Need some help with my 29g!!! PLEASE.

[khynes1]

Hello all!
First post here on SWF.com, and I am definitely excited to be apart of a forum community again..I have been out of the loop within the hobby for a couple years, and the forums I used to be a member of seems to no longer exist (GrimReefer i think).
Anyways, I am need of some help, as I am going to be moving my tank within a couple weeks, and I could definitely use some guidance with some issues I am having.
I have had my 29g for about 7 years now, had a few fish come and go, but have had a percula clown, and a neon damsel in there for about 5 years now, the clown the full 7 years.. I have been in college, only being home on weekends, holidays, and summer, and I have not been the best aquarists the past couple of years. I haven't kept up on water changes, filter cleaning, etc. I am graduating in college in two weeks, and am so eager to get back into the hobby, and make this tank what it used to be for me when I started it years ago.
I did a water test last week, everything was spot on except for nitrates, which were very high. (My water test vile should have been yellow in color, it was blood red.) I know that not keeping up on water changes, and poor filtration cleaning has caused that, and I know I need to take steps to correct it. That is my main issue. My second issue is the amount of purpleish algae that has begun to become a bit excessive on my live sand, and my live rock as well. I had a bunch of snails at one point, but they have perished and two days ago I went back down to my LFS (after about 3 years of being absent) and bought 15 Nassarius snails to help with the sand/algae problems.
I guess my questions are simply, what should I do first, and where do I begin with getting back to the quality of a tank where I can start adding some fish again? What do I need to purchase if anything? and if someone could please help me out with this I would greatly appreciate it. I was never much of a forum guy until I got on my first fish forum, and realized the people are so extremely helpful, and I know you guys will provide me with all the correct suggestions and instructions I need.
thanks in advance!!!! any questions I need to answer I will try and respond to ASAP.
Kenny

 

[flower]

Hi Kenny and welcome to the site,
The purplish algae is most likely cyanobacteria. High nitrates won't hurt your fish and water changes once a week should cure your problems. Your phosphates are reading 0 because the cyano is feeding on it and that gives the water test a false negetive reading.
Damsels and clowns are very territorial fish...and after 7 years I doubt they will allow any new fish to live with them. 29g is not a large tank and I'm sure the fish have compleatly established what tank area they consider theirs. Changing the rocks all around might help when you add any new fish, but be prepared for war.

 

[khynes1]

Thanks!
I know my nitrates are not affecting my current fish, but the additions of new ones are not a good idea until my parameters are back to normal correct? My damsel is absolutely terrible...He killed 2 fish about 1.5 years ago, they didn't last 24 hrs before he assasinated them for lack of a better word. I have been told numerous times to get him out of the tank before adding anything new into it.
I actually never tested my phosphates, so I am not sure what they are supposed to be, my test kit includes Ammonia, PH, Nitrites and Nitrates.
What can I do about the cyano? Is that going to go away once I start doing weekly water changes again, or should I be using some kind of chemical or something to get rid of it?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473220
Thanks!
I know my nitrates are not affecting my current fish, but the additions of new ones are not a good idea until my parameters are back to normal correct? My damsel is absolutely terrible...He killed 2 fish about 1.5 years ago, they didn't last 24 hrs before he assasinated them for lack of a better word. I have been told numerous times to get him out of the tank before adding anything new into it.
I actually never tested my phosphates, so I am not sure what they are supposed to be, my test kit includes Ammonia, PH, Nitrites and Nitrates.
What can I do about the cyano? Is that going to go away once I start doing weekly water changes again, or should I be using some kind of chemical or something to get rid of it?
Hi,
If lack of water changes are what caused the cyano or phosphates being too high (another reason for cyano)...water changes should fix the water problems.
You can get red slime remover...but it should be the last resort and only after you figure out what caused the cyano problem to begin with...such as overfeeding. If you don't fix what caused the problem, then it will just return.
If not doing regular water changes created the problem, doing regular water changes should fix it.
A good water change is the easiest, non-chemical thing you can do to try and set the water parameters right again.

