Thanks for watching and for the comments. I agree and as you know every tank has issues but this one seems to have had more than any other tank I have kept but I will get there 🤞🏻👍🏻
Great update Paul, nice to see honest videos showing both the good and the bad. Can be such a frustrating yet rewarding hobby. My reefer upgrade should be here soon, which is exciting, but im also dreading starting the tank all over again as my reefer170 is so stable and where i want it to be. Keep up the great content mate
Thanks for watching. I try to be balanced and show both sides of hobby and it sucks when things are not going to plan but it happens to all of us. New tank set ups are so exciting with the anticipation of what you want to do. Hope all goes well and I hope to hear all about it during our livestreams 🤞🏻
Great update mate as you say very challenging and frustrating this hobby that's for sure , it's crazy how some corals do well and others don't more bacteria in the tank will sort this im sure, gutted about the angelfish, its always sad 😢, you'll get there mate
Thanks for watching Ste. Bloody nanos are IMO so much harder than a bigger tank, based on this tank alongside the 450L tank. As you say sad to lose livestock, I hate it, but all part of this hobby 😢
Thanks for sharing Paul. I’ve found with my nano less is more, I had similar to yourself where I lost the clean up crew and some corals and had diatoms..couldn’t work out why. Went down the bacteria route with little success, in the end I let the tank be, cut back weekly water changes to fortnightly and it resolved itself. Good luck and Happy New Year.
Thanks for watching and that is a very fair point, less is more and just let it do it’s thing. Reducing water changes is def something I am doing but does mean nutrients increase so I need to reduce phosphate before it goes nuts. Happy new year to you too and see you on the livestreams in 2024 🙌🏻
Looks like Dinos to me. There are types of Dinos like amphidinium that do not show the snotty bubbles and still appear despite having higher nutrients.
Thanks for watching . The I dog into this the more I am learning about Dino’s. I am hopefully going to be using a microscope in next few days to ID and then I can confirm and decide how I am taking this forward . Happy reefing
I battled hair algae for over a year in a 75G due to low nutrients showing on tests but were fueling the algae, I was pulling my hair out! excuse the pun. In the end I started doing water changes and taking a bit of rock out at a time and cleaned the rock off in the water i changed out with a toothbrush. Once I got the lot out of tank which took a few weeks I then kept a close eye on nitrates and phosphates and making sure I kept the right balance - 5-10 nitrates, 0.03-0.06 phosphates. Then loads of clean up crew, touch wood no algae has returned. I also made sure there was plenty of flow at the back of rock work and overall good flow/surface movement in tank. Keeping a good check on trace elements is important, I send off for an icp every 1-2 months to keep things in balance. Its so hard sometimes even with years of experience! I tend to find the bottled chemicals can make things worse, i'd much rather go down the natural route but when things don't happen it makes you dose!
Thanks for watching. And sharing your experience. I think more water movement will help and trying to get the balance through natural rather than bottles is something I prefer but not always possible. I test every week although I think the issue is with elements, bacteria or something else that we cannot test with home kits. Awaiting ICP and will update when I have it. Thanks 🙌🏻👍🏻👌🏻
Sorry to hear about your Cherub angel fish mate. Have you tried to run a little active carbon in the back? It always helps to revive the corals with colour in my nano. You will definitely turn the corner very soon with this tank. Thank you for sharing the lows along with the highs of the hobby.
Thanks for watching jay. I do run carbon from time to time but could throw a bag in 👍🏻. As you know this hobby is not smooth sailing and not gonna hide issues. Always learning with each tank having it’s own challenges 😢
Really well rounded update on the tank Paul! Really interesting to see one Goni in your tank thrive at the same time another melts away. I think you’re right about some bacterial infection (vibrio?) that was probably fuelled by the Angel dying. Have you run an ICP on your tank recently to check for any trace metals?
