Starting my FIRST saltwater tank!!!!!!!

[Riceymo91]

Need some advice!! Nitrates are skyrocketing, around 50. Causing huge algae problems. Been doing weekly water changes about 30%, so pretty big ones. Still get nitrates around 25. Any suggestions?

[Sniperhank]

What goes in must come out. Cut back on feeding some. Do water changes til the nitrates are 0 and see where it goes from there.
Is there a skimmer or other form of filtration on the system?

[Riceymo91]

Other than the stock filter the tank came with, no. But I added some red macro algae today, hopefully the macro will outcompete the other algae for nutrients.

[Riceymo91]

decided to do a red macro back drop behind the rocks. Love how it looks and hopefully it'll benefit the tank!

[Sniperhank]

If you are concerned about your nitrate levels and how fast they are rising, I would look into a skimmer at minimum. That dragon's breath won't be enough to consume what is going on in the system. At the end of the day, with the money you are dropping on corals as quickly as you are it will be a worthy investment. When the algae issues were going on in my tank and my skimmer bit the bullet I lost many corals to being overrun by hair algae. It was totally avoidable.

[Riceymo91]

I was really trying to avoid a skimmer for this tiny tank but if it's really necessary I will look into it.

[Nils]

I run a skimmer on my 15 gallon system and it definitely helps with nutrient export.
Normally you can get by without one in such a small tank, just keep up the PWC's like Sniperhank mentioned and cut down on feeding.

[Riceymo91]

Hmmm is feeding once a day too much? I only feed flakes. I have 2 baby da Vinci clowns and 1 diamond goby

[Sniperhank]

I feed my Reef tank every other day. There is no reason to feed daily unless it is a specialized fish that needs fed that often, which clowns and gobies are not.

[Riceymo91]

Originally Posted by Sniperhank

I feed my Reef tank every other day. There is no reason to feed daily unless it is a specialized fish that needs fed that often, which clowns and gobies are not.

Hmm okay, I'll give that a try and keep up with my water changes and see what happens. Hopefully the nitrates start coming down.

[Sniperhank]

They will, it just takes time. If your nitrates are at 100 and you do a 50% water change, your nitrates will only go down to 50. Then a week of nitrate levels rising from feeding/pooping and so on...so say its at 75...another 50% water change... You get the idea.

[Riceymo91]

Originally Posted by Sniperhank

They will, it just takes time. If your nitrates are at 100 and you do a 50% water change, your nitrates will only go down to 50. Then a week of nitrate levels rising from feeding/pooping and so on...so say its at 75...another 50% water change... You get the idea.

The algae seems to be doing a bit better, been doing weekly water changes, gonna test again tomorrow to see how it is!

[Riceymo91]

Alrighty guys! Here's another update on my 12 gallon nano tank!! Figured what was causing my algae issues, it was the flakes I was feeding! I switched over to frozen foods and so far so good! Have a Algae blenny in the tank getting along super well with my goby! Here are a few up to date photos with some new corals! Got some new zoas and loving the bubble coral!!

[Sniperhank]

Flake foods do contain a large amount of phosphates in them, but keep an eye on the algae blenny. It will get much larger than the system can manage, especially once the algae is gone.

[Riceymo91]

Originally Posted by Sniperhank

Flake foods do contain a large amount of phosphates in them, but keep an eye on the algae blenny. It will get much larger than the system can manage, especially once the algae is gone.

Yup, will do! Thanks hank

[Riceymo91]

Well guys! Guess who’s upgrading from a 12 g to 20g peninsula tank!! I AM!!

[Sniperhank]

Interesting choice. Why a peninsula style?

[Riceymo91]

Originally Posted by Sniperhank

Interesting choice. Why a peninsula style?

Well, I just love how the tank looks, and where I want to place it, a peninsula looks best.

[Riceymo91]

Transferred everything over!! Here’s an update!

[Riceymo91]

Originally Posted by Riceymo91

Transferred everything over!! Here’s an update!

also got a new light for the tank! Current marine orbit pro!