toastiireefs

Updates: Having slime algae issues, though mostly likely to just poor water maintenance. It has really attacked my zoanthids. My Gorgonia is flourishing as well as my mushroom. I just added a couple more mushroom pieces, a sinularia, and two more gorgonias, and some galaxea (from frag fest). One of those gorg pieces looks like it is melting (bummer), but the other one looks like it is doing well!

Thanks that was the type of information I was really looking for initially. I am going no-fish for a while

He unfortunately didn't make it :( I am going to keep monitoring my aquarium closely over the next few days. And do some more water changes. Bummed.

I have seen some really awesome pest tanks on nano-reefs!

I use RC, and just FYI I have noticed the pH sits around 7.8. So if that is low for you- if you are not otherwise dosing then something to consider. I have seen many people with the same experiences too with RC.

I think over-feeding is the best guess I have. No cats. Dog can't pee that high! Nothing else in the tank is dead.

Thanks I will look into that. I always thought that stuff was gimmicky and didn't work. Good to know that it can result in false highs after use.

Found the last snail its alive- so I am at a loss other than I fed the tank over the last few weeks with 0 water changes. and Yesterday when I did a water change I dislodged a bunch of crap or I added it in directly with old salwater.

Yea. I the only thing in my tank unaccounted for is 1 snail. I can't find it and thinking maybe it died? But all other 4 snails are looking good. I fed the tank last night and did a water change right after (1/2 gallon)- and think I stirred some trapped nutrients in the filter -- but other than that there were no changes. I did a 30-40% change this morning, and added some amquel though I tested my new water and even that read 0.25 on my test. I tested the DI- but i don't think the test works with freshwater. (but if it does it read 0) So I threw all of that out, maybe i didn't clean the bucket very well before using it and I am making another 3 gallons of water. Plan on doing another water change this evening I think- maybe hunt harder for this snail- see if it died. The only animals I have are 1 fish. 5 snails (i unaccounted for) and 5 types of zoas,gorgonia, 1 mushroom and a hammercoral. - all of those are looking pretty good. The fish has been trying to swim today- yesterday it really didn't move at all. I am not sure if that means its getting better or worse. Just annoyed that I was neglectful - lesson learned pay more attention

No tds meter. I was feeding the tank- every once in a while- probably over feeding for one fish. It was cycled- but with small tanks it can get out of hand pretty quickly. It is a hectors goby. The only fish in the aquarium. I have chaeto in the back that has otherwise been really good at keeping phosphates and algae away. I was having an algae issue (at the beginning as per usual and put chaeto in and poof all gone). I just not sure if I should set up a temp tank and take the fish out immediately but I worry about further shock.

My tank is only 3 gallons and pretty new- 4 months old. And It had not had a water change in a while - it really should be once a week or every other week at the least. So probably filter build up etc. I also used old saltwater that I mixed and didn't check it before the change. So its just a small tank that hasn't had love in a month!

Hi all, I had been pretty neglectful of my aquarium because of school and travel over the last 3-4 weeks. But corals were all looking happy so I didn't think much of it- kept it topped off. Last night I noticed my fish not swimming around so I did a water change. This morning it was more active but swimming upside down etc- looking unhealthy. So I thought crap that looks like ammonia. So I checked my ammonia and it was 0.25-0.5!!!!!! YIKES! I used up all my pre-made saltwater yesterday, so I ran to the store and am mixing some water now. Should I set up a hospital tank for the little guy and put him in some freshly mixed saltwater with water changes- or keep him in the main tank and continue to do large WC over the next few days??

Thanks everyone:from other photos and what you are saying, it is most definitely a vermetid snail. It is not in a particularly good location for me to take the rock out since my gorgonia is encrusted on the two rocks it is between. I think it is irritating my gorg because every once in a while all of the polyps will be in for the whole day. So smothering it may be best option!

Doing some googling it looks like a vermetid snail, is that correct?

Hello! I have this tube worm type thing growing right behind my gorgonia. I was watching it today and while I was taping it for ID it either pooped or spawned: i am leaning towards pooped. Anywho- can anyone tell what it is - so sorry for the horrible iPhone video!!! It looks like it has antenna sticking out of the top: if you click the link it goes to a video. IMG_1682 by Sara MARRIOTT, on Flickr

IMG_1682 by Sara MARRIOTT, on Flickr

Just saw something VERY strange- I will probably post about it in a different thread. But something living in a tube just either pooped or spawned, and I have no idea what it is.