Cannot prove it but the Goni could have brought in the infection although I suspect you are right about angel’s demise though as the death of a fish in a small tank could cause other issues 🤷♂️. ICP sent but their machine has broke so need to wait a few days 😡
Sand, flow, copepods and clean up crew. I personally wouldnt put a live sand in there now, just go with a dry sand.I would actually get rid of what was in there because if you just put the new sand on top of the old all that detritus/algea will be trapped and cause more problems. I would add a sand sifting goby and some nassa snails aswell. I would try moving that wavemaker more central on the back glass about 1/3 of the way down and then play around with the settings. Adding more copepods will make a massive difference in keeping the tank clean. Good luck with whatever you choose to do 👍
Some great comments, many thanks. I think I will add another wave maker on the left as o think more flow will help although I may have to move some corals around but we will see. I like the idea of adding nassa snails as that will def help and also removing existing sand or detritus to stop issues further down track. Once again thanks 🙌🏻
Like you say, I think a lack of bio mass ie. rock, sand is a problem. Smaller tanks are harder as less water volume. I'd quit dosing all this random stuff and let the tank find it's own balance, small water changes if any for a while. Great video tho
Looking at your tank, I agree that there is a lack of sand . And insufficient live rock . Once a week, you can stir the sand grate for the coral. Also nitrate I've always kept at about 5 ppm . This is only my opinion
Thanks for watching and your comments. Probably the biggest mistake I have made in 10 years is not adding live sand and having a deeper sand bed but we live and learn.
@@fishpalace we all make errors . I set up a species only tank only had one fish in the tank went to bed got up in the morning and I'd not put the lid on properly found fish on the carpet. Hope all is going well and you've sorted the problem . Keep up the posting
Easier to place a UV in a sumped tank so would need to look how I could position in this tank. What tank do you have and how/where have you i stalled your UV? Thanks 👌🏻
Thanks for watching. One thing I have learnt is that a nano needs more attention ruin than larger tanks as can go south a lot quicker than larger tanks I have had. My 450L tank was simple compared to this tank 😳
I’d start again Paul with live sand as you’ve got the luxury of putting your livestock in your other tanks. One of these days there will be a bacteria test so we can test to ensure our tanks have the right amount and type of bacteria as this is the backbone of the nitrogen cycle.
Be great to understand more about bacteria and being able to test for it as will definitely help. I am tempted to reboot but before I do I am about to introduce a couple of changes that will take a bit of time but I think will solve the problem
I'm new to the hobby but watch this tank with interest as I have the same one. Gutted to see the tank struggling. Do you run a clean up crew? I didn't see any trochus, hermits, ceriths etc? Do you introduce pods? When my lights go out I see pods all along the bottom of my glass? They seems to come from my sand bed. Have you an ICP? Could you have a build up of an unwanted nasty such as a metal?
Thanks for watching. I have a number of hermit crabs but could probably do with adding some more. I do add pods from time to time and waiting for an ICP to come back but their machine broke so will not get it back until new year, which is frustrating 😡
I started with dead rock and sand but with a couple of bio balls and seeded rock rubble from another tank. I have started my 2 previous tanks like this BUT with live sand and I think that has made a big negative difference. Live and learn 😢
I'd add another wave maker mate for more Flow. Definitely add some sand and more live rock. I also dose modern reef bio diversity weekly the stuff is amazing
Thanks stefan, the Goni I got from you is loving life 🙏🏻 what powerheads you using as I could add another on the left but want it on back wall and not glass.
@fishpalace glad the gonis loving life mate. I'm currently using 2 Slw10 on the back wall on full power.. I did also upgrade my return pump to the controllable tmc 1500 compact and that's currently on 40%
Not sure there is enough pods and critters to sustain a scooter blenny and I think a starfish would struggle in this small tank as not enough sand and life in it to keep it well fed. I have always stayed away from sandsifting starfish as not sure I could keep it alive 😢 Thanks for watching, really appreciate it 👏🏻👍🏻
Thanks for watching 🙌🏻. Yep, I test every week for past 2 months and previously every 2 weeks. I have been doing weekly changes of about 20% and that has always been fine. There is something going on that is not related to the parameters we test. Not done a water change for past 10 days and cyano is looking better 🤞🏻. There is one other thing I am going to try as making too many changes can result in other issues 👍🏻
I don’t think it is as not stringy with bubbles and looks like cyano, which I have had numerous times over the years. Also nutrients are high which is not usually associated with dino’s. A fair point and maybe I should look into further. Thanks 👍🏻
@@fishpalace there are some strains that are not stringy it might be worth a look. It would make sense on why the urchin is dying if been eating it especially if one of the toxic strains. If not doing already add some activated carbon and dose pods, bacteria and phyto. Bio diversity is the key.
I will certainly look into dino’s as I always relate it to low nutrients not higher nutrients. Biodiversity has definitely been the main problem that I have failed to sort
Just wanted to 2nd this that it seems more like dinos than cyano, but I’m mostly basing this on color. And also you would think the cyanoclean would have knocked out any cyano as everyone pretty much says once you dose that or chemiclean, cyano is easily wiped out. Manual removal before dosing an anti cyano chemical also helps.
