Losing interest in my tank

MTF7 · 10/21/2014, 11:20 AM

I have a biocube 29g I love the all the fish and the corals I really do. But my tank just is so hard to take care of right now I put more and more work into it and the only thing I see is more and more algae. It sad because I have my tank in my room and I love my clownfish and my corals but I hate my tank I just hate looking in and seeing algae everywhere. I really want to start a new on and retire my biocube but I know I should work at getting rid of the algae because If I just get a new tank the algae could just come back.

Of anyone knows what I'm going through can you give me advice I just need to get rid of this algae

rcflyer1388 · 10/21/2014, 11:21 AM

what kind of water are you using to mix your salt?

MTF7 · 10/21/2014, 11:25 AM

Rodi water trust me I have been through the basics rodi water, mix my own saltwater just recently replaced rodi filters I check my tds each time and I get a constant 0 I'm to the point that I'm afraid to feed my fish because I don't want algae to grow faster

spikey114 · 10/21/2014, 11:44 AM

overfeeding/excess nutrients?

Mark9 · 10/21/2014, 11:46 AM

Are you using CPE & Purigen?
Just remove the rocks and clean them in removed water next time you do a WC.
You can beat this.
And cut back on food going in.
Are you overstocked?

hart24601 · 10/21/2014, 04:06 PM

Sand bed? I had sand in my biocube14 for 2 years before mysterious algae starting popping up. With the size of the coral and the rock I couldn't clean the sand. When I finally took it out I couldn't believe how much pure nasty was in the sand. Once I went BB it cleared up. If you don't like BB and have sand then maybe try just a tiny little bit that you can stir up with a powerhead when you do WC. Taking sand out saved my tank.

phillrodrigo · 10/21/2014, 05:59 PM

I agree go bb on nanos it's just so much easier. You can't get a siphon in there to even clean the sand

Jritter02 · 10/21/2014, 06:01 PM

How long do you leave your lights on? I had an algae issue and I turned my lights off for 4-5 days straight. That, along with doing a WC EVeryday really seemed to help. Also getting a CuC

Viethuenese · 10/21/2014, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jritter02

how long do you leave your lights on? I had an algae issue and i turned my lights off for 4-5 days straight. That, along with doing a wc everyday really seemed to help. Also getting a cuc

+1

gbru316 · 10/21/2014, 06:04 PM

What is your maintenance schedule?
How old is the tank?
What livestock do you have?
What filtration do you use?
What is your photoperiod?
What lighting do you use?
How much and how often do you feed?
What have you tried?

Jritter02 · 10/22/2014, 12:52 AM

When I had my issue I also cut my feeding in half. Sadly since all this happened I lost most of the crabs I put in but all of my snails are still alive. I put 10 of each in my 24g nano. I'm guessing they starved because all of my water parameters balanced out and have been great ever since. Its sad they died, but I guess that means I have a clean tank if there is no food for them to scavenge on

Xavibear · 10/22/2014, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbru316

What is your maintenance schedule?
How old is the tank?
What livestock do you have?
What filtration do you use?
What is your photoperiod?
What lighting do you use?
How much and how often do you feed?
What have you tried?

+1, also what are your parameters?

Sk8r · 10/22/2014, 09:58 AM

REad current items on GFO and phosphate removal. It's not only non ro/di that gives you problems: it necessarily comes in on rock and sand.

kungpaoshizzzi · 10/22/2014, 10:36 AM

Don't be ashamed to give all your stuff away and rethink a setup. Better to take care of real life than watch it sacrifice your reef friends...

Ratpack · 10/22/2014, 01:19 PM

I know how you feel. I used to spend all sorts of time on my tank, trying to make it better. And what I have found is that now that I have stopped all that time, even though it is still a fair amount, the tank is much better. Try stepping away and just do the basics of feeding and WC's for a bit, it might surprise you how quickly it remedies itself. I used to have all the gadgets and stuff on my tank and now I just have some cheato in the sump to help with nitrates and phosphates and do water changes. All my corals and fish are doing great and I have SPS in my tank with no algae at all. I believe that a lot of times when we try to solve a problem, we actually just keep things in a state of flux and it never gets better.

noob reefer · 10/22/2014, 01:41 PM

Have you heard of nualgi? I've been dosing for about 4 weeks and have seen major improvement with this product! Its also improves coral and fish life! I stated dosing after my tank cycled and went a few weeks without a water change and had tons of hair algea and red slime and between my oversized clean up crew and nualgi its starting to look awesome! Even use it in my cichlid tank and hardly ever have to clean the glass or decorations! Nualgiaquarium.com look into maybe this could be your next attempt!

