Need some help getting back on track!

[ladyhart77]

Hi all! My husband and I actually started working on our 55 several years ago but between a new baby and then a move it has been a little neglected lately and the building progress was stopped. I hope you can help me get the tank on track again.
Right now the tank is just full of live rock, hermits, snails and one damsel and his buddie the clown. Although it seems to have stayed very well established. I just got a new master test kit. Everything tested really great except my nitrates. I know I need to do a water change for that.. but why would they be high when everything else is good?
I have an Eheim filter and also a new Prism skimmer.
I also have a very overwhelming algae bloom(reddish purple all over everything) I can't remember if this is a good thing or not?
Just a couple more questions:
My temp is holding around 81.. do I need to get it to drop if I want to add coral or more inverts?
What do you guys recommend for a good lighting system for corals that wont completely break the bank but gives the quality?
Thanks for any help you can offer... hope this wasnt too much for one message!!

 

[moray345]

Dear Ladyhart77
You should do a water change you definitley need to drop it to 75 you could use metal halide but those cost an arm and a leg
but i would have to go with the MH's
HTH,
Moray345

 

[birdy]

Well nitrates are the toughest thing to get rid of, they are the end product of waste. I have a few questions for you. Oh and 81 is a fine temp to keep a reef tank at.
here are the questions:
1. What type of water are you using?
2. what type of substrate is in your tank? (sand, crushed coral, other?)
3. How often do you clean the cannister fliter.
4. how often do you do water changes?
5. Do you have powerheads for water flow in the tank.
I will comment further after you answer these quesetions.
Bye the way, WELCOME!!!

 

[ladyhart77]

Thanks for the input so far from both of you!
Birdy:
First thanks for the welcome!
We have been using R/O for about 3 months now.. before that it was tap.. so I guess its a mix now.
We have a sand substrate/with several pounds of live sand.
We clean the cannister about every six months.
We have been slacking on the water changes.. just been topping it off lately.. after having my memory refreshed I'm fairly sure that is the cause for my nitrates.
We have two powerheads running right now.
I think that my algae problem is because the light has been on too long... so I have kept the light off today and will regulate it more closely to around 8 hrs from now on I guess.
Also is there anything I need to do to the R/O water besides making sure salinity and temp is right before I do the water change... seems like I read somewhere that I need to aerate it or something?
Thanks for any help!! I have a feeling I will be here often now!!

 

[birdy]

I see a couple of things which could be causing the algae,
1. No water changes, for optimal results, especially if you are having algea problems you should do 10% water changes every week.
2. Cannister filter, in saltwater tanks these have to be cleaned out frequently, preferably every week with your water change, you don't have to change the media, just rinse everything with SALTWATER very well (if you use fresh you will kill all the biological filtration), cannister filters can trap detritus causing nitrates to build.
3. Lighting: you didn't say what type of lighting you have, I am assuming NO bulbs, these need to be changed at the very least once a year, they should also be in the correct spectrum, one 10k daylight and one 03 actinic (or more just 50/50 of the two types of bulbs). If they get old the spectrum of the bulbs shift and contribute to algae growth.
- If you have no corals in the tank, then you can completey shut your lights off for a week, this should kill the algea, then you can do a good cleaning, even scrubbing your rock in saltwater to get rid of it.
- As far as lighting for corals, look for VHO or power compacts, these can be aquired for a reasonable price, get the most lights you can offort, A popular auction site sells lighting systems for a good price. But get your algae and water conditions better before you add corals.
-Once you get a better handle on the water and algea issues, get a good sized cleanup crew with lots of snails and some scarlet reef hermits, they will help keep algae in check.

 

[ladyhart77]

:happyfish
Birdy, Thank you so much for your help! I really am ready to get this thing back on track. I have a problem.. I have a Britelite fixture with two double coralife bulbs but I don't remember what kind or wattage and I cant read the stickers anymore.. lol... pretty bad... just better get some new ones i guess!
I had no idea that we needed to clean the Eheim that much! I am sure that is causing much of our problems and lack of regular water changes!
Is there anything special I need to do to the r/o before water change besides salinity and temp??
Do we have enough powerheads?
Also could use some input on the light fixture I have.. I have had a total brain fart and can't remember how good that thing is supposed to be for fish or coral?? ....lol
I am definitely gonna leave the lights off for several days now and clean every thing like you said and I am already working on the water change!!!
Thank you so much for your help!!!

 

[birdy]

-Water change- makeup water should be mixed by adding saltmix to cool or room temp RO water, stir rapidly as you are slowly adding the saltmix, when you are done adding salt, put a heater and powerhead in the bucket, let this sit for 24hrs before use, this will give everything a chance to dissolve, check salinity after this 24hr mark and adjust as needed. when temp and salinity match display tank water you are good to go.
-I am not familiar with your lighting, when you say two bulbs, do you mean you have two double bulbs (which would be power compacts) or you have two regular flourescent bulbs. Either way you should replace those with a 10k bulb and a 03 actinic.

 

[soccer4life94]

During the summer i have to raise my temp to 81 that way it only raises to 82 during the days with the lights on. The main thing to remember is consistency. Dont keep it at 78-79 if during the day its going to raise to 83. Better to find a good range where the temp wont flux more than a degree or two.

 

[ladyhart77]

Hey yall! Thanks again for the input!
Okay.. really no difference in preparing R/O compared to tap.. thanks there.
I am pretty sure my lights are power compacts.. I will look into replacing them.. thanks there too!
Also good advice on the temp.. I think it is a good idea to leave my temp at 81 now too bc last summer I remember the temp raising to around 82 or 83
I am gonna get to work.. thanks again for the advice! I will let you guys know how it goes.. hopefully I can get back into the swing of things and start to help others too!!