My 46g Bow Front Tank by Sakura2282

It's doing better It's not fully open yet, but It's growing. Yesterday I had gentle brush its mat with a soft toothbrush because it had too many algae and detritus on it and today It's Polyps were open all day. So I'm guessing it's staring to be happy again.

That's good news. How are the nitrates? Getting lower?

I just bought another nitrate kit because I'm not sure if mine is still good. The nitrates are still under 40, but not zero yet. I have also noted an improvement since I don't have the emerald crab anymore. He was a waste maker machine and now I can keep my tank cleaner than before. I'm still teaching my brother how to feed the fish without overfeeding, but he gets to enthusiastic sometimes. I'm also keeping the tank free of detritus as much as I can by siphoning the substrate every week or two times in a week if I can.

Another problem I'm dealing with right now is the HA. I started last week to take out the rocks and put them in a bucket filled with the water I'm gonna replace from the tank and brushing them thoroughly to take off as much HA as I can. Then I just clean them with fresh saltwater before I put them back in the tank that way they just stay for a few seconds out of the water. I was really afraid of making my tank cycle again for doing this, so I started with all the small rocks last week and this week I did one of my big rocks and brushed again the small ones. The big rock I have in the middle is the one with the biggest issue, that ones is gonna be my next one. I think I have to keep doing this and lowering the nitrates to see if it helps. It is under control right now but, if I just let it be I know it will overrun my tank and become a nightmare and I don't want that. I have spend too much time and money in this hobby to let that algae ruin my tank. :cry:



My GSP after its cleaning yesterday it looked happier today. Haven't seen all its polyps out since 12/25 so I do believe we are making some progress here. I also notice yesterday during the water change that the salinity had raised to 1.029 so I freak out and put it back to 1.026. But that was my fault, I probably topped the tank off with saltwater one or two times. That could also be the reason why my GSP was closed and just after I brought it back to 1.026 its polyps were open today. Who knows? but, know I've learned something new about it. :geek:



Here is the picture I took of my shrimp after he pass away on 01/15. He had this big wound which I do believe was caused by Rusty. It looks like a big bite if you as me and he was the only one behind them. The other one also died a few days before this one, and I do believe Rusty also killed him even when its body was apparently complete, now I have my doubts. He just couldn't let them be, but I knew the risks. I took a picture of him today. My brother call him "the killer fish" lol. He can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but I do love all them (fish, corals, inverts even the rocks) they are still alive even when its owner is a rookie and is still learning the hobby. I tried to do my best for them. I don't want them to suffer I want them to be happy and healthy in my tank, so I can be happy too. :D



A full shot of the tank and my duncas they are big and fat thanks to the fomula one they have been eating. They are not fully open yet on this picture because of the recent water change, but they will be, my candy cane is fat too, but I don't feed it every week as I used to do because apparently is not necessary. :p

Sorry for your losses.
Your tank is looking good. The algae is just a stage the tank will go through. But it is a nasty battle but you seem to be wining. I've never tried the raising magnesium trick. But I have done tank blackouts that may or may not have helped. Just keep up on the removal and you will beat it. :thumbsup:

Thanks for your support @Aquarian! It really helps me to keep going. ;)

I've done the mag, it worked for me. And your tank is looking good :)

Thanks @AnthonyTheNewbie :)

What test kit did you use to measure the magnesium? I've read that I should use Kent magnesium for raising it. But all the test kit I saw yesterday measured only up to 1600. How do you know when it has reached 1800?

My New HOB Skimmer.

So I bought my first skimmer a HOB Reef Octopus BH 1000 to help me keep my tank cleaner. I will do the installation tomorrow. :D:D:D

Nice:thumbsup: Your gonna love that skimmer it's a good one

Have one in my tank, love it. It works like a champ haha

Sakura2282 said:

My New HOB Skimmer.

So I bought my first skimmer a HOB Reef Octopus BH 1000 to help me keep my tank cleaner. I will do the installation tomorrow. :D:D:D

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keep up the good work!

bronson said:

keep up the good work!

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Shep said:

Have one in my tank, love it. It works like a champ haha

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Aquarian said:

Nice:thumbsup: Your gonna love that skimmer it's a good one

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Thanks! :)

Skimmer Assembly.

Today I finally put my skimmer together. First, I had to read the instructions obviously and check that I had all the parts to start the assembling process. It took me like 30 minutes and it wasn't as hard to do it as I've read on the Internet, probably because it almost come completely assembled or it could be because I'm good with puzzles :D. I only had to assemble some pieces that were already attached to the pipe and voila :p.

So far I have liked it, the whole piece looks great now that it has been put together. Tomorrow, I won't probably have time to put it to work, but I will try to do it on Friday. I'm very excited to see it working.

I'm thinking in buying a GFO+Carbon reactor from BRS to help control the phosphates in the tank. I also like having some carbon running in the tank, so I'll keep my mind on it.

I took some pictures of the final work to share with you. :)

Looks good :thumbsup:

Sakura has got it going on:thumbsup:

looking good....

Skimmer Update.

Definitely putting that skimmer to work was a nightmare. I was so tired while doing it that it was awful, specially after it started to leak. Finally, I was able to fix the leak and make it work, but not without damaging my lighting system while placing it on the tank :cry:. Yeah, I did the same with these lights that I did with my old lights :oops:. Good thing was that my old lights are still working, so I was able to put them on the tank :).

sorry to hear bout your lights but glad you sorted skimmer in the end.bet you was well stressed when things went wrong especially being tired.

bronson said:

sorry to hear bout your lights but glad you sorted skimmer in the end.bet you was well stressed when things went wrong especially being tired.

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Thanks, and you're right. I'm happy that the skimmer is finally working and with luck maybe my other lights will start working again too, just like my old ones did.

Duncan Coral Update.

My Duncan is growing more heads :D. Both of its bigger heads are showing some new growing. Also those bulges at the base of the coral (green part) weren't there before either. I'm not sure if they are more heads or what? Check out the pictures.