SO many things wrong....

mpderksen · 10/07/2012, 04:40 PM

My tank is a wreck on SOOOO many levels. I had a successful 10g nano for a few years, so I got a Bio-Cube 29. After a short period, where it was going well, a friend moved and GAVE me the entire set up below. But I got over-confident, and threw it together without homework, and now I'm paying the price. If I need to break this into multiple threads, please tell me.
My primary issues include:

poor circulation from back rock placement
Insufficient lighting
questionable filtration

To begin, here are some pictures of my rock placement. Yes, I know there is a huge cyano outbreak, but I had a large amount of death for other reasons, and the poor circulation is clearly due to my rock placement. I have an MP10 on the one side, and a RIO1200 on the other. I need to know if I should just pull it ALL out and start over? I pretty much built a wall along the back, and doubt that any water flow is clearing out the area back there.

Also, on the full shot, you can see some wicked scratches in the inside of the acrylic. I used the same MagFloat I used on my other tanks, but those were glass. In this case, I got a small piece of sand between the float and the surface, and I proceeded to scratch it pretty badly. Any thoughts on how to remove them without draining the entire tank and starting over would be really appreciated.

The lighting is a custom build that I did for my 10g. Shortly after I was given the 75, the lighting blew out (really cheap PC fixture). This was all I had. Since you can see that the top of the tank has 2 main cutouts, what kind of lighting is suggested here? Just get 2 independent fixtures, one over each hole? Or get a single 4 foot fixture and not worry about the decrease in PAR in the middle where there is acrylic over the water?

Last, I'm getting some pretty decent sludge from the Reef Devil Deluxe

But I wonder if I can do better with the sump setup that I have and welcome suggestions.

Regards,
Michael

567234ta · 10/07/2012, 05:33 PM

I would start by just removing some of the rock in the DT and put it in the sump so it stays alive. That will get circulation going better and clean the dead areas. Second a water change, If you got cyano like that you got lots of stuff in the water, you have a ro/di unit? you mix your own salt? You have 2 fish? i would take them out and put them in the 10 gallon or other tank you have and just do 2 times a week water changes so you can feed them. It would be good to be fishless for a while and just get it cleaned and stable. And you know you need more light.

ajcanale · 10/07/2012, 06:31 PM

I think you are overreacting big time. Other than cyano, needing a new light fixture, and maybe more flow, things appear alright.

Orm Embar · 10/07/2012, 08:06 PM

Agree with some LR in sump to open up the rockscape.

You could try temporarily adding a reactor with GFO and dose vinegar.

I personally would continue to skim like heck, watch feedings, and add some non-Caulerpa macroalgae in the display or the sump and give it time. And partial water changes. (I am exceptionally biased against Caulerpa)

Lighting - not sure what to recommend (LED, T5, MH) - it depends.

Good luck!

mpderksen · 10/07/2012, 11:06 PM

Thanks!!
The back story that I didn't include was that I have lost 5 Green Chromis, an Arrow Crab, a Dwarf Angel and a yellow tang pretty fast, and I couldn't get a head of it. I suspect that my clean-up crew was more than half dead when it came in the mail. Every day I had a fatality.
The cyano outbreak is undoubtedly due to getting behind on the cleanliness. So my biggest question comes back to how to turn my current rockscape into something that allows for more circulation. Should I pull it all, and then restack with an eye to more space from the back wall?
I know that with better care, the cyano will eventually go away, but if my current layout lends itself this kind of trouble, I'd rather fix it now before it's covered in coral.

Michael

Orm Embar · 10/08/2012, 09:55 PM

Personally, I would pull the rock as you have said and redesign it with attention to the "rule of thirds" - there's a thread about aquascaping in one of the reef forums. I'd toss the rest in the sump for now, and ultimately either keep it there or sell/trade it.

