NEWBIE - Advise question

[damigs]

Hello everyone. This is the first time I have posted after several weeks of reading thru pages and gathering info. I currently have the following which is 7 weeks steady now.

54 Gallon Corner
2 x 65w Power Compact
Ecosystem refugium w/ Calearpa in Miracle mud
50 lbs live rock
Live Sand
2 plate corals
1 bubble coral
2 LPS corals
6 small Chromies
3 small Ocellaris Clowns

I just did my first 5% water change Monday as I was getting hit hard with Diatoms. Since then my sand is alot cleaner but rocks still show alot of brown algea. My trates/trites = 0, Calcium is 450 ppm, PH is around 8.3 - 8.4 and AK is in the normal range.

My question is basically what next?? I wanted to get advise on what fish I could mingle with and get along well with what I have listed and thats pretty hardy. Also if you were in my position what would you do as your next step. Advise is truely appreciated as I take pride in my new hobby.

Thanks!

Miguel

[charlie]

First off, welcome to our little space of the web, glad to have you

I would let the diatoms ride, with continuing water changes, and good husbandry, the diatoms will go away.
You already have 9 fish in that 54, I would let things ride there also, you don't want to push the envelope to far right off the bat.
HTH

[damigs]

Sounds good.. I appreciate it. How about Corals etc? I truely like Xenias and things that spread easily. What do you suggest I do or just in general let things ride?

Since I just did my first water change Monday and lets say Diatoms still havent changed much do you advise doing another 5% after 2 weeks or so?

Thanks for the great advise and the hospitality here. Newbie like me needs this. LOL

[charlie]

Sounds good.. I appreciate it. How about Corals etc? I truely like Xenias and things that spread easily. What do you suggest I do or just in general let things ride?

Since I just did my first water change Monday and lets say Diatoms still havent changed much do you advise doing another 5% after 2 weeks or so?

Thanks for the great advise and the hospitality here. Newbie like me needs this. LOL

My gut feeling says let everything ride for a while. Nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, so .....................
You could also up your water changes to 10% every week, but that is just my opinion. I am a firm believer in water changes, check my Aquarium log if you want.

[damigs]

This is good.. Fair and good info to work with. Would the water changes help with the diatoms?

[charlie]

This is good.. Fair and good info to work with. Would the water changes help with the diatoms?

Yes, I think they will. At least in my experience they have. Here's a question to ask yourself, how often is water changed on a natural reef?

[zhenya]

Hi Miguel,




I agree with Charlie in that your best bet would be to take some time and enjoy what you achieved so far. Let the tank mature and stabalize some more and whatch those diatoms receede with the water changes. When you get a chance, post couple of images for us. We all love to see other people's tanks. ;)

[damigs]

Hi Miguel,post couple of images for us. We all love to see other people's tanks. ;)

Here are a few pics of my tank. If you see I have alot of Diatoms even after my 5% water change this past Monday. Advise? lol

[vtec si]

Your diatoms look normal to me being that it is a new system. I agree with the others that a 10% water change weekly or even biweekly will help reduce your diatoms. Also how long are you running your lights? Also some time soon I would take out your bioballs, but over a period of time NOT all at once. You will not need them nor want them since you have a reef tank setup. This will help keep your water pram's in check. JME&O!

Good luck,
Martin

[SKRIZ]

WELCOME!!!

everything looks normal to me. I definately wouldn't go changing things too much yet...it's a little too early.

Vtec is right. Get rid of the balls! Do it slowly so that it gives the bacteria a chance to catch up (since it will be lost from removing the balls). Eventually, this will be your best move.

[damigs]

Your diatoms look normal to me being that it is a new system. I agree with the others that a 10% water change weekly or even biweekly will help reduce your diatoms. Also how long are you running your lights? Also some time soon I would take out your bioballs, but over a period of time NOT all at once. You will not need them nor want them since you have a reef tank setup. This will help keep your water pram's in check. JME&O!

Good luck,
Martin

Martin thats for reply...

Im running the lights as follows-

blues from 10:30am to 9:30pm
whites from 12:30pm to 6:30pm
Moonlights from 9:00pm to 10:30pm

The bio balls I added actually more since I had an issue with bubbles seeping into the refugium and then into my sump. I added white filter and bioballs over top to control this... Will this be an issue with reef setup down the road?

[charlie]

The bio-balls will become a nitrate factory, I don't think you will want them in your system.

[vtec si]

The bio-balls will become a nitrate factory, I don't think you will want them in your system.

What Charlie said! I would take them out (SLOWLY) and place some carbon there. It could only help and, it also should do the trick with the bubbles.

Martin

[damigs]

I will definatly use this advise.. thanks!! Do you think that by cutting back on my white lights will help starve the brown algea? My trates/trites are fine and feel its a phosphate spike from over feeding.

[charlie]

I will definatly use this advise.. thanks!! Do you think that by cutting back on my white lights will help starve the brown algea? My trates/trites are fine and feel its a phosphate spike from over feeding.

I really think your tank is still in somewhat of a cycle. When I started my big tank, I just went ahead and poured the lite to it, and let things ride. It was real tough watching the algae grow and grow, but it was also fun watching it all go away after about 2 months. Kick back for a while!!!! If you think you are overfeeding, cut back for a while, but as stated before, be patient, good things will come!

[vtec si]

Your lights are fine I would not run them any longer than you are. Let your system ride. Rome was not built in a day! Good things come to people that wait!

Martin

[Reefland]

Hi damigs,

Diatoms in a reef tank less than 12 weeks old is completely normal; a part of the entire cycle. Very few new tanks do not experience diatom blooms, what you have is normal and does not require any special action. Just continue withg weekly water changes and it will go away in a few weeks.

In regards to the bio-media in your sump, I would suggest to find another way to deal with the bubbles and begin removing the bio-balls. Waste quickly accumulates in them and leads to excessive nutrients. They can be cleaned but then any bebeficial bacteria has been removed and they aren't doing you any good anyway. Pull out about 10 per week until they are all gone.

[damigs]

Im thinking of going with a good skimmer for a fair $$.. What would you guys recommend for a 54g corner with what I have. Thanks!

[charlie]

Try a remora pro hang on tank skimmer. Those little buggers kick some serious butt
/www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_remora_pro.asp?Car tId=
I know this for a fact, had one on my 80 gallon softie tank.

[damigs]

Due to me having a corner tank I will most likely have to move tank forward or slightly away from the wall to fit the HOB skimmer correct? Whats the best way to move this tank if its sitting on carpet.

Also from the pic above could I fit a sump skimmer or is that out of the question?