 

[khynes1]

I know it is definitely not overfeeding, that is a start at least. I will be doing a waterchange tomorrow or Monday, and hopefully expecting to see a good result come from that. I currently am running a HOB filter (fluval i think) good for 50 gal of water or so, and a Canister as well that is supposed to be rated for 75 gal I believe. I have plenty of filtration, but I know I have not cleaned either filter in a very long time, so I know I must do that soon as well. Phosphate levels cause cyanobacteria is what I think I gathered from your response? I am hoping that the water change will help improve everything, and the tank will begin to clear up soon!
I am supposed to clean one filter at a time correct? So I do not mess anything up with the bios?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473224
I know it is definitely not overfeeding, that is a start at least. I will be doing a waterchange tomorrow or Monday, and hopefully expecting to see a good result come from that. I currently am running a HOB filter (fluval i think) good for 50 gal of water or so, and a Canister as well that is supposed to be rated for 75 gal I believe. I have plenty of filtration, but I know I have not cleaned either filter in a very long time, so I know I must do that soon as well. Phosphate levels cause cyanobacteria is what I think I gathered from your response? I am hoping that the water change will help improve everything, and the tank will begin to clear up soon!
I am supposed to clean one filter at a time correct? So I do not mess anything up with the bios?
Considering how long it has been...rinse the filter material in the discarded saltwater when you do the water change...this will preserve the good bacteria and dislodge the big stuff and clean it up. I would do both filters like that. Don't replace it, just rinse it real good in the water you removed from the tank. Then next time you do your water change (should be next week) swap out one of the filters with new media and rinse the other....then wait for the third WC to replace the media in the last one and just rinse the one before....keep that cycle going.
You only have two fish and if you have live rock...my method could be over kill. I used to have a canister filter and I got a small ammonia spike when I cleaned it, so I began doing what I outlined above. That stopped the ammonia problems I had and so I always did it that way.

 

[khynes1]

Okay I will definitely do that then. So for my first water change, which is either tomorrow or Monday, I should rinse out BOTH filters media in the discarded SW, and not replace anything yet right? And then I should rinse 1 replace one, and then the other...
Do you change your media in your filters once every 2-3 weeks? Or should I just do that for the first 3 WC until my media is new in both filters, and then go back to rinsing one and one and not replacing any media for a few months?
Just wanted to thank you again for your help. I do not know what type of canister I am using, so I don't have much more information to offer you other than that. Someone reccommended that I get a HOB skimmer for my tank? Never had a protein skimmer on any tank I've ever built up, which has been quite a few despite my age, what are your thoughts on something like that, or any new additions equipment wise to better help my hobby?
Also wanted to ask about where to find/purchase RO units, what the typcial price is for something like that. I know a lot of people have their own system, but I have to buy my water from my LFS, because I do not have one.
Sorry about a ton of questions, It will not be like this forever I promise, I just need a jumpstart in getting back into the hobby. When I was home and still in highschool I had a 150g in the wall of my house, a 75g reef (my baby) and my current 29g. I moved, and was forced to sell off the other two big tanks, and could only afford to move my little one. I am currently in the process of getting back to having 2-3 tanks again, now that I am not away at school, or traveling much anymore.

 

[gemmy]

Hi, good to see someone else from Jersey on here.

Can you post some pics of the setup and the equipment?

 

[khynes1]

Unfortunately I am at my father's house for the night, and the tank is at my moms house. I just recently moved, and will be moving my tank to my new home in a couple of weeks! I do have a picture or two on my phone of the tank itself, you can see the purple algae/cyanobacteria, that is about it.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473230
Okay I will definitely do that then. So for my first water change, which is either tomorrow or Monday, I should rinse out BOTH filters media in the discarded SW, and not replace anything yet right? And then I should rinse 1 replace one, and then the other...
Do you change your media in your filters once every 2-3 weeks? Or should I just do that for the first 3 WC until my media is new in both filters, and then go back to rinsing one and one and not replacing any media for a few months?
Just wanted to thank you again for your help. I do not know what type of canister I am using, so I don't have much more information to offer you other than that. Someone reccommended that I get a HOB skimmer for my tank? Never had a protein skimmer on any tank I've ever built up, which has been quite a few despite my age, what are your thoughts on something like that, or any new additions equipment wise to better help my hobby?
Also wanted to ask about where to find/purchase RO units, what the typcial price is for something like that. I know a lot of people have their own system, but I have to buy my water from my LFS, because I do not have one.
Sorry about a ton of questions, It will not be like this forever I promise, I just need a jumpstart in getting back into the hobby. When I was home and still in highschool I had a 150g in the wall of my house, a 75g reef (my baby) and my current 29g. I moved, and was forced to sell off the other two big tanks, and could only afford to move my little one. I am currently in the process of getting back to having 2-3 tanks again, now that I am not away at school, or traveling much anymore.
Yes to your first question, just rinse the media for now when you do the 1st water change, and plan on alternating the media after that. I would swap it as I do the water changes...until I was rid of cyano..once a week, and after the cyano is gone once a month.
I have terrible well water and filters would cost me a fortune, so I rent my unit from Culligan and they change my filters...I also have a TDS meter built into the unit...They also do a TDS test when they come out....last water test had TDS at 4 anything under 10 is good.
Needless to say I don't know about RO units and what to purchase...however do check into what filters cost for any unit you are looking at. I don't like HOB skimmers, because I have nothing but trouble from them...I use the in sump type. I will say that for a 20g tank I would go for a Aquaticlife 115 skimmer ($60.00 for up to a 30g tank) or if you plan on a larger tank soon....a Tunze nano skimmer. ($160.00 for up to a 60g tank)
You have two fish right now...and the tank has servived this long, that I wouldn't beat myself up if I had to wait another week or so.

