Tank change(?)

Sadly, that's most likely your problem too, and changing tanks won't solve it. If you can't start with clean water, how on Earth can you keep it clean?

FTR, I have a 29H with UGF, crushed coral substrate, and HOB filter; no sump, no skimmer, no reactors. With 4 fish, 1 shrimp, several corals and CuC, 10% biweekly water changes keeps everything in check.

 

How much live rock you got? If you clean your sand to much then you are pulling out beneficial bacteria that helps to keep your nitrates down. How long was your tank setup? Are you doing a wide range of test? How's your ammonia & nitrites, phosphates & such? But it seems like your leaning on just getting a new tank now.

 

If it's a shallow sand bed, it doesn't hold that much anyway. Your LR is the main bio filter in your tank. That's why I think live sand in the package is a hoax. Water flows through your rock, not through your sand. (yes I know it contains some but not much comparatively to your rock) There are exceptions to this like UGF's and Plenums

 

Good point.
Wow, I was always told that a skimmer was a nessecity but thats awesome you need such little equipment.

 

Not very much. oh, well then I will stop. the reason i was doing that was because a lot of food can get under coral rubble. 4 years, just recently became a reef. yes. Nitrite: 0, ammonia: 0, phosphates: not sure, nitrates 10-15, calcium 500 ppm, alk 11 dkh. Yeah because I think I could get a btter aquascape going if I do that.

 

Oh, well then I'll skip on the deep sand bed in that case.

 

What kind of HOB do you have?

 

Whisper 60- 330gph. I always go with oversize filters. I do not, however, use filter pads. It's for surface circulation and a place to hang media bags. I currently have one with GAC, and can quickly add another with GFO if necessary.

 

Thank you.

 

Okay so do any of you think that this setup would be good?

20 gallon long tank

Flitration:
~20 lbs live sand
~20 lbs live rock
Fluval c2
hydor nano-skim

Flow:
Hydor nano power head 425 gph

DIY stand

Lighting:
20 inch 4 bulb aquaticlife t5 ho light fixture w/2 lunar LEDs

Heater:
?

Fish
Clownfish pair
Midas blenny(?)

Coral
Lps mostly
defiantly a hammer and duncan in there somewhere.

Invert
skunk cleaner
Normal cuc
maybe a GBTA or RBTA