OK..where do I start!

[reefer@zoom]

I have a 90gal.salt tank that has been up for about 12 years now and I want to do something with it,I thought about maybe breeding sea-horses.It has everything to make it a awsome display tank but has been put on the back burner for about 6mon. Lots of red cryo,but the 2 clownfish are healthy as can be.I have started by using a couple hangover filters and stiring up the water and cleaning the glass. Doing a small water change soon backed up with a large one next week.I want to transform this tank into something special, maybe even make a little money.I'm not real up to date on salt tanks but I know they will be apart of the rest of my life.Not many ppl here talk about the precence that saltwater fish have they are kinda like dogs or cats. They like know when you (the owner) gets home.Anyway any info. would be welcomed.

[Steve McKay]

Seahorses require special care and don't do well in a reef tank. They require less flow than corals, different temp than corals unless you stay with a tropical species and they don't get along with aggressive fish. You should do a lot of research before attempting this a lot.

[reefer@zoom]

well first I want to get the tank back in shape,It has a biological filter and a in sump skimer,I just added a temporary hangover filter to help clean up the alge spores while I scrub the live rock,Its already looking very good. Is there anything I can do other then water changes to bring the nitrates down.I'm really wanting some advice on water quality,like if I should add any cemicals,I was told by a friend not to add anything other then water and salt unless absolutly nessary, like disease. I will be getting a new test kit soon any suggestions?I have never tested for anything more other the nitrates,nitrite,ammonia,and pH.This tank has been up for about 12 years and done really well,I just want to improve it so I can feel comfortable spending some money on livestock maybe some corals.

[Steve McKay]

well first I want to get the tank back in shape,It has a biological filter and a in sump skimer,I just added a temporary hangover filter to help clean up the alge spores while I scrub the live rock,Its already looking very good. Is there anything I can do other then water changes to bring the nitrates down.I'm really wanting some advice on water quality,like if I should add any cemicals,I was told by a friend not to add anything other then water and salt unless absolutly nessary, like disease. I will be getting a new test kit soon any suggestions?I have never tested for anything more other the nitrates,nitrite,ammonia,and pH.This tank has been up for about 12 years and done really well,I just want to improve it so I can feel comfortable spending some money on livestock maybe some corals.

1 .First of all is this a reef tank or a fowlr?

2. Remove the bio-balls. They are no good, it's a well known fact.

3. Remove any other sponges or filter pads unless you clean them every day period.

4. Your friend is right, it is wise not to add chemicals unless absolutely necessary. Except for Ca,Alk,Mg.

5. If your going to have corals research what is needed for there survival.

[reefer@zoom]

I hope I dont sound stupid but I dont know what a fowlr is..lol. what I have is a 90gal. tank with about 50lbs. of live rock in it and 2 very healthy clowns. I have one 10k atnic one 10k super atnic.Lots of life in it just learned today I guess isopods,some all white spores,some purple and red spores with small translucent tentacles. I know alot of ppl have said to take out the bio balls but wont I need a refugium tank,not that I dont trust you just making sure that you know what I have ..sorry I was thrown into this hobbie my friend who sold me the tank moved to cali. and it took me 2 years just to figure out where everything went...lol I have been using the if it isnt broke dont fix it motto..

[Steve McKay]

I hope I dont sound stupid but I dont know what a fowlr is..lol. what I have is a 90gal. tank with about 50lbs. of live rock in it and 2 very healthy clowns. I have one 10k atnic one 10k super atnic.Lots of life in it just learned today I guess isopods,some all white spores,some purple and red spores with small translucent tentacles. I know alot of ppl have said to take out the bio balls but wont I need a refugium tank,not that I dont trust you just making sure that you know what I have ..sorry I was thrown into this hobbie my friend who sold me the tank moved to cali. and it took me 2 years just to figure out where everything went...lol I have been using the if it isnt broke dont fix it motto..

1. FOWLR = FISH ONLY WITH LIVE ROCK.

2. That is not enough light for corals.

3. I have no idea what you mean by spores, most spores of any kind can't be seen with the naked eye.

4. Bio-balls are for nitrification, they provide surface area for bacteria to break down ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate. If you have LR you don't need bio-balls. You will not see bio-balls in a reef system because they also grow algae that dies off and regrows producing nitrate. They also end up collecting detritus ( waste) which causes more nitrate. Nitrate levels above 5ppm, 10ppm max. are not good for corals. Also if you have crushed coral instead of sand it too will accumulate detritus.

5. When (if) you remove them, remove them in small amounts (handful) at a time per week, to give the bacteria colonies in the LR time to establish themselves.

6. Don't fix it, but when you test your water for nitrates and they are way over 10ppm then you might as well forget corals. Wet/dry filters with bio-balls are meant for fish only aquariums because fish can handle more nitrates than corals about 40ppm.

[reefer@zoom]

So I gather go slow and get rid of the bio balls and add the live rock that I have in storage in buckets.And in the end the sump will have nothing but the skimmer in it?

[Steve McKay]

So I gather go slow and get rid of the bio balls and add the live rock that I have in storage in buckets.And in the end the sump will have nothing but the skimmer in it?

Now you see the light! First, how much rock do you have in the tank now? If you don't have at least 50lb of rock in the tank don't remove the bio-ball yet. If you add rock now, make sure it is cured before you add it to the tank. If you don't it will cause a nitrogen cycle producing toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite. I know this might seem complicated but it's not just ask a question and I or someone here will help you. but yes the sump is for a skimmer,heater and other equipment not bio-balls or rock. Rock in your sump will do the same thing as bio-balls.

