[vblue]

Ok, so my 55 gallon tank's been set up for 6-7 months now. I've got a Marineland Black Diamond C-360 cannister filter, two Aquarium Systems MP 600 power heads, and I just added a Superskimmer 125 gal. capacity protein skimmer at Christmas. Until lately my tank has been gorgeous! I've had all my live rock covered with purple coraline algae, and it was even spreading to my base rock. I had two purple feather dusters spontaneously grow. Life was grand! Then, about a week before Christmas, everything started going down hill. First came the Aiptaisia. I squirted them with some Aiptaisia control I picked up from the local store. Then, this thick, black algae began to grow everywhere. Someone suggested that my light bulb may be going out, so I replaced it with a new one (compact flourescent 10,000K) No luck. Then, my cleaning crew all died. (2 cleaner shrimp, and 5 large turbo snails) Fast forward to last weekend... I finally installed the protein skimmer, and bought 8 new turbo snails and a starfish thinking they would clean everything up and I would be all good. No luck. The starfish is doing a pretty good job for what he can, but none of the 8 snails ever moved (they're all dead now) and the algae is as bad as ever. I'm ready to put my 3 remaining fish (2 Percula Clowns and a Lemon Head Goby) in a small tank and just throw everything out and start over. This is my first saltwater experience, and I think I need some help. Anything you can offer...thanks.

[Jeremy0322]

First off we will need tank parameters, live rock amount, live sand amount, if you are adding anything, how often you feed and what you feed, and anything else that may be helpful. I dont know if old tank syndrome happens that early, but it is what jumped out at me.

[vblue]

8lbs live rock, 14lbs base rock. I'm not sure about live sand...I think it was...It came in bags with water in it. I think about 40 lbs. I feed a pinch of flakes in the morning and one cube of Emerald Entre frozen cubes in the evening. The light may be an issue. I left it on 24/7 before I started having issues. I was told that leaving the light on could be causing issues (seemed to work fine for the first 5 months???) so I've started turning it off while I'm at work (usually about 10 hours). That's all I can think of...

[rlcline76]

So only 22 lbs of LR total for a 55?
Had you been testing your parameters regularly? How often do you give the cannister a good cleaning? Change the media? I'm thinking you should test for anything awry in the nitrogen cycle: ammonia, nitrates and especially nitrates with a decent test kit. Check phosphates, as well. For now, I would also suggest a hefty water change. Look at this article:
An Instant Nitrate Reduction Method - A Multiple Step Water Change Procedure

What is your water source? RO/Di? Tap?

[NATIVEVAMAN]

If you have a good skimmer and add about 40 pounds of live rock you can get rid of the canisters.If the snails never moved from the time you put them in the tank then they were not properly acclimated.

[vblue]

Thanks for the article. I'm going to do a water change this weekend. Any other ideas? Does the lighting have any effect?

[pogodzib]

Old light bulbs or bulbs that aren't meant for reef tanks can aid the algae, but the bulb spectrum and age that you have should be causing any issues. My guess is that you have high nitrates or phosphates from poor filtration. The only real way of knowing for sure is to test your water for nitrate and phosphate. Even then, you may get a zero reading from the phosphate because the algae may be sucking up the phosphate as quickly as it is created. Adding more rock and your recent protein skimmer addition should help your having water quality issues. Also, canister filters can aid in nitrates if they aren't cleaned regularly. I recommend that people don't use them on reef tanks. Also, you are feeding at least twice as much as you need to. I recommend only feeding a small amount of food once a day.

Additionally, what are you using for your water source? Tap water or RO/DI water? In most parts of the country, the tap water quality isn't very good.

[reefnoob1991]

We still need your tank parameters to help aid you, but 8 pounds of live rock and 14 pounds base rock in a 55 gallon tank just won't cut it....atleast have 1-2 pounds per gallon

[dinor2]

What about sand depth? And sand sifters? My tank is just 7 months old and I just increased my sand depth to be 4 inches (deep sand bed) in order to provide more places for the nitrifying bacteria to thrive. (They need low oxygen places). I also have 7 nassarius snails that plow through the sand constantly and keep the surface nice and clean and they're also helping releasing nitrogen pockets.

Sounds like the suggestions you've gotten sound like what I've heard as well. Trust these people, they know their reef tanks! Good luck, keep us posted!

[reefcouple]

You may want to quarantine the fish so you can focus on the tank for awhile.. Also I would reccomend timers for your lights.. Give the tank some "down time" which is great for the fish and the coral.

If this all happened after you squirted the aptasia, I would have to think that chemical could have contributed to this...

Hang in there, it wont be the last time you go through some sort of 'crash"..

~cheers