 

[khynes1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473246
Yes to your first question, just rinse the media for now when you do the 1st water change, and plan on alternating the media after that. I would swap it as I do the water changes...until I was rid of cyano..once a week, and after the cyano is gone once a month.
I have terrible well water and filters would cost me a fortune, so I rent my unit from Culligan and they change my filters...I also have a TDS meter built into the unit...They also do a TDS test when they come out....last water test had TDS at 4 anything under 10 is good.
Needless to say I don't know about RO units and what to purchase...however do check into what filters cost for any unit you are looking at. I don't like HOB skimmers, because I have nothing but trouble from them...I use the in sump type. I will say that for a 20g tank I would go for a Aquaticlife 115 skimmer ($60.00 for up to a 30g tank) or if you plan on a larger tank soon....a Tunze nano skimmer. ($160.00 for up to a 60g tank)
You have two fish right now...and the tank has servived this long, that I wouldn't beat myself up if I had to wait another week or so.
Okay awesome. That was a really helpful post. My LFS charges a buck a gallon for pre-salted RO/DI water, so for me it's about 10 bucks everytime I do a change, which for the past year or two has been almost never. I am now going to start doing 10 gallons a week until my cyano is gone, and my nitrates are back to 0, then I will probably loosen up a bit and go with 5 gal a week or so after that.
Can I buy a sump-like protein skimmer without having a sump filter? I used to use a sump on my old 75g reef, that had a skimmer in the sump. I can just purchase an aqaticlife 115 and it will operate on it's own?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473253
Okay awesome. That was a really helpful post. My LFS charges a buck a gallon for pre-salted RO/DI water, so for me it's about 10 bucks everytime I do a change, which for the past year or two has been almost never. I am now going to start doing 10 gallons a week until my cyano is gone, and my nitrates are back to 0, then I will probably loosen up a bit and go with 5 gal a week or so after that.
Can I buy a sump-like protein skimmer without having a sump filter? I used to use a sump on my old 75g reef, that had a skimmer in the sump. I can just purchase an aqaticlife 115 and it will operate on it's own?
Hi,
Both the Aquaticlife and Tunze nano skimmers are very small...7 to 8 inches tall and 3X5 footprint. They can go inside your tank in the back. Unless you have a nanocube with a lid. The Tunze is black and has a bigger collection cup...it is the better of the two, and it has a magnet to hold it in place. I just haven't had good experience with HOB skimmers. LOL...All I know is stay away from Coralife, Red sea, CPR back pack, and cyclone, HOB skimmers. Of those listed, I hated the Coralife the most.
Walmart sells water for about 37 cents a gallon, and salt mix is around $40.00 to make 200gs. A power head in a container to churn the water overnight and your good to go. Lots cheaper than $1.00 a gallon. I purchased my first water in the 5g jugs...$15.00 each ...then filled them up and I reuse them all the time...I have 8 jugs but I also have a 56g tank and a 90g tank. I used Walmart water for many years before I finally just called Culligan myself...Walmart uses Culligan here by my house. So for the last 3 years I have had the rented unit..unlimited RO water.....we have a bubbler 3g jug we fill, we cook and drink the water, and use it for the tanks...good deal at $39.99 a month and I don't pay for filters.