10/07/2012, 04:40 PM	#1
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	SO many things wrong.... My tank is a wreck on SOOOO many levels. I had a successful 10g nano for a few years, so I got a Bio-Cube 29. After a short period, where it was going well, a friend moved and GAVE me the entire set up below. But I got over-confident, and threw it together without homework, and now I'm paying the price. If I need to break this into multiple threads, please tell me. My primary issues include: poor circulation from back rock placement Insufficient lighting questionable filtration To begin, here are some pictures of my rock placement. Yes, I know there is a huge cyano outbreak, but I had a large amount of death for other reasons, and the poor circulation is clearly due to my rock placement. I have an MP10 on the one side, and a RIO1200 on the other. I need to know if I should just pull it ALL out and start over? I pretty much built a wall along the back, and doubt that any water flow is clearing out the area back there. Also, on the full shot, you can see some wicked scratches in the inside of the acrylic. I used the same MagFloat I used on my other tanks, but those were glass. In this case, I got a small piece of sand between the float and the surface, and I proceeded to scratch it pretty badly. Any thoughts on how to remove them without draining the entire tank and starting over would be really appreciated. The lighting is a custom build that I did for my 10g. Shortly after I was given the 75, the lighting blew out (really cheap PC fixture). This was all I had. Since you can see that the top of the tank has 2 main cutouts, what kind of lighting is suggested here? Just get 2 independent fixtures, one over each hole? Or get a single 4 foot fixture and not worry about the decrease in PAR in the middle where there is acrylic over the water? Last, I'm getting some pretty decent sludge from the Reef Devil Deluxe But I wonder if I can do better with the sump setup that I have and welcome suggestions. Regards, Michael

10/07/2012, 06:31 PM	#3
ajcanale Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Memphis 10 Posts: 1,098	I think you are overreacting big time. Other than cyano, needing a new light fixture, and maybe more flow, things appear alright. __________________ If the spirit moves ya, let me groove ya Current Tank Info: 150g Starphire Pensinula SPS

10/07/2012, 08:06 PM	#4
Orm Embar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 667	Agree with some LR in sump to open up the rockscape. You could try temporarily adding a reactor with GFO and dose vinegar. I personally would continue to skim like heck, watch feedings, and add some non-Caulerpa macroalgae in the display or the sump and give it time. And partial water changes. (I am exceptionally biased against Caulerpa) Lighting - not sure what to recommend (LED, T5, MH) - it depends. Good luck! __________________ Mark (on AOL: Orm Embar) Quotes from my friends upon seeing my tank: "Hey, fresh sushi!"

10/07/2012, 11:06 PM	#5
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	the back story Thanks!! The back story that I didn't include was that I have lost 5 Green Chromis, an Arrow Crab, a Dwarf Angel and a yellow tang pretty fast, and I couldn't get a head of it. I suspect that my clean-up crew was more than half dead when it came in the mail. Every day I had a fatality. The cyano outbreak is undoubtedly due to getting behind on the cleanliness. So my biggest question comes back to how to turn my current rockscape into something that allows for more circulation. Should I pull it all, and then restack with an eye to more space from the back wall? I know that with better care, the cyano will eventually go away, but if my current layout lends itself this kind of trouble, I'd rather fix it now before it's covered in coral. Michael

10/08/2012, 09:55 PM	#6
Orm Embar Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 667	Personally, I would pull the rock as you have said and redesign it with attention to the "rule of thirds" - there's a thread about aquascaping in one of the reef forums. I'd toss the rest in the sump for now, and ultimately either keep it there or sell/trade it. __________________ Mark (on AOL: Orm Embar) Quotes from my friends upon seeing my tank: "Hey, fresh sushi!"

10/07/2012, 05:33 PM	#2
567234ta Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fort Smith AR Posts: 579	I would start by just removing some of the rock in the DT and put it in the sump so it stays alive. That will get circulation going better and clean the dead areas. Second a water change, If you got cyano like that you got lots of stuff in the water, you have a ro/di unit? you mix your own salt? You have 2 fish? i would take them out and put them in the 10 gallon or other tank you have and just do 2 times a week water changes so you can feed them. It would be good to be fishless for a while and just get it cleaned and stable. And you know you need more light.