Parameters
I have not checked my water parameters since June (I am not proud)
NO3: 2
PO4: 0
KH: 8.6
Ca: 380
Mg: 1320
SpGr: 1.027 (added some RO/DI water)
pH: 8.28
Crossroads
Well, tragedy has struck the BioCube. A couple of nights ago, Nemo passed away.
I had gone several weeks without changing the water, or checking parameters, so I probably have myself to blame. Now, everything is covered in algae, my corals are barely open.
At this point, I need to make a decision. Do I use this as a wake up call, and get back on track with tank maintenance? Or do I admit that I no longer have the time or enthusiasm to care for a saltwater tank?
So far, I’ve been trying to get back on track. I’ve done three every other day water changes. The water that I remove is brown, and stinks. The salinity and temperature are fine, but I have been scared to check the other parameters. (i will!)
I aspire to get things back in line. I want to get back to the days where I was concerned that xenia was overtaking the tank and thinking that I should frag my torch coral. I’m also kind of excited about getting a new fish. Maybe a scooter blenny or something different.
Tank Picture
I took a picture with my regular camera and not my iPhone. It is better focused. 
Fixed my Koralia Nano
I did a water change today. I had an old Koralia nano powerhead that didn’t work. After fiddling with it for a few minutes, I got it to start spinning. I think that increasing the flow in my tank will help to keep the algae down. I also changed out the lights. I’m sure that the old lights were emmiting a more algae friendly frequency.
Water Parameters 6/13/2009
Specific Gravity 1.023
Ammonia 0.6
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 0.5
Phosphate 0.0
Calcium 350
Alkalinity 7.0
Magnesium 1140
I was right…my tank is cycling after scrubbing down all of the rocks.
Update 6/12/2009
Today I came home to a full out diatom bloom in my tank. Most likely this is a result of the massive algae scrub and downsizing the live rock. I’m sure the balance in my tank has been thrown off.
On the other hand, my corals are looking great. I haven’t seen my torch coral look this lively in a while.
Renewed interest in my tank
Over the last few weeks, I’ve had a renewed interest in my fish tank. This was inspired by changing DI filter media in my RO/DI system, a task I had put off for a long time. Now, having clean water to put in my tank, I have been doing regular water changes and clearing out the hair algae.
Unfortunately, many of my critters did not survive the bryopsis era of my tank. My Yasha Hasi goby and my peppermint shrimp are nowhere to be found. I had 2 emerald crabs, now gone. My two hermit crabs wiped out my cerith and nassarius snails.
My current inhabitants are as follows:
1 true percula clownfish
3 astrea snails
1 blue-legged hermit crab
1 Nassarius snail
Also, an open brain coral, torch coral, an Acanthastria, orange and blue zoanthids, and blue mushrooms
Yesterday, I pulled all of the rocks out and scrubbed them. I ended up leaving some of the rocks out, and putting the smaller rocks in chamber 2 in the back. There is more space now, and you can see more of the sand. I just hope that I didn’t disrupt thing too much and I don’t have a cycle.
Water parameters and tank update
Today I checked my water parameters for the first time in god knows how long. Surprisingly, everything is relatively stable, except for the low alkalinity. I don’t currently own a pH test…I need to get one.
Here’s the parameters:
- Temp: 80
- Sp. Gr. 1.026
- PO4 0
- NO3 2ppm
- Ca+ 410
- KH 6.1
- Mg+ 1200
The numbers are likely reflective of the 3 gallon water change that I did 2 days ago. I’m going to add some MG and CaCO3 tonight, and recheck tomorrow.
Here is a picture of my trachyophillia. He kind of shrank up after my water change
Euphyllia; left side wilted a bit
Here is a shot of the state of my bryopsis garden 
Video Blog 12-7-2008
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