Very Discouraged

Everything is easy...once you know how to do it!!!

 

It seems like you have several things going against you, a small tank, the difficulty of your livestock, and you not testing your parameters or not posting them, whatever it is. I do understand your frustration though as I have my own issues with my tank. Running carbon is a great idea, also perhaps getting really hardy livestock, clowns, damsels, zoas, mushrooms, GSP etc. I would get rid of the anemone as they only cause problems, especially in a small tank like that.

 

Lots of people including me have kept Nano tanks successfully, all it takes is consistent maintenance. As for removing beneficial bacteria by doing to many water changes, well thats just not going to happen since the beneficial bacteria we all covet and need for our tanks to be successful all live on the rocks, sand, filters media and to a small extent on the glass.

Plus I disagree with anyone who say that "Fish really don't eat everyday in the wild" the heck they don't! they constantly forage for foods and eat when ever they find it, which in a rich ecosystem can be every couple of hours. to be happy and healthy fish need to be feed in small amount every day, at varying hours every day if possible.

As far as you killing it with kindness, yes I would say that doing water changes weekly is a bit much. I had a 10 gallon and a 16 gallon and did 1 gallon and 2 gallons every 2 weeks and never, never added or dosed anything else. Changing water more often stresses out the tanks occupants every time you do it and stress will kill corals. As far as carbon goes... yes Running carbon with a small tank like that is a must.

Cleaning the glass should and can be done as much as needed but you should invest in a magnetic glass cleaner which would allow you to clean the glass with out putting your hand into the tank. Also Handling corals should be kept to an absolute minimum, place them where you think they should be and leave them unless they are not doing well, only then should you move them.

I am assuming that you lighting nust be pretty decent since you say your amomone is doing well, it they are good enough to keep it alive it should be enough to keep most corals alive.

How ever I do have to agree, If you want to keep corals you will have to loose the anemone or keep the anemone and stay away from corals. With the small tank you will find it really hard to keep both. Being such a small volume of water the anemone can and will excrete poisons into the water that there is no test for and these poisons will kill most corals.

Good luck!

 

I wouldn't dose on such a small tank. So many things can go wrong in such a small water volume. If you're using a good salt, a once a month 1-1.5 gallon water change should be all you need to replenish calcium, magnesium and alkalinity, among other important trace elements.

If you can get rid of the nem, the better. If you want a nem, regardless, try a maxi-mini nem. They're very colorful and they don't grow big.

- Mag.

 

you might try testing for voltage in your tank, some times equipment can start leaking and if your feeling a shock when you put your hand in the tank that could be a possibility. I think if I was in your situation I would only do top offs for 3 week or until I felt better about it, in my experience there is only so much you can do. If you have good light, water, and flow than things should balance out, but the nem might take over if that is the case. Good luck I hope it works out for you.

 

If one does not feeling a shock could it be assumed that there is no leak?


DarkHorseMBA
___________________________
Sent from my iPhone

 

Not necessarily - the current may be so minimal that YOU dont feel it - but the fish/corals do!

 

I have seen stray voltage 2 times in 14 years, that is not that much when you consider how tanks I have maintained over the years. It is just not that commom IME.

First thing I would do is get rid of the anemone. Having it in a 10 gal tank with corals is just a set-up or disappointment IMO.

 

I have no more space for a larger tank. That was the reason for the nano to begin with. That is what I have to work with, like it or not. Suggestions about getting a larger tank are just not viable.

I did learn much from the thread, " What's Happening." The trouble is, I want to learn more &, no offence, many just want to rehash that thread again.

I've had
aquariums for a hobby for 50 years. I've been trying to get this SW nano going for 2 1/2 years. It is very frustrating.

There are as many opinions as there are people & I have made a few discoveries of my own along the way.

One says," 2 water changes a week."

Another says,"1 water change per week."

Then there is the one who says not to make a water change any more than 4 to 6 weeks. That person said all I was doing with all those water changes was disturbing the bacteria in my tank. She said,"I was killing my tank with love."

Maybe I am loving it to death. Maybe lazziness & patience are 2 important virtues in the SW hobby.

I would disagree with the person who said, if I give up, I never liked salt water to begin with. I have diabetes & had to give up chocolate, but that does not mean I still do not like it.

I'll just keep ploding along. Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
OceanSurf.

 

These things are really up to you and what works for your reef. You have a very basic setup, which should be successful with only water changes. The anemone is not a good idea in your tank, at least not where you are in the hobby. It would be a step in the right direction to remove it.

It's incorrect that your water changes are disturbing the bacteria. The vast majority of the bacteria resides on surfaces, not in the water column.

My guess is that you are not monitoring all of your water parameters, and your make-up water is not close to your tank water. Probably too big of a Ph and Alkalinity swing. It may seem mundane, but I bet your answer is in the basics.