@@timjohnson3913 I am going to have to research dino’s as not had before and would explain unexpected deaths. I suspect I might have to stick it under a microscope to confirm
Should help with nutrients. I like a roller filter in a sump but not so happy with it being on display but get why you would buy one as I love a filter roller 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks for advice. I have stopped water changes which does mean phosphate is increasing but it does seem to have helped. I have reduced the amount of hours the lights are on and intensity is no more than 50% but will reduce further if I do not see any improvement. Some good ideas, thanks 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻
I'm sure you'll sort those problems out, makes a nice change to see a video showing the problems we've all had rather than manicured Instagram tanks.
Thanks for watching and for the comments. I agree and as you know every tank has issues but this one seems to have had more than any other tank I have kept but I will get there 🤞🏻👍🏻
Great update Paul, nice to see honest videos showing both the good and the bad. Can be such a frustrating yet rewarding hobby. My reefer upgrade should be here soon, which is exciting, but im also dreading starting the tank all over again as my reefer170 is so stable and where i want it to be. Keep up the great content mate
Thanks for watching. I try to be balanced and show both sides of hobby and it sucks when things are not going to plan but it happens to all of us. New tank set ups are so exciting with the anticipation of what you want to do. Hope all goes well and I hope to hear all about it during our livestreams 🤞🏻
Great update mate as you say very challenging and frustrating this hobby that's for sure , it's crazy how some corals do well and others don't more bacteria in the tank will sort this im sure, gutted about the angelfish, its always sad 😢, you'll get there mate
Thanks for watching Ste. Bloody nanos are IMO so much harder than a bigger tank, based on this tank alongside the 450L tank. As you say sad to lose livestock, I hate it, but all part of this hobby 😢
Thanks for sharing Paul. I’ve found with my nano less is more, I had similar to yourself where I lost the clean up crew and some corals and had diatoms..couldn’t work out why. Went down the bacteria route with little success, in the end I let the tank be, cut back weekly water changes to fortnightly and it resolved itself. Good luck and Happy New Year.
Thanks for watching and that is a very fair point, less is more and just let it do it’s thing. Reducing water changes is def something I am doing but does mean nutrients increase so I need to reduce phosphate before it goes nuts. Happy new year to you too and see you on the livestreams in 2024 🙌🏻
Looks like Dinos to me. There are types of Dinos like amphidinium that do not show the snotty bubbles and still appear despite having higher nutrients.
Thanks for watching . The I dog into this the more I am learning about Dino’s. I am hopefully going to be using a microscope in next few days to ID and then I can confirm and decide how I am taking this forward . Happy reefing
I battled hair algae for over a year in a 75G due to low nutrients showing on tests but were fueling the algae, I was pulling my hair out! excuse the pun.
In the end I started doing water changes and taking a bit of rock out at a time and cleaned the rock off in the water i changed out with a toothbrush.
Once I got the lot out of tank which took a few weeks I then kept a close eye on nitrates and phosphates and making sure I kept the right balance - 5-10 nitrates, 0.03-0.06 phosphates.
Then loads of clean up crew, touch wood no algae has returned.
I also made sure there was plenty of flow at the back of rock work and overall good flow/surface movement in tank.
Keeping a good check on trace elements is important, I send off for an icp every 1-2 months to keep things in balance.
Its so hard sometimes even with years of experience! I tend to find the bottled chemicals can make things worse, i'd much rather go down the natural route but when things don't happen it makes you dose!
Thanks for watching. And sharing your experience. I think more water movement will help and trying to get the balance through natural rather than bottles is something I prefer but not always possible. I test every week although I think the issue is with elements, bacteria or something else that we cannot test with home kits. Awaiting ICP and will update when I have it. Thanks 🙌🏻👍🏻👌🏻
Sorry to hear about your Cherub angel fish mate. Have you tried to run a little active carbon in the back? It always helps to revive the corals with colour in my nano. You will definitely turn the corner very soon with this tank. Thank you for sharing the lows along with the highs of the hobby.
Thanks for watching jay. I do run carbon from time to time but could throw a bag in 👍🏻. As you know this hobby is not smooth sailing and not gonna hide issues. Always learning with each tank having it’s own challenges 😢
Really well rounded update on the tank Paul! Really interesting to see one Goni in your tank thrive at the same time another melts away. I think you’re right about some bacterial infection (vibrio?) that was probably fuelled by the Angel dying. Have you run an ICP on your tank recently to check for any trace metals?
