[gparson]

I have a 75 gallon saltwater aquarium. I have had it about 3 years and with the same fish for about 1 year. It is not a reef tank and don’t have enough confidence in my skills to step up yet. I have a couple of questions and thought one of you could help me. My tank is fairly close to a window, so in the summer I worry about the temperature. I know you can buy a cooler, but I’m not sure my lighting isn’t causing some of my problems. It stays around 78 does that hurt the fish? I think I have to clean my tank more than I should, could that be the lighting? My fish doesn’t seem to grow, what causes that? Obviously I don’t have an introduction, just a lot of questions. Thanks for your help on any of this.

[RyanG]

Welcome to RB gparson!

[ACE]

How much do you clean your tank?
What type of light do you have???
What type of fish do you have??? I heard the amount of food you feed your fish determines how much they will grow!!!

ACE!!!

[gparson]

I checked the lighting and all I could find was GE plant and aquarium. That is probably a problem, do you have any suggestions? I have a Blue Hippo Tang, Damsels and a bottom feeder ( I can't remember what kind). I haven't added any fish for a long time. I have to clean my tank about every 2 or 3 weeks. Thanks for your help

[Brians125]

Hi GParson
Damsel fish are mean and agressive feeder's .I would toss these back to the lfs...
Dont let sun light hit your tank unless you have a uv steralizer...If your tank get's sunlight your will have green water in the near future.My aunt is fighting this now...As for lighting you have fresh water lighting..People who want live plant's in there fresh water tank's use GE plant lighting..So look around the forum for lighting suggestion's there's many type's and choice's to make..Depend's what you want to spend and if you want coral's.....Your cleaning the tank is fine..Just make sure your checking water perimeter's often..I do weekly small 5 gallon water change's on my 125 reef just to keep perfect water quality for my coral's...
BTW are you useing R.O water or tap out of your faucet?
Sorry im babbaling again lol just wanted to help you out.
G/L Brian

[gparson]

Thanks for you information. I think I will do some research on the lighting and make that change first. As for the damsel fish, next time I buy a "good fish" I will try and do something with them. My current fish are getting along with them okay, but I have worried about their aggressiveness in the past. I'm sure they have been some of my problems, I just hate to ..... you know what I mean, haha. My tank is by the front door with an window in the door as well as the big window above the door. The tank has been there for years and the clearity of the water is okay, but I fight the temp being border line warm and the glass grows alot of fungus (sorry, I don't know anything about this topic to call it the correct thing, haha). If I can find the right lighting it could help the temp, right? Thanks for your input, if you don't mind I will see your opinion of the lighting. As you can tell, this is only a side project for me so I'm not sure when I will take the time to research on the lighting. Thanks again gparson

[ReefDaddy]

Hi GParson - if you have a Blue Hippo for about a year now, you have a healthy tank. That's not an easy fish. If your algae is green on the glass, etc., it's just the quantity of light from your lights and window. Just clean it with a glass cleaner every day or so, it's a healthy tank. Now, you also can add a bunch of snails either Trochus, Turbos, or Astreas and they will do alot of the cleaning for you. Check out algae control packages on the internet. Just do a google search and take a look what everyone offers. Last, 78 degrees is a perfect temp. That's deffinitely not to hot, it's what everyone should strive for.

Hope that helped!

Reefdaddy
Qualitymarinelife

[reefaddict]

A thing to concider, if you upgrade you lighting it might generate more heat and thus warmer water. You really should move the tank out of the sunlight so not to compound heat issues. Heat will encourage algae growth.