Reef Tank ( WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG? ) A Few Take Aways, Calcium, Alkalinity, Nitrate, Ph,

[@TOMReefer]

Hey Guys, a serious update on my 75 gallon. Its not looking great. Im making adjustments. hopefully you can get a few take aways from my accident and mistakes. Any ideas are welcome! 🙄

[@xCaspow]

Can’t always be perfect! Challenges always pop up while reef keeping!

[@TOMReefer]

Hi X, yea, things are looking better already since the temperature is stabilizing 👍🏻thanks! 😊

[@sovereignviper90]

Some zoanthids do carry palytoxin, not just palythoas. For the heater, i would go dual 100w-150w heaters on a inkbird controller. Also cleaning a refugium is asking for a silent killer

[@TOMReefer]

That makes sense 👍🏻

[@BankersReef]

I agree on all statements. The temp change can certainly close up your Zoa gardens. However, the heat change and the giant nutrient spike/drop from cleaning the fuge can be a 2 part hard change. Gotta get a small fox face again as they are algae champions and usually leave corals alone until adolescence/maturity

[@TOMReefer]

@BankersReef I really liked the Fox face when it was immature! It looked great and left my corals alone. Different story now 🫤😊

[@TOMReefer]

Ordering an inkbird controller, I like it👍🏻 thanks for the tip

[@sovereignviper90]

@TOMReefer no problem, I find the brs titanium heaters or one's like it works best with the ink bird also most titanium heaters don't offer a turn dial to set temperature, so an ink bird makes those almost fool proof.

[@tommer725]

Is it possible your foxface nipped at the zoas and they released a palytoxin into your water which made everything not happy?

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Tommer, the zoas that looked affected are zoanthids that don’t give off palytoxin. However, I do have the large Palythoa grandis, that does! But they did not appear to be nipped at or withdrawn. Great thought though! 👍🏻

[@BonesSaw1979]

Literally doing this now with my tank. Had die off and I’ve been trying everything to see what caused it.

[@TOMReefer]

Sorry to hear that. If it happened quickly, try and trace back to what you did differently just before it happened. Check for temperature swings😃

[@Justin89125]

How well do those Hanna’s work Tom I’ve been using red seas pro test kit for the basics and for CAL and MAG and ALK I use the aquaforest pro kit but I’m always so unsure with the syringes cause theres that extra bit at the tip that’s not accounted for once the water starts hitting the measuring lines 😮 should be okay with the provided syringes tho right 🤷‍♂️ and also have you noticed with your protein skimmer any micro bubbling I really liked that style with the wood air stone I was thinking of putting one on the 100 gallon since the one I was using for the 55 is now to small but if I use the one with the air stone I have to place it right in the display since I didn’t do a sump on this build really appreciate your vid’s you have helped me out so much since I subscribed I was beginning to think I made a mistake converting to saltwater and was starting to regret it when I kept fresh water I had live plants and really never water changed like ever and everything thrived like crazy I couldn’t keep up with the plant growth but had no idea water changing for saltwater was so important thanks to you 🙏 and not to mention the idea of the aqua clear refugium builds that is working for me perfectly by the way 👍

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Justin, I like the Hanna checkers. That excess water in the tip is supposed to be there. It’s not a problem. It balances the top air pocket that forms at the top when pulling back the stopper. Never had any problem with micro bubbles, entering the tank from the skimmer that I have. Would air stone is placed high enough into the skimmer that all the bubble go directly up and not out of the bottom of the skimmer. i’ve never liked to put a skimmer in the display just because of aesthetics, but if you have to, I guess you could.

[@SilentBiscuit17]

Get that nitrate and phosphate up and see how it looks. Im assuming its that, zoas like higher nutrients. Happy reefing!🙏🏻

[@TOMReefer]

Hi SilentB, could be, however I’m noticing improvement already since the temperature has come up and stabilized. Thanks! 🙏🏻😊

[@Mindboggle100]

Tom, I have used the Fluval heaters they are great with the digital display... BUT they do require strongish flow to regulate properly. I would consider swapping out for a heater that can operate in low flow, if your heat issues continue. Good Luck x

[@TOMReefer]

Thanks Mindboggle, that’s my plan. I have a titanium heater with an external digital display and probe on order. 👍🏻

[@jibe4781]

Hi Tom. I had the same issue with my heater one day. 18degree Celsius in the tank. With a new one and 3weeks after that came back well. Hope that juste that 😢

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Jean, I think it was the heater and temperature. I’m noticing things improving already. 👍🏻However Fox face has to go. It’s picking on a lot of coral..👎🏻

[@jibe4781]

@@TOMReefer fox face bad guy. Always in the trouble.

[@danlandino6735]

Had a similar issue my 50 watt heater didn’t go out but it wasn’t keeping up. I switched o a 100 watt titanium BRS heater with a digital thermostat that has a probe in the main display to monitor the temp. I also have a separate digital thermometer in the tank sump it has greatly helped the tank also regarding your chemistry how do you like the Hannah’s? Currently using API master test kit and also their master reef kit but I’m not sure if I trust it. Once I use up the kits I’m debating on buying Hannah testers for each parameter or just dropping the money for Hannah’s all in on tester. It’s expensive but if I’m just going to buy all the individual kits i feel Iikenit would be worth just getting the single all in one unit

[@TOMReefer]

Hey Dan, Thats my next step. 500w titanium coming. I may get a 2nd smaller one for a back up. 2 in the tank.