Cannot prove it but the Goni could have brought in the infection although I suspect you are right about angel’s demise though as the death of a fish in a small tank could cause other issues 🤷♂️. ICP sent but their machine has broke so need to wait a few days 😡
Sand, flow, copepods and clean up crew.
I personally wouldnt put a live sand in there now, just go with a dry sand.I would actually get rid of what was in there because if you just put the new sand on top of the old all that detritus/algea will be trapped and cause more problems. I would add a sand sifting goby and some nassa snails aswell.
I would try moving that wavemaker more central on the back glass about 1/3 of the way down and then play around with the settings.
Adding more copepods will make a massive difference in keeping the tank clean.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do 👍
Some great comments, many thanks. I think I will add another wave maker on the left as o think more flow will help although I may have to move some corals around but we will see.
I like the idea of adding nassa snails as that will def help and also removing existing sand or detritus to stop issues further down track. Once again thanks 🙌🏻
A sifting goby will starve in a tank with so little sand surface area.
@@stoyantodorov2133 you do realise they eat more than just 'sand sifting', mysis, plankton, brine shrimp, sea weed extreme for example.
Paul it's a unpredictable hobby to be in it test's everyone to their limits hang on in there all will work out well 👍
Thanks tony. I am testing every week and awaiting the return of an ICP too. Gonna be patient and see this through 🤞🏻
Like you say, I think a lack of bio mass ie. rock, sand is a problem. Smaller tanks are harder as less water volume. I'd quit dosing all this random stuff and let the tank find it's own balance, small water changes if any for a while. Great video tho
Thanks for watching. It is slowly going and now gradually adding more sand to support greater surface area for bio. A long process
Looking at your tank, I agree that there is a lack of sand . And insufficient live rock . Once a week, you can stir the sand grate for the coral. Also nitrate I've always kept at about 5 ppm . This is only my opinion
Thanks for watching and your comments. Probably the biggest mistake I have made in 10 years is not adding live sand and having a deeper sand bed but we live and learn.
@@fishpalace we all make errors . I set up a species only tank only had one fish in the tank went to bed got up in the morning and I'd not put the lid on properly found fish on the carpet. Hope all is going well and you've sorted the problem . Keep up the posting
@@meandtiz ouch. Will post an update in a couple of months
I would buy a UV Steralizer. That will wipe out alot of that algae over time. Helped my all in one tank balance itself out
Easier to place a UV in a sumped tank so would need to look how I could position in this tank. What tank do you have and how/where have you i stalled your UV? Thanks 👌🏻
@@fishpalace innovative marine makes a desktop uv that you can modify slightly to fit in red sea 1st chamber
@@erichanasky7884 great stuff and thanks for sharing 👍🏻🙌🏻. I will take a look 👌🏻
I'm having the same issues. Changed my attitude and just giving loving attention to my tank, it's getting better LOL.
Thanks for watching. One thing I have learnt is that a nano needs more attention ruin than larger tanks as can go south a lot quicker than larger tanks I have had. My 450L tank was simple compared to this tank 😳
This really puts me off starting this hobby
There will always be ups and downs in This hobby however this has been my toughest time I have had in almost 10 years. It is a fantastic hobby
I’d start again Paul with live sand as you’ve got the luxury of putting your livestock in your other tanks. One of these days there will be a bacteria test so we can test to ensure our tanks have the right amount and type of bacteria as this is the backbone of the nitrogen cycle.
Be great to understand more about bacteria and being able to test for it as will definitely help. I am tempted to reboot but before I do I am about to introduce a couple of changes that will take a bit of time but I think will solve the problem
There are bacteria tests. BRS used it on one of their videos when comparing how to start up a tank.
A very good point and now remember it well as it was the 15 tanks over 15 weeks or so. Will have to rewatch to see who does it. Thanks
I'm new to the hobby but watch this tank with interest as I have the same one. Gutted to see the tank struggling.
Do you run a clean up crew? I didn't see any trochus, hermits, ceriths etc?
Do you introduce pods? When my lights go out I see pods all along the bottom of my glass? They seems to come from my sand bed.
Have you an ICP? Could you have a build up of an unwanted nasty such as a metal?
Thanks for watching. I have a number of hermit crabs but could probably do with adding some more. I do add pods from time to time and waiting for an ICP to come back but their machine broke so will not get it back until new year, which is frustrating 😡
Did you start with dry rock.The worse tank i had was with dry rock.Ill never do it again. i hope things improve for you .
