Need A little help and advise.

[turbonutzz]

So i started this tank thinking it was gonna be a simple what i can catch ill put in it...anyway about a year later its now housing some simple corals and 5 fish from the store...I posted the pics so you guys could give me some advise about what to do.
Water parameters are
Nitrite= <.02ppm
Amonia= <.02ppm
Nitrate= 10 - 20ppm
calcium= 390-410
Alkalinity= 130ppm

Thats all the tests i have right now. should i be really concerned about any others??

I hade a bad cyano problem so i did a 50% water change and basically took the tank apart and washed all the rocks off. I feed about 2 a week now, trying to keep the DOC down. I also bought a skimmer its a urchin and is rated at 120 g. Finally i have a selfmade wet/dry, as you can tell. Im pretty confused about the whole bio ball thing. From what i read i should take them out thats why my nitrates are so high. So i took about half out. THere is a double later filter pad on the top part and under that there is a 100 micron pad. I just put it in today...im hoping this will help trap some debris and help with the nitrates. The problem is that the zoas that have been in there for about 3 months were doing really well but have suddenly started to shrivel (pics) the others which were just added about 3 weeks ago are all doing well. If any one has an idea whats going on it would be much appreciated. If more information is need please let me know. I really appreciate all the help anyone can give thanks!!!

The shrinking zoas




The setup




Other doing well corals...so far...

[jenajet]

Welcome to TRT! How about a little more info on your setup? What equipment are you running? Not familiar with the skimmer. Do you use a ro/di unit? Something is feeding the cyano. Do you use bioballs or other media? What type of lighting and how old is it? That's all I can think of right now.

[turbonutzz]

I have 3 power heads, the skimmer is a aquac urchin pro. with a rio 1400 pump. its rated at 40-120. I use bio balls right now and have just taken about half out. the lighting is Current USA PowerCompact Satellite 4x64=240 watts

10000K White/6700K White PowerCompact Bulb
7100K Blue/Actinic 03 PowerCompact Bulb

Its about 5 months old....
Thats pretty much all the equipment i have...I use the ro\di refilling stations for top off water. and when i do water changes i get it from the ocean. yeah after reading alot i thought the skimmer was gonna help alot but it doesn't seem to be that great. the cyano problem seems to be under control after the whole break down and wash off thing, but its only been about 2 1/2 weeks since then, but i don't see any new growth of it...the shrinking zoa and the nitrates seem to be the biggest problem right nnow.....thanks for the inquiries and comments....please keep them coming!!

[jenajet]

Well keep taking out the bio balls they just store waste. I wouldn't really use real ocean water unless you can go a few miles out and get it really deep. Lot's of pollutants and stuff near the shore and surface. getting rid of the bio balls is a big step. Have you looked for nudi's on the zoa's?

[ckusnierek]

WELCOME TO TRT!!

I beleive any amount of amonia and nitrite are bad.
removing the balls will help with the NO3 but 15-20 is not horrible

How big is the tank?

Have you recently add any Live rock? There are a few pcs in there that look new??? (it could look like that because the 6700K bulbs)
Adding LR can cause a cycle.


Is that a BTA I see in there? You lighting really in not enough for a anemone. and they require a very stable enviroment. Is there any one that could babysit it untill you get your tank stable?

[Loverotties]

You have nitites and amonia!!I don't think your tank ever finish cycling.

[turbonutzz]

Im pretty sure there is no amonia or nitrites...the testers i have go from .02 and up...so im pretty sure both are at 0. the tank itself is 55 gal and the sump is about 25. I havn't added any live rock for quite awhile. tank sat for about 1 month before i put anything in it. the anenomes were the first things put in. They have been in there for about 5 months since i got the lights. You say i need more lighting? or just for the anenomes? the seem to be doing ok though...i will remove the rest of the bio balls out probably friday i heard your not supposed to do it all at once.. is the LR and Sand good enough to break down the nitrites at this point? I also looked for nudibranches "nudis" right? i didn't see any around and woulnd't that affect the others? ok if you need any more info let me know thanks...also appreciate more ideas on how to make this tank better. money is an issue!! ahaha

[roon21]

dude go big or go home if your trying to do this you get what you pay for halides,ca reactors a bit of cyno here or there not such a big deal just as long as it is not all over the sps just remember every body kills their first tank then you learn !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!