How should I go about cleaning up my tank?

[hobbes]

Hello,
It has been a long time since I have posted on the forum. I still try to keep up but it has been a while since I have done anything besides water changes for my tank. It is starting to show. My main issue is red slime. Although it is not out of control, it is an eye sore. It is constantly on the live rock and on the sand.
Background on tank:
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Tank Size is 110 Gallons with 20 gallon sump with bioballs
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Tank has been running since Hurricane Ike back in 2008.
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Water changes once a month. 30 Gallons.
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PH is around 8-8.2.
Nitrates are around 20.
Mushrooms have taken over the live rock (have had the live rock since 2004).
Lighting consists of 6 Power compact lights.
Protein skimmer that I can't seem to get to work properly.
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I think my biggest issue to this day I cannot seem to find that sweet spot to get my protein skimmer to work properly. It seems like no matter what, I am either not pulling any junk out or it is overflowing with just water. I just cannot seem to get it to tune in just right. A while back I thought maybe it was because I did not have an auto top off but this did not help either. I bought the tank used and it came with the protein skimmer. I am fairly certain that it is a Coralife protein skimmer but I am not totally sure.
My question is how should I go about cleaning a tank that has a lot of live rock and with a lot of coral?
I think I have finally gotten to the point where I have had it with the protein skimmer and contemplating buying a Reef Octopus 6. I am hoping I will have better luck with this skimmer.
Any recommendations on how to get all the debris out between the rocks? How should I clean the sandbed?
Thank you,

 

[geridoc]

You could remove everything to Rubbermaid buckets and start new, but I wouldn't. The tank has only been in operation for 5 years, which is not that long a time. The low nitrates and perfect pH tells me that the water quality is probably fine, so not to panic. I have had tanks go continuously for 10 years plus . But you do have to do some serious maintenance to get things back in order. Before you do, get a good skimmer. The Coralife skimmers are notorious for just the kind of problems you are having, although many very good skimmers will behave the same way if there isn't sufficient bioload to generate dissolved and particulate waste for them to work on. What kind of internal circulation do you have in the tank. To quote Flower, "wave action is the life of the ocean." It is also the death of cyanobacteria, so you need to have good flow over the rocks that are having a problem. Two decent powerheads should be sufficient. Also, practice nutrient export, either with an algae turf scrubber, of simply by putting macroalgae into the sump with some lighting (nothing fancy, a fluorescent will do). Finally (you knew this was coming) - water changes. You can vacuum the superficial layer of sand, or use a strainer, and use a turkey baster to blow the debris off of your rocks. Once you get all that gunk suspended, do your 30 gallon water change, and repeat twice more one or two weeks later, then go back to your monthly change cycle. Give the tank some time, and the cyano problem will disappear and the tank will be fine.

 

[hobbes]

The picture shows the placement of my powerheads. I only have two in there at this time. I just have them blowing towards the middle of the tank. Whenever I put it towards the rocks it freaks out the coral.
As far as the water changes, when you say about doing a couple water changes a week or two later, should they also be 30 gallon water changes?
For placing the microalgae in the sump, should I put those where the bio ball currently are? Remove the bio balls? My sump is already pretty crowded down there.
I have always just assumed this is cyano/red slime. This is correct?

 

[geridoc]

You beat me to my next question, which is whether you really have cyano. It is hard to tell from that picture. Can you easily peel or scrape it off of the rock - if so, it is probably cyano. It could be corraline algae, which will adhere to the rock very tightly, and you will not be able to easily remove it. To tell you the truth, the color looks very like the corraline in my reef tank, but that could be due to specifics of lighting spectrum rather than the true color. Try the removal test, and let us know what you find out.

 

[hobbes]

It blows over very easy. I can basically wave my hand in front of it in the water and it blows off. I actually wish i had the coraline algae. Ever since I moved away from my old 55 gallon tank a long time ago I have not been able to successfully keep coraline. I really liked the way it looked.

 

[geridoc]

Then it probably is cyano. Flow, low nutrients and time will eventually solve it. You can also physically remove it with a turkey baster.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I suggest to try to upgrade your lighting. Power compact light shift their spectrum really easily. Bulb replacements are also hard to come by these days... these type of bulbs need to be replaced once every six months at minimum.
I'd also suggest two water changes a month at 30g per water change. Make sure that you are using 100% pure water for top offs and to make new saltwater.
I would also upgrade the skimmer to something much better, and slowly remove the bioballs and replace it with a filter sock (or two) and keep them replaced often.
Once you switch to a filter sock, take a maxijet 900 powerhead and blow off all of the rocks as much as you can and then do your water changes,... removing as much of the cyanobacteria at one time as possible.
You can easily get coralline to start growing well with clean water and proper calcium and alkalinity levels.
A purchase that should be made is a good set of accurate titration style test kits.

 

[hobbes]

Thank you for the response. I just finished installing my new Octopus protein skimmer. I am hoping that it does a better job than my last one.
Yes, I have been contemplating upgrading the lights. I would like to go the LED route but feel a little lost with it. It does not seem to be as easy as just buying a simple light fixture and be done with it. I am not a metal halide fan for the heat and the large top that I would need to install above the tank.
I guess I have heard of the filter socks but frankly do not know much about them. I will do some research on that. If I replace the balls can I add a macroalgae to the sump?

 

[snakeblitz33]

Filter socks act as a mechanical filter, filterig out particles before they reach your sump and collect there. Switching from bioballs to a fuge is a wonderful idea.
Reefbreeders have great led units and value units that are quite powerful and well worth the investment. I have a photon 48 over my tank. Be careful if you switch to leds. The PAR value is much higher so the corals have to adjust to it over time. You might want to start them out at 25% at first and see how your corals respond.

 

[hobbes]

Thanks again SnakeBlitz. The Reef Breeders look really nice and the prices look good too. After getting things cleaned up I just might get the photon 48 myself.
I am definitely going to do the socks after researching it a bit. From there, after slowly removing the bio balls will see about getting a little refugium going in that area.