In my limited experience having warmer temperatures (up to a certain point) increases productivity and growth- so you will get more eggs in warmer water than cooler water. When I cultivated pods, I did it in a 5 gallon bucket, I think with an airstone, and chaeto, and a small heater- though I may have gone without a heater (it was a LONG time ago!) But keeping the temperature in the 70s should help!

Those LED lights just make it look so bright and clean! Beautiful set-up!

WOW that looks so much bigger than 3/4 of a gallon!!!!!!

1) I love when I write out a long post and then accidentally delete all of it by hitting the back button. 2) Thank you! As far as maintenance, for the first couple weeks, the algae came on strong- could literally watch it grow, so I was doing water changes 3-6 days apart about .5-1 gallon so 15-30 %. But then I stuck chaeto in the back chamber and that has instantly solved my algae problem, and I haven't done a water change in 2 weeks? though I need to do some light maintenance this weekend! I feed my tank about once or twice a week with a TINY amount of coral frenzy. That helps keep everyone happy. The fish mostly picks algae off rocks most of the time. I have thought about getting some frozen brine or copepods to supplement also. Update, since it has been a while. I got some zoas, hammer coral, gorg, and a cute tiny hector goby- who is very adept at hiding in this tiny aquarium! He is a joy to watch and has all sorts of sleeping places. At first, my flow in the tank was WAY too strong. polyps were out but not fully, switched out a Koralia 240, to a Rio 50 and everything is MUCH MUCH happier!!! Since I put the Chaeto in, my top off is higher than usual, is that normal?? I wish I had more coraline happening, but my pH runs a little lower than I would like, even though I am using reef crystals. However, based on other threads on this issue and because I mostly have soft corals in there, I am not going to worry about supplementing Ca, I am just going to keep things consistent. Future stocking plans: Letting my corals that I have grow out. Maybe a another mushroom coral, and another LPS. Last thing I want is a shrimp, I am trying to decide between sexy shrimp or a cleaner shrimp. Sexy shrimp just look so cool! Though so are cleaners- hard decision there! Okay! Picture time: (Disclaimer, these are from my phone, i have better ones on my DSLR, I just havent downloaded them yet) IMG_1643 by Sara MARRIOTT, on Flickr IMG_1576 by Sara MARRIOTT, on Flickr IMG_1518 by Sara MARRIOTT, on Flickr IMG_1517 by Sara MARRIOTT, on Flickr

Tank is mostly cycled now, I did a small water change last night. My pH is a little lower than I would like it: 7.8 to 8.0 ish My salinity is also a little on the low side: 1.021 so I may raise that as well with a small water change or by evaporation and then adding in the same salinity. Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate before the water change was about 10-20ppm. (sometimes reading those colors is hard!). Stock List thoughts: Corals: Zoas and Palys- I would like a lot of variety. (So if anyone has some fun frags of this, I am open to buying). Ricordea Debating on GSP- I think it looks pretty, and I have an idea of matting the wall with it, but also its a P.I.T.A to scrape off or keep it from over growing everything else. A few months down the line, once things stabilize more I may look into some hardy LPS/SPS- but will play that one by ear. Fish: Citron/Yellow Clown Goby. Inverts: A couple snails Hermit Crabs Sexy Shrimp

These saves are amazing! Would love to learn lots from you once you are set up!

Thanks! There is not actually that much room, because I do not have a sump, but a separate back chamber- which is really small. I could fit a small heater in there. The aquarium is only 3 gallons. In the winter I will reevaluate- I keep my house around 68, in the winter, so that is a bit on the chilly side- but with the pumps and light, it may be a bit warmer in the tank, we will have to see! Yea! I really want to make half of one of my back chambers a section for chaeto. Trying to decide if I want the filter side to be for Chaeto or the return pump side/ which I would split horizontally in order to get it to fit.

My Pico is almost cycled. It has about 5-10ppm of Nitrates, 0 Nitrites, and 0 Ammonia. I do not have a heater in it, but I have a powerhead and an LED light, and a return pump in it. It is about 76.5 in the morning - the lights are off all night, and then in the evening it is about 78.5. I can lift my lights a little higher to reduce the heat coming off of those, but I was wondering if that two degree swing during the day will be detrimental. I do not want to get a heater, because the ambient temperature of the tank sits around 76 degrees currently.