rees83usaf
Reefing newb
Hey guys! I am new to the site and thought I would say hello as I was advised... Haha... So, here goes!
I am new to the saltwater thing kinda i guess... I have only been in the hobby about 2 years. I am pretty familiar with reef tanks but fish are a whole new thing for me. I have a 20 gallon nano that I love. Its doing very well. I have had this one up and running about 4 months. I have live rock in it with some random slugs that hitched a ride. The Coraline algae has begun to bloom all over and it is starting to look very alive. This one is not the problem though.
Back in Dec, I recieved a 55 gallon aquarium and stand and all that as a Christmas present b/c I mentioned to my roomates how I wanted ot start having fish. So, they all bought me a nice 55 gallon aquarium and stand and a few supplies... Nice of them wouldnt ya say? So, I filled it with sand, a few dead rocks, and all that. After about a month, I added some fish. nothing special... A tellow tang, peppermint shrimp, star, and a couple chromis. Just to see how it worked out. Well, the fish are still alive after 4 months so, i guess thats a good sign. However, I cant gorw ANY algae in my aquarium.
Its like it goes through phases. I can get a nice coat of this nasty brown algae growing then after a week or so, its like something happens and it all turns white and vanishes. My aquarium is now 5 months old and it looks like I just filled with with brand new white gravel and crystal clear glass... I have been checking the water like I check my nano and the levels all are within normal levels. I even changed my lighting out to a blue tinted color b/c I was told that could be my problem. Yet, a month has gone by and I still have a perfectly clean tank. I wanted to refrain from adding live rock, b/c I didnt want to introduce the bristle worms that my nano has. But I think I might just have to. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have had such great luck growing bugs and junk in my nanao... But my 55 gallon is struggling.
Haha... I always thought the big aquariums were suppose to be easier! I dont think thats the case! Haha
Here are the specs and tests I have on the 55g that I do...
Lighting: 2 Maine-Glo 18'' Blue Tint Flurescent bulbs
Temp: 78-82 degrees
Fish: 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Bubble Starfish, 2 green Chromis, 1 Peppermint Shrimp
Filtration: Aqueaon Filter system with bio-system
Substrate: approx 2 inches of Aragonite
Water Tests performed: Amonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, High Range Ph (I also have a strip that tells General Hardness and Carbonate Hardness but I dont know what those really mean. I know the GH is always at 180 and the Carbonate is usually 180-240)
Additives: Once a week or so I add Kent Marine Strontium/Molybdenum, Calcium and Iodine. And atleast once a week add PurpleUp Coraline Algae Accelerator.
Any help would be appreciated!
Rees
I am new to the saltwater thing kinda i guess... I have only been in the hobby about 2 years. I am pretty familiar with reef tanks but fish are a whole new thing for me. I have a 20 gallon nano that I love. Its doing very well. I have had this one up and running about 4 months. I have live rock in it with some random slugs that hitched a ride. The Coraline algae has begun to bloom all over and it is starting to look very alive. This one is not the problem though.
Back in Dec, I recieved a 55 gallon aquarium and stand and all that as a Christmas present b/c I mentioned to my roomates how I wanted ot start having fish. So, they all bought me a nice 55 gallon aquarium and stand and a few supplies... Nice of them wouldnt ya say? So, I filled it with sand, a few dead rocks, and all that. After about a month, I added some fish. nothing special... A tellow tang, peppermint shrimp, star, and a couple chromis. Just to see how it worked out. Well, the fish are still alive after 4 months so, i guess thats a good sign. However, I cant gorw ANY algae in my aquarium.
Its like it goes through phases. I can get a nice coat of this nasty brown algae growing then after a week or so, its like something happens and it all turns white and vanishes. My aquarium is now 5 months old and it looks like I just filled with with brand new white gravel and crystal clear glass... I have been checking the water like I check my nano and the levels all are within normal levels. I even changed my lighting out to a blue tinted color b/c I was told that could be my problem. Yet, a month has gone by and I still have a perfectly clean tank. I wanted to refrain from adding live rock, b/c I didnt want to introduce the bristle worms that my nano has. But I think I might just have to. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I have had such great luck growing bugs and junk in my nanao... But my 55 gallon is struggling.
Haha... I always thought the big aquariums were suppose to be easier! I dont think thats the case! Haha
Here are the specs and tests I have on the 55g that I do...
Lighting: 2 Maine-Glo 18'' Blue Tint Flurescent bulbs
Temp: 78-82 degrees
Fish: 1 Yellow Tang, 1 Bubble Starfish, 2 green Chromis, 1 Peppermint Shrimp
Filtration: Aqueaon Filter system with bio-system
Substrate: approx 2 inches of Aragonite
Water Tests performed: Amonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, High Range Ph (I also have a strip that tells General Hardness and Carbonate Hardness but I dont know what those really mean. I know the GH is always at 180 and the Carbonate is usually 180-240)
Additives: Once a week or so I add Kent Marine Strontium/Molybdenum, Calcium and Iodine. And atleast once a week add PurpleUp Coraline Algae Accelerator.
Any help would be appreciated!
Rees