10/21/2014, 11:20 AM	#1
MTF7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 285	Losing interest in my tank I have a biocube 29g I love the all the fish and the corals I really do. But my tank just is so hard to take care of right now I put more and more work into it and the only thing I see is more and more algae. It sad because I have my tank in my room and I love my clownfish and my corals but I hate my tank I just hate looking in and seeing algae everywhere. I really want to start a new on and retire my biocube but I know I should work at getting rid of the algae because If I just get a new tank the algae could just come back. Of anyone knows what I'm going through can you give me advice I just need to get rid of this algae

10/22/2014, 09:58 AM	#13
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	REad current items on GFO and phosphate removal. It's not only non ro/di that gives you problems: it necessarily comes in on rock and sand. __________________ 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%.

10/21/2014, 11:21 AM	#2
rcflyer1388 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 37	what kind of water are you using to mix your salt?

10/21/2014, 11:25 AM	#3
MTF7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 285	Rodi water trust me I have been through the basics rodi water, mix my own saltwater just recently replaced rodi filters I check my tds each time and I get a constant 0 I'm to the point that I'm afraid to feed my fish because I don't want algae to grow faster

10/21/2014, 11:44 AM	#4
spikey114 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Daly City, CA Posts: 127	overfeeding/excess nutrients?

10/21/2014, 11:46 AM	#5
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Are you using CPE & Purigen? Just remove the rocks and clean them in removed water next time you do a WC. You can beat this. And cut back on food going in. Are you overstocked?

10/21/2014, 04:06 PM	#6
hart24601 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 633	Sand bed? I had sand in my biocube14 for 2 years before mysterious algae starting popping up. With the size of the coral and the rock I couldn't clean the sand. When I finally took it out I couldn't believe how much pure nasty was in the sand. Once I went BB it cleared up. If you don't like BB and have sand then maybe try just a tiny little bit that you can stir up with a powerhead when you do WC. Taking sand out saved my tank.

10/21/2014, 05:59 PM	#7
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	I agree go bb on nanos it's just so much easier. You can't get a siphon in there to even clean the sand

10/21/2014, 06:01 PM	#8
Jritter02 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 332	How long do you leave your lights on? I had an algae issue and I turned my lights off for 4-5 days straight. That, along with doing a WC EVeryday really seemed to help. Also getting a CuC

10/21/2014, 06:04 PM	#10
gbru316 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 1,720	What is your maintenance schedule? How old is the tank? What livestock do you have? What filtration do you use? What is your photoperiod? What lighting do you use? How much and how often do you feed? What have you tried?

10/22/2014, 12:52 AM	#11
Jritter02 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 332	When I had my issue I also cut my feeding in half. Sadly since all this happened I lost most of the crabs I put in but all of my snails are still alive. I put 10 of each in my 24g nano. I'm guessing they starved because all of my water parameters balanced out and have been great ever since. Its sad they died, but I guess that means I have a clean tank if there is no food for them to scavenge on

10/22/2014, 10:36 AM	#14
kungpaoshizzzi Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 15	Don't be ashamed to give all your stuff away and rethink a setup. Better to take care of real life than watch it sacrifice your reef friends...

10/22/2014, 01:19 PM	#15
Ratpack Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 709	I know how you feel. I used to spend all sorts of time on my tank, trying to make it better. And what I have found is that now that I have stopped all that time, even though it is still a fair amount, the tank is much better. Try stepping away and just do the basics of feeding and WC's for a bit, it might surprise you how quickly it remedies itself. I used to have all the gadgets and stuff on my tank and now I just have some cheato in the sump to help with nitrates and phosphates and do water changes. All my corals and fish are doing great and I have SPS in my tank with no algae at all. I believe that a lot of times when we try to solve a problem, we actually just keep things in a state of flux and it never gets better.

10/22/2014, 01:41 PM	#16
noob reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 37	Have you heard of nualgi? I've been dosing for about 4 weeks and have seen major improvement with this product! Its also improves coral and fish life! I stated dosing after my tank cycled and went a few weeks without a water change and had tons of hair algea and red slime and between my oversized clean up crew and nualgi its starting to look awesome! Even use it in my cichlid tank and hardly ever have to clean the glass or decorations! Nualgiaquarium.com look into maybe this could be your next attempt!