[Tammy]

I would like as much input from everyone as I can so here it goes. About a year ago my gorgeous 125 gallon reef tank crashed needless to say I didn't have the money to start all over so out of being highly frustrated I sold what was left of the tank. Since then I have wanted to "try again" but couldn't afford since I just bought my English Bulldog puppy. A couple of weeks ago this lady I know gave me free of charge her 45 salt water tank. The tank has crushed coral, a side filter, a couple of rocks, 3 assorted damsels, 3 little hermit crabs, an anemone, 2 flame scallops, and a chocolate starfish. The nirtrates are high at about 10-15. I want to make this tank 100% like my other one. But to do this I new more rocks, much better lights, etc. There is another 45 gallon that I am planning on buying for very very cheap. This tank comes with 4 lights (2 white 2 actinic), wet dry system, live rocks, lots of mushrooms, and some other equipment. I would like to use this new tank as a sort off parts tank. I want to transfer the rocks, livestock, lights, and things to my tank. But..........this is a big BUT......this new tank has what has been identified by Gene here to be bubble algae.

1. How would I go about transferring things with the bubble algae on it?
2. Since I have read it's not a good idea to have a regular side filter with media in it could this be why my nitrates are high?
3. Should I use the new wet/dry instead?
4. If I did would that transfer bubble algae to my current tank?
5. Should I use both the wet/dry and the side filter?

Please tell me your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions I would really really appreciate any suggestions no matter how small! I have to make a decision within a few hours on this new tank but before I do I would like everyones opinion.

[Reefland]

Hi Tammy and Welcome to Reefland!

1. I would not bother with the rock if it has Valonia on it. Sure you can get it off by scrubbing it but you are taking a chance of not getting it all off and introducing it to your tank where it can become problematic.

2. It is possible and most definately and contributing factor. Anything that use filter media or bio-media needs to be cleaned frequently to remove waste they accumulate, if this has not been done it is surely contributing to the nutrients.

3. Do a search for wet/dry and read some of the various comments; the short of it is don't bother with running any type of bio-media in it. Stick with heavy skimming!

4. See #1.

5. See # 2 & 3.

Regards,
Scott Z.

[Minh Nguyen]

I would tank the tank apart. Clean all the rock. Get rid of all the substrate. I would use new sand, change all the water and put the LR back in. Scrub and remove most of the buble algae on this rock. Let the tank mature, get ne light and start over. I would not keep any damsel in a 45 g tank. Infact, I would just send all the animal back to the LFS. With a 45 g tank, you really need to be choosy as to what you put in the tank. I would just cycle the tank again and add only what you really want into the tank.
Minh

[zhenya]

Hi Tammy,

Not much to add what Scott and Minh said already
I would try to keep the rock just make sure you clean it really well and rinse with fresh salt water and I think it will be alright to keep. You would need to ensure that you get a handle on the nutrient export mechanism in your system so the bubble algae can be kept in check.
Wet/dry filters are a double edge swords and can become a nitrate factory over time,so I would consider running it as a sump maybe and set up a DSB(deep sand bed) with live rock and a good size skimmer as your primary filtration.
In addition to that you could use your second tank as a refugium and grow macro algae in it and then harvest it and discard the excess,hence removing excess nutrients that way out of your system.
Here's a link to read about how to set up a proper DSB
http://www.rshimek.com/reef/sediment.htm