[@sher666]

Good luck!!

[@TOMReefer]

Thanks!

[@paularamos5752]

Tom ,i feek for you rite now buddy. I hate to see u get rid of foxy but you know what your doing.2 or 3 things at once is hard .we ofve total confidence in your knowledge good luck and keep us updated in shorts or vids bud!

[@TOMReefer]

Yea, the tank will recover. I’m quite sure it was the heater and temp issue. That’s stable now and things already look better. And the refugium change didn’t help. Fox face just has to go. It’s gotten too big for the tank. All should be well. 🙏🏻😁

[@luckyday4134]

Sad to say but there isn’t a good heater out there They will all fail , glad you caught it in time

[@TOMReefer]

That’s my thoughts exactly lucky😊I should put 2 in there to at least decrease the chances.👍🏻great insight, thanks

[@jjmccloud]

It very well could just be the temp swing, i had a similar issue happen and after about 9 or 10 days after replacing hester things were back to normal

[@TOMReefer]

Hi JJ, I agree, things are improving already since I stabilized the temperature 👍🏻

[@jjmccloud]

@TOMReefer Awesome! Great to hear

[@jacklawer6389]

Do you have videos on how to dip corals b4 putting in main display? Thanks

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Jack, I'm afraid not. I get all my coral from my local guy, Fish Guy Mike. I've never really dipped before. But I may start!😀

[@jacklawer6389]

@@TOMReefer ok thank U

[@TOMReefer]

@jacklawer6389 hi Jack, it’s quite straight forward. Instructions are on the bottle. This is what I use if I have to remove from tank and dip. Reef Primer Shot Coral Dip Brand: Polyp Lab

[@jacklawer6389]

@@TOMReefer thanks again Tom

[@im160bpmplus]

Ive come to rule out Rabbitfish anywhere near coral. My Foxy was cool until i had an Australian Stripey and both of them were silent bandits. Never saw them do it but once removed all my leathers came out like I hadnt seen in forever.

[@TOMReefer]

Yea, I’m watching it nip at my cabbage leather now, he’s has to go. Waiting on a trap. If that will ever work? 😂

[@im160bpmplus]

@@TOMReefer I love mine, its been a godsend. I dont mind doing it either, its always really satisfying when the lid goes down and you can give fishy a talking to.

[@TOMReefer]

Good to hear it works👍🏻

[@rhombifer566]

Sometimes when I have weird anomalies like that, I'll do a 50% water change and more times and not straightens everything up

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Rhombifer, I agree, however, I had done rather large water changes leading up to this. I’m a bit uncertain that water change will help. I’m letting the temperature stabilize for at least a week to see if there’s improvement, and then I may try a large water change. Thanks! 😊

[@Bruno_Amaro]

Patience is the key in this hobby

[@TOMReefer]

I agree Bruno. Now that the temperature is stabilized I won’t do anything for at least a week or more or until I get the fox face out of the tank also. I believe the fox face is an indirect problem with nipping at my corals, and he needs to be removed 👍🏻😊then proceed from there

[@Bruno_Amaro]

In my reef tank my problem is an hermit crab that flip some corals 😂😂

[@TOMReefer]

@Bruno_Amaro hi Bruno, try super glue gel to attach the corals to rock.

[@Bruno_Amaro]

My Corals are attach, but i have some small rocks with muchrooms and he flip them 😂

[@TOMReefer]

😃 then those would have to be glued to larger rocks. Your mushrooms will not grow or be happy if that continues 😊

[@matthewannandale1535]

Please make more videos of the 6 gallon tall

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Matthew, it’s in the que😊👍🏻

[@andrewkensington7403]

Why would you want a 0.0 Nitrate, I thought you always wanted between 5-10?

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Andrew, when you say “You” do you mean me? 😊I don’t think I’ve ever said nitrate “Should” be kept between 5-10. It can be kept at that value and be fine. I’ve always stressed in most of my videos to let your corals be your ultimate guide. If they look great, then the ppm amount really doesn’t matter. There are some reefers who have great success with values of 5-10ppm. I don’t make it an issue if my corals look good. In this video, nitrate of 0.0ppm would not create a sudden closure of corals, so it’s not part of the problem. 😊👍🏻

[@andrewkensington7403]

@@TOMReefer thank you for the info, I’ve only ever been told that nitrate of 0 is scary so I was wondering if that was something or if that can be a normal occurrence and have healthy coral. I would love to have a tank like yours some day

[@douglasachaiba7885]

Check your salinity

[@TOMReefer]

Hi Doug, 1.025

[@aussied723]

👍

[@TOMReefer]

Thanks Aussie D 😊

[@rhombifer566]

I'd say remove the fox face I had a blue tang I had to remove, made a huge improvement and do a good size water change

[@TOMReefer]

I agree. The fox face is disturbing coral even if he doesn’t eat them. Just by his sheer size and brushing into different corals when he swims quickly. He’s really too big of a fish for 75 gallons at this point. He was nice when it was small when I first got it, but it’s grown to large now. 👍🏻😊

[@detroithammer8869]

pump the brakes, breath, reassess.

[@TOMReefer]

Haha😁👍🏻that’s what I did after this video.