 

[khynes1]

Okay awesome. Thanks so much. I will look into the protein skimmer for sure, as I know it probably can't hurt to have one. So rather than buy an RO/DI filtration system to use in my house, you think it is easier/cheaper to by water by the gal or 5gal from something like Wal-Mart and just add salt to it? I am sorry I was a little unclear as to what I should do about getting the proper water to use for PWC's. I certainly know tap water is not what I should be using, and those days are all over now.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473300
Okay awesome. Thanks so much. I will look into the protein skimmer for sure, as I know it probably can't hurt to have one. So rather than buy an RO/DI filtration system to use in my house, you think it is easier/cheaper to by water by the gal or 5gal from something like Wal-Mart and just add salt to it? I am sorry I was a little unclear as to what I should do about getting the proper water to use for PWC's. I certainly know tap water is not what I should be using, and those days are all over now.
Hi,
Anything besides tap water is good...your own RO unit is best, store bought RO and mixed yourself for saltwater is cheaper than going to the LFS. It gets to be a royal chore to carry water in, your own RO unit is best.
I rent because that works for me...I have terrible well water that clogs up the filters too fast.

 

[khynes1]

Got it. So RO water IS the same as bottled water, or store bought water then?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473306
Got it. So RO water IS the same as bottled water, or store bought water then?
Yes, if they have a water machine...it is just a series of filters to make tap water pure. My unit has 5 stages. Distilled water is different, it has been boiled to be made pure.

 

[khynes1]

Any main brands that are better than others? and is distilled water, or bottled water any better/worse than buying RO water itself? When I say store I mean a Wal-Mart, or Supermarket, not a fish store who is selling RO water.
In other words, If I were to go to Wal-Mart and buy 1gal. jugs of Deer Park water, is that "good enough" water to use for my tank, or should I be specifically looking to buy RO water from somewhere, if so where should I look other than my LFS, because you said it is cheaper buying it elsewhere. I do not NEED presalted water from my LFS if I can just buy water from my supermarket, and just add salt...or is it not that simple?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473312
Any main brands that are better than others? and is distilled water, or bottled water any better/worse than buying RO water itself? When I say store I mean a Wal-Mart, or Supermarket, not a fish store who is selling RO water.
In other words, If I were to go to Wal-Mart and buy 1gal. jugs of Deer Park water, is that "good enough" water to use for my tank, or should I be specifically looking to buy RO water from somewhere, if so where should I look other than my LFS, because you said it is cheaper buying it elsewhere. I do not NEED presalted water from my LFS if I can just buy water from my supermarket, and just add salt...or is it not that simple?
The water refill stations are cheaper than you trying to purchase water by the gallon jug. The refill station allows you to use your own container and you refill it. Deer park water is just bottled water...it is "good enough" but it is still the price of bottled water.... your best price is to refill a gallon jug, lets say from a gallon of milk..wash it out and take it to the store with you ane refill it with RO water. At my Walmart that jug of water will cost you 37 cents. Not all Walmarts have the same prices. I have gotten water a the refill station in Jewel foods and at little grocery mom and pop stores. Prices vary...I even got water from Ace hardware.
an example:
Bottled water 1g jug = 89 cents
Distilled water 1g jug = 95 cents
Refill station 1 gallon = 37 cents
I don't want to carry so many jugs of water...so I purchased 5g and 3g jugs and refilled them.

 

[khynes1]

I never knew there was such a thing as an RO refill station. That is probably why i didn't know what you meant before..sorry. I will have to find out if if Walmart by me does that. And then you just add your salt I'm assuming, and then you are good to go?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by khynes1 http:///t/391555/need-some-help-with-my-29g-please#post_3473392
I never knew there was such a thing as an RO refill station. That is probably why i didn't know what you meant before..sorry. I will have to find out if if Walmart by me does that. And then you just add your salt I'm assuming, and then you are good to go?
LOL...Don't feel too bad, until I started SW tanks I didn't know the stores carried refill water for the jugs...I just knew they sold the jugs of water.
The salt mix says 1/2 cup per gallon...get a tub and mix the salt amount in and place a powerhead in the tub to churn it for 24 hours before use. Then check the SG and make sure what is in the tub is the same as in the tank...the 1/2 cup per gallon should get you in the ball park. Make sure to churn it 24 hours to be sure of the SG, other wise it continues to dissolve and the SG might be off.