if its just short hair algae then an algae blenny, foxface, tangs, snails and hermits are all awesome ways of keeping it in check. the stuff on the sand is just diatoms, and will pass as your tank matures.

~Will.

cornraker · 10/09/2010, 02:18 PM

Yesterday, nitrates were apparantly zero according to the water test so i assume they arent zero but darn close. I DID salvage 45 gallons of water from the previous owner. I wrapped the live rock in wet newspaper and put it in a cooler. It was out of the water for a good 3-4 hours.

Dustin1300 · 10/09/2010, 02:32 PM

The picture confirms diatom bloom...Most likely from the rock being out of the water for a few hours. You need to battle the aptasia like I said earlier. Peppermint shrimp will not take those out quickly either and you need to give them a fighting chance against aptasia by killing it off with some chemicals. I know a copperband is about the best aptasia eater but is a very hard fish to keep and would not recommend for a newb

cornraker · 10/09/2010, 02:34 PM

Thanks Dustin. I'll give the peppermints a go.

aleonn · 10/09/2010, 04:06 PM

If the aiptasia are concentrated in one or two rock pieces, I'd take those rocks out and nuke them with a torch... so many you have

10/09/2010, 02:04 PM	#1
cornraker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 108	Finally...125 gal, but with problems So i finally broke down and bought a big tank. I'm new to SW. I've owned FW for many years but this whole SW thing is new. I bought it off a guy who had it up and running, so me and my buddy broke it down, brought it home, and set it up. The maroon clown that he had survived, and is doing fine. I do have a few problems though. there is aiptasia anemones and they seem to be getting worse. I plan on getting a filefish for that. The second problem is this dark green algae stuff i think its bubble algae. The third and most concerning problem is this brown stuff covering the sand and some of the rock. Its really ugly and it showed up all of a sudden. Any input would be greatly appreciated. It has been exactly a week since i got the tank. Ill try to get pictures up. Thanks

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10/09/2010, 02:12 PM	#2
cornraker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 108	The brown stuff on the sand. The green algae looking stuff. Maybe bubble algae? Outbreak of anemones

10/09/2010, 02:13 PM	#3
cornraker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 108	sorry for the unfocused pictures

10/09/2010, 02:14 PM	#4
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	If aptasia is out of hand, I'd use something like Joe's Juice/Aptasia X to kill it off before it takes over as it sounds like the previous owner was a bad reefer. In regards to the bubble, manually remove as much as possible and get Phosphate/Silica in check and what are your trates also? The brown stuff covering everything sounds like a diatom bloom to me which is typical of new tank cycle. Did you salvage water from previous owner and minimize die off on the live rock?

10/09/2010, 02:17 PM	#5
iLLwiLL Codename: Dutchess Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the danger zone Posts: 933	instead of a file fish, a few peppermint shrimp would also work and there very hardy. if its bubble algae, some have had success with emerald crabs, and if its just short hair algae then an algae blenny, foxface, tangs, snails and hermits are all awesome ways of keeping it in check. the stuff on the sand is just diatoms, and will pass as your tank matures. ~Will.

10/09/2010, 02:18 PM	#6
cornraker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 108	Yesterday, nitrates were apparantly zero according to the water test so i assume they arent zero but darn close. I DID salvage 45 gallons of water from the previous owner. I wrapped the live rock in wet newspaper and put it in a cooler. It was out of the water for a good 3-4 hours.

10/09/2010, 02:32 PM	#7
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	The picture confirms diatom bloom...Most likely from the rock being out of the water for a few hours. You need to battle the aptasia like I said earlier. Peppermint shrimp will not take those out quickly either and you need to give them a fighting chance against aptasia by killing it off with some chemicals. I know a copperband is about the best aptasia eater but is a very hard fish to keep and would not recommend for a newb

10/09/2010, 02:34 PM	#8
cornraker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 108	Thanks Dustin. I'll give the peppermints a go.

10/09/2010, 04:06 PM	#9
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	If the aiptasia are concentrated in one or two rock pieces, I'd take those rocks out and nuke them with a torch... so many you have