Okay....so I have a big mess!

nanshaw2001 · 12/25/2009, 09:26 AM

Added some sand from a tank teardown in a lfs ( their display tank...store has closed

) added it to deepen my sand bed. I had also recently had a green hair algae outbreak. So my mess is....gha and silt from the sand covering everything. I am wondering if I can scrub the rocks that have coral on them? I have a couple of toadstool leathers, some blue xenia, a few zoa's etc. Ready to get the tank cleaned up. Any input greatly appreciated!!!

Sk8r · 12/25/2009, 09:32 AM

First of all, though you may not use a particulate filter in a marine tank, this would be a good time...I just stuff some floss into the downfall area of my sump, if need be, removing it in a few days.
When the water clears, use a new! turkey baster underwater to puff the stuff off. The hair algae is a phosphate problem, common, not serious with softies. You can remediate that by setting up a fuge, or a phosphate reactor, or just get some hermits and snails, about 1 per 2 gallons. They'll release the phosphate by eating the algae, but it'll go right back in if you don't have a phosphate uptake provision (fuge or reactor). And mostly patience. It's a time thing. The dust, however, is something you can filter and blow off.

nanshaw2001 · 12/25/2009, 10:02 AM

Sk...thanks for your response! I would love to scrub off some of the gha- even only if it looks better for awhile. What do you ( or anyone )reccomend? TIA!

nanshaw2001 · 12/25/2009, 12:32 PM

Any other responses ( done eating Christmas dinner....time to work on the tanks)?

goldenfamaliy · 12/25/2009, 12:36 PM

What do you have for a clean up crew? Are you over feeding? What are you using for top off water?

nanshaw2001 · 12/25/2009, 01:20 PM

I am using only ro/di water now. CUC has diminished over the last year and a half. maybe I need to refresh "the crew"?

EMUReef · 12/25/2009, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanshaw2001

I am using only ro/di water now. CUC has diminished over the last year and a half. maybe I need to refresh "the crew"?

yes hermit crabs are insane.

refresh your CUC as im about to for the 3rd time as my hermits devour my snails.

For instance.

I got a 15$ frag of xenia and put it in my 20 gallon and didnt do to well so i transfered to a more established tank, the coral was dead and within 30 mins the rock that it was on was picked clean.

12/25/2009, 09:26 AM	#1
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	Okay....so I have a big mess! Added some sand from a tank teardown in a lfs ( their display tank...store has closed) added it to deepen my sand bed. I had also recently had a green hair algae outbreak. So my mess is....gha and silt from the sand covering everything. I am wondering if I can scrub the rocks that have coral on them? I have a couple of toadstool leathers, some blue xenia, a few zoa's etc. Ready to get the tank cleaned up. Any input greatly appreciated!!! __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!

12/25/2009, 09:32 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	First of all, though you may not use a particulate filter in a marine tank, this would be a good time...I just stuff some floss into the downfall area of my sump, if need be, removing it in a few days. When the water clears, use a new! turkey baster underwater to puff the stuff off. The hair algae is a phosphate problem, common, not serious with softies. You can remediate that by setting up a fuge, or a phosphate reactor, or just get some hermits and snails, about 1 per 2 gallons. They'll release the phosphate by eating the algae, but it'll go right back in if you don't have a phosphate uptake provision (fuge or reactor). And mostly patience. It's a time thing. The dust, however, is something you can filter and blow off. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/25/2009, 10:02 AM	#3
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	Sk...thanks for your response! I would love to scrub off some of the gha- even only if it looks better for awhile. What do you ( or anyone )reccomend? TIA! __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!

12/25/2009, 12:32 PM	#4
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	Any other responses ( done eating Christmas dinner....time to work on the tanks)? __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!

12/25/2009, 12:36 PM	#5
goldenfamaliy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: springfield, missouri Posts: 374	What do you have for a clean up crew? Are you over feeding? What are you using for top off water? __________________ Saving the world one paper plate at a time!!! There is no I in team, but there is a me! Dagget from the Angry beavers Current Tank Info: Solana, MP10es w, Ecotech radion, water, salt, pretty colored thingys

12/25/2009, 01:20 PM	#6
nanshaw2001 Older newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Statesboro, Ga Posts: 501	I am using only ro/di water now. CUC has diminished over the last year and a half. maybe I need to refresh "the crew"? __________________ My job doesn't begin to support my addiction! Current Tank Info: 125 Mixed reef, 55 softie tank in the works!