[Steve McKay]

Also before you start running around changing things. what are the dimensions of your tank I would presume 48" x 18" x 24" if it is a 90g. Also give me a list of all your equipment so I know what your working with, and will it be compatible with what you want which I presume is a reef tank.

[reefer@zoom]

not sure how to cure the stored rock,it's in sealed buckets in my basement,about 35 lbs. of it been there for about 8mon. some has that Aiptasia on it,looks like a featherduster but I guess is a parasite that is undesriable.It came out of my 120. equipment I have a IceCap 430-008 ballast with one actnic white VHO and one super actnic VHO, Im guessing 10k's.Sea life systems in sump skimmer,Aqua Clear model125 wet-dry with prefilter box. Teperature stays about 83 degrees. And a ground rod. Misc. stuff, Two hangover filters that I'm using to help clean up some of the green alge that I'm not sure what it is looks like pale Bryopsis or Derbesia. Most of the red macro is gone for now seems to come in go I guess with the cycles. And about 60lbs. of sand and 45lbs. of live rock.

[reefer@zoom]

I didn't think I had enough cemicals to do another test ,turns out I did and I kinda surprised.Lost some of my reference cards but from what I remember the only thing that a little high is nitrates,(Light golden color). Ammonia is about .25 and nitrite is a real light blue color. pH is 8.3

[Parrothead]

Reefer,

I would suggest going and getting a new test kit, soon, my memory is pretty good, but color code cards lead to too much wishful thinking, also the rock you have stored in your basement in sealed buckets is now probably dead rock, live rock requires flow, and water changes when cycling or storing, if it has just been sitting in sealed buckets for the last 8 months, its screwed, JMHO

[Steve McKay]

The LR you have in buckets is now dead, but that doesn't mean you can't use it. Put it in ro/di or distilled water and let it soak in a container not your tank, also scrub it clean of any debris and rinse it off. Take a pump with a hose attached and try to flush any debris out of it. After it is clean and has been soaking for about two weeks test the water it's in for ammonia and nitrite, don't worry about nitrate. If the test results are 0.0 you can put it in your tank and within a month or two it will become alive LR. If the test results show ammonia or nitrite wait another week and test again. With the rock being dead you won't have to worry about aiptasia. I presume the rock in buckets is dry.

[Parrothead]

Steve's right, you can soak, scrub, clean, and basically recure the rock and use it in you tank, I just wanted to slow you down incase you were thinking about putting it straight in

[reefer@zoom]

No worries about me doing anything sudden I havent since day one.Especialy now since I found this site I will definitly ask first,and thanks for the help. A test kit is definitly comming,along with one more VHO bulb.Should I go with a actnic or super actnic? I also would like to know if LR thats in the tank can die because of alge smothering it?

[Steve McKay]

No worries about me doing anything sudden I havent since day one.Especialy now since I found this site I will definitly ask first,and thanks for the help. A test kit is definitly comming,along with one more VHO bulb.Should I go with a actnic or super actnic? I also would like to know if LR thats in the tank can die because of alge smothering it?

No the rock won't die so to speak, but don't add anymore light until you get the algae under control if it is that bad. Post some photos so we can see what is going on, we will have a better idea what we are up against. The more we know the faster we can help you get your tank in A1 shape.

[reefer@zoom]

no problem pic's comming soon.

[Steve McKay]

No worries about me doing anything sudden I havent since day one.Especialy now since I found this site I will definitly ask first,and thanks for the help. A test kit is definitly comming,along with one more VHO bulb.Should I go with a actnic or super actnic? I also would like to know if LR thats in the tank can die because of alge smothering it?

If you like less blue then go with a actinic white, if you like blue go with super actinic. I don't know how much PAR they put out so I don't know if one would be better than the other. I have T-5 lighting but my bulbs are close to what you have. I have two Aquablue+ which are 60/40 6,000k/22,000k bulbs like your actinic white and four actinic+ which are 22,000k which are like your super actinic. If you did the same you would be getting another super actinic. But that is up to you.

[reefer@zoom]

awsome..will remember that.I'm doing a water change today about 30gal.and cleaning up some of the rock.I will get pic's up soon that is if my camera is good enough. I do have a question in regards to my other tank..I think I may be way over feeding.I have four adult fish,dogfaced puffer,Hippo tang,Domino Damsel,and a picasso Trigger.I would think not much on the rock left for them to eat.What would you suggest I feed them and how much,how often.Right now they get like 6-8 oz. of brine or formula two every other day.I know ppl say to thaw and strain the brine but the puffer will not eat it that way.If I put him on a crayfish diet how often should I feed him? Thanks in advance.

[Steve McKay]

awsome..will remember that.I'm doing a water change today about 30gal.and cleaning up some of the rock.I will get pic's up soon that is if my camera is good enough. I do have a question in regards to my other tank..I think I may be way over feeding.I have four adult fish,dogfaced puffer,Hippo tang,Domino Damsel,and a picasso Trigger.I would think not much on the rock left for them to eat.What would you suggest I feed them and how much,how often.Right now they get like 6-8 oz. of brine or formula two every other day.I know ppl say to thaw and strain the brine but the puffer will not eat it that way.If I put him on a crayfish diet how often should I feed him? Thanks in advance.

First of all you should feed them every day. Do you really mean 6-8 0z if you do that's two whole packs of frozen food. Yes that is way way overfeeding no wonder you have algae problems. I bet your nitrate levels are through the roof. You should put the food in a little at a time, when they start showing no interest stop. I don't know how big your fish are but just one or two probably one single cube is enough. For the tang buy some dried algae and a algae clip, follow the directions as far as feeding it. Don't give him any unless there is no algae in your tank for him, if you do he may stop eating the algae on your rocks.