I started with dead rock and sand but with a couple of bio balls and seeded rock rubble from another tank. I have started my 2 previous tanks like this BUT with live sand and I think that has made a big negative difference. Live and learn 😢
I'd add another wave maker mate for more Flow. Definitely add some sand and more live rock. I also dose modern reef bio diversity weekly the stuff is amazing
Thanks stefan, the Goni I got from you is loving life 🙏🏻 what powerheads you using as I could add another on the left but want it on back wall and not glass.
@fishpalace glad the gonis loving life mate. I'm currently using 2 Slw10 on the back wall on full power.. I did also upgrade my return pump to the controllable tmc 1500 compact and that's currently on 40%
Where did you place on left as the filter sock is in the way so I cannot submerge the magnet?
Looks like you need a scooter blenny or a sand starfish to move around your sand.
Not sure there is enough pods and critters to sustain a scooter blenny and I think a starfish would struggle in this small tank as not enough sand and life in it to keep it well fed. I have always stayed away from sandsifting starfish as not sure I could keep it alive 😢
Thanks for watching, really appreciate it 👏🏻👍🏻
when dosing microbacteria, it’s best to turn off all the pumps & let it settle for a few minutes
Good point and not considered that. Will give it a go 👌🏻
Have you been testing parameters and would you think a bigger water change should have been better
Thanks for watching 🙌🏻. Yep, I test every week for past 2 months and previously every 2 weeks. I have been doing weekly changes of about 20% and that has always been fine. There is something going on that is not related to the parameters we test. Not done a water change for past 10 days and cyano is looking better 🤞🏻. There is one other thing I am going to try as making too many changes can result in other issues 👍🏻
I think water changes feed the nuisance algae. I'd old fire on the water changes mate
I think your right and has certainly improved if not stabilised since stopping but now need to manage nutrients 😡
Could it be dino's rather than cyno that you have? Some dino's are toxic which could explain the coral and fish loss.
I don’t think it is as not stringy with bubbles and looks like cyano, which I have had numerous times over the years. Also nutrients are high which is not usually associated with dino’s. A fair point and maybe I should look into further. Thanks 👍🏻
@@fishpalace there are some strains that are not stringy it might be worth a look. It would make sense on why the urchin is dying if been eating it especially if one of the toxic strains. If not doing already add some activated carbon and dose pods, bacteria and phyto. Bio diversity is the key.
I will certainly look into dino’s as I always relate it to low nutrients not higher nutrients. Biodiversity has definitely been the main problem that I have failed to sort
Just wanted to 2nd this that it seems more like dinos than cyano, but I’m mostly basing this on color. And also you would think the cyanoclean would have knocked out any cyano as everyone pretty much says once you dose that or chemiclean, cyano is easily wiped out. Manual removal before dosing an anti cyano chemical also helps.
@@timjohnson3913 I am going to have to research dino’s as not had before and would explain unexpected deaths. I suspect I might have to stick it under a microscope to confirm
Iv just ordered a roll mat for mine from lad
Should help with nutrients. I like a roller filter in a sump but not so happy with it being on display but get why you would buy one as I love a filter roller 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Any update on the urchin? Did he die?
Unfortunately the urchin did not make it 😢. Not gonna add anymore livestock for a while 😩. Thanks for asking 👌🏻
@@fishpalace I had a feeling that problems were arising due to that urchin being dead. He didn’t look too hot. Sorry, brother.
Fortunately the other livestock is ok but 3 losses within a week is not something I have experienced in over 9 years of reefing.
Stop dosing immediately, and stop water changes wait to see the outcome, diminish your lights and get sand clean up crew
Thanks for advice. I have stopped water changes which does mean phosphate is increasing but it does seem to have helped. I have reduced the amount of hours the lights are on and intensity is no more than 50% but will reduce further if I do not see any improvement. Some good ideas, thanks 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻
Reset it Paul new sand gut the sump
New sand in one go could reset the whole tank. Gonna try and add without creating a reset 🤞🏻
I will buy the tank off you Paul...lol lol
So kind Brett 👌🏻 would definitely have less grief but I want to turn this tank around 🤦🏻
Love your passion for the Hobby..! Fingers croseed you turn this little blip around @@fishpalace
Thanks Brett, I do love this hobby despite all the frustrations. I will beat it but just not sure how and when 😩
Try special grade what I'm running in mine
Will take a look, thanks
Echo balance once a month waste away once a week. Waste away is part 2 1 and only
Will look at waste away 🙌🏻
If u get 5mins listen dr tims pod cast on waste away and the gel one to happy new year to
Will look it up. Thanks for the heads up and a happy new year to you too 🙌🏻👏🏻👌🏻