24 gallon nano reef

[Socalnano24]

Hello, I've had my tank set up since spring 2009

It originally had PC lighting w a bulky hood.

I just recently got a Kissel a150 and went topless w some egg crate.

-tru percula
-six line
-cleaner shrimp

-torch
-frogspawn
-montipora
-zoos
-purple mushrooms

-Nano remora skimmer
-A150 Kissel ocean blue LED hung light
-koralia 1

I've been working on giving it an "old tank syndrome" overhaul. There was an algae and cyano blight after my last vacation. Long story short there were 50 decomposing pellets still in the filter when I got back, normally there's none. So I think my sitter way over fed.

Good news is after 4 weeks of weekly 3 gallon water changes im back to 0 nitrates and nitrites, and w my new lighting i should avoid issues from my late PC bulbs.

I am considering doing a sand swap out in 3 or 4 phases, has anyone done this w good result? Any recommendations?

 

[nic]

I did it when I put my fish in qt for 4 weeks, turned out good no problems and I even took out some old rock and replace with others. Ur kessil looks pretty low u should higher a few inches

 

[Socalnano24]

Yah, last week i got 10 lbs of cured Fiji and took out about 15 lbs of old rock. I think some of my old rock may have gotten to the point where it became a nitrate and phosphate sync. Aka starts becoming saturated w waste levels.

The kessil is low at about 6 inches, but this appeared to give the best intensity and spread. Otherwise it tries to shine light on half my living room if i move it up. You can see the coverage circle on the egg crate. Is there a harm at it being too close? Will I burn the coral for instance or anything.

 

[Socalnano24]

 

[Socalnano24]

So my quest to eradicate the hair algae has been pretty good. But there's still some odds and end pieces, from a fixing the problem standpoint do i need to fully remove all of it and get a UV filter to kill the spores? Or if i beat it down enough and keep my level in check and w my new light should it just go away on its own?

 

[Socalnano24]

 

[Socalnano24]

Zoas improving w new lighting and recent tank overhaul

 

[Socalnano24]

 

[BSA]

Looks nice. How are u liking the kessil?

 

[Socalnano24]

It's really nice, low temperature gain, great lighting, and i like the ripples from a single point of light.

 

[Socalnano24]

Even with no discernible nitrates or nitrites and the new led lighting, i was still getting minor growth on the remnants of hair algae, so I'm just resorting to daily hand grooming. Pulling out the small chunks left that can't be grabbed by the grabber tool.

 

[Socalnano24]

I'm really at a loss on the algae abatement. Nitrates and nitrites at zero. Not excessive light, and i keep pulling lots out by hand every week, w 2-3 gallon water changes. Should I get rid of all my old rocks and replace all my sand? Tanks been set up since 2009 with one full tank overhaul in 2011.

Any tips?

 

[tytyty562]

Get some turbo snails

 

[Socalnano24]

Good call, now that you mention it my overgrown hermit crab ate the last of my two turbos. Just topped off some hermits and cerith snails, so a few turbos should round it out. Ok, I'll grab 4 of em at the next store visit.

 

[Socalnano24]

Brought in some reinforcements.

 

[Socalnano24]

 

[Socalnano24]