Requesting help... 15 gallon AIO Reef tank debacle

[Antho446]

Thank you all, Ill be getting to work and will update this in 7 days .

 

[Nano_Tuners]

another thing that has been on my mind was temp. I don't trust the data from the heater so ill also double check that.

before using temperature controls I would double check the heater with a kitchen thermometer, you'd be shocked how off they can be.

yeah making sure the basics (temp/salinity) are stable and right first would be where id start. look forward to update!

 

[slogan315]

I purchased this off Ebay and waiting for arrival, It has a salinity tester aswell so ill be double checking. (200 dollar score)

Don’t let the Hanna brand and price tag fool you on the salinity tester. My tank had a turn around when I realized my calibrated Hanna salinity monitor was very wrong. Salinity was at 1.030

Just my experience, but a standard refractometer calibrated with calibration fluid is still quick, but much more reliable than the Hanna.

 

[Antho446]

Calibrated refractometer with distilled water and tested my tank salinity - 1.026.

I had an extra power head I forgot about that pushes 560gph from a previous freshie tank, installed that.

I assume the acro is cooked and won’t be coming back but I just plopped it towards the top and we’ll see what happens.

I did a toothbrush run on the rocks to break up some of the growth and swapped my floss.

I’ve added an auto feeder and will set for every 12 Hrs = x2 auto feeds and 1 manual feed from me.

Need to go buy a thermometer to get temps.

I’m holding off on a water change until I get a bump of any kind on my parameters, no use just flushing.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would add more flow to the tank. The Hygger Mini Wave maker 1600 would work well. I have one on my IM 14 gallon.

 

[Antho446]

I would add more flow to the tank. The Hygger Mini Wave maker 1600 would work well. I have one on my IM 14 gallon.

So I added one per my last post and this is where I’m at in the moment accordance to flow. I’ll go for a lower profile one later, addressing my issues as they come.

 

[Sw33tdave]

I purchased this off Ebay and waiting for arrival, It has a salinity tester aswell so ill be double checking. (200 dollar score)

That's a crazy good deal! Was this a dedicated dealer on ebay?

 

[sushiboss]

Hello everybody, FNG here to R2R forums. I have a 15 gallon AIO that I have used to experiment and try out reefing for the first time bought it 2 years ago. (The tank was a 100 bucks, why the hell not give it spin.) I have a lot of freshwater experience, and once I mastered that I thought entering the reefing hobby wouldn't be a bad idea.
I'll get the the break down of what is my equipment.
-RO/DI Aquatic Life Buddy
- 15 gallon AIO Innovative Marine aquarium
- Substrate: Caribsea Aragonite
(In Refugium)
> inTank Media Basket (aquarium floss top chamber) other chambers are empty
> Custom basket in next section holding Crushed Live Rock and Chaeto (added submersible RGB light with chaeto for growth).
> Aqua Ready NANO Bullet-1 Protein Skimmer
> Sicce Scuba contactless heater (50W) set to 78 degrees
> Spin stream nozzle to OEM pump
> AI Prime 16HD
- Live Stock
(inverts)
3 red hermits
2 blue hermits
1 pin cushion urchin
1 blue button urchin
1 Feather duster
1 Acid Rock Flower anemone
1 Ultra Green Bubble Tip anemone
1 Sexy shrimp
1 Trochus snail
Added Galaxy pod and Eco pods
Isopods spotted in tank and thriving

(Fish)
1 Clarkii clown (murderer)
1 Regal Damsel
2 Banggai Cardinals

(Corals)
Toxic Torch
Facination Galaxea
Splash Safari Chalic
Zoa Colony
Red Setosa Montipora
Random acropora (was a freebie/ no info)

Testing equipment
API Reef kit
Refractometer
Hanna Test equipment (on its way to me)

Now to explain my issues, the tank is 1Y 6M old, I just added my Zoa colony and Montipora, Zoa colony is not happy (closed with a few opening here and there.) The random freebie I got just bleached and my chalic hasn't been happy since I added it a month ago (skeleton is peeking out), my rock flower is loving it and is very happy/vibrant but my bubble tip is closed and pale in the middle... I'm in panic. I have noticed alot of algae in my refugium for a while now, I try to manually clean it out but to no avail of eradicating it. To make matters worse... I found a Aiptasia hanging out in my refugium (Time of post 1st sighting).
Recent parameters: 1/3/2025
kh - 161-179
Phos - 0ppm
Nitrate - 0ppm
Calcium - 500ppm
Water changes are done weekly/ biweekly (5 gallons) with RO/DI water and Instant ocean Reef Crystals to reach salinity 1.026
Feedings are heavy 1 a day with Seachem flakes (waiting on my hatchery to come in for brine and supplement)
I purchased Neophos and Neonitro and dosed 2 days ago, I took a quick Nitrate test and STILL at zero...
I took a peak at my chaeto and it isn't really growing
I know I'm doing something wrong here and seeking a little help from the community.
Is my cycle dead? What should I dose? Do I dose at all? What are my next steps/ how do I approach my solution. I've reached a point where I'm lost.
I will add photos when I can

I run a 15g mixed reef with similar setup and less fish and I run a very similar maintenance as you do.

How are you testing phosphate and nitrates?

I’d find it impossible that you are at 0 with a clarkii and 3 other fish in regards to nitrate and phosphate.

Especially considering you are over a year.

I am doubtful.

Surprised no one has said anything in regards to how your testing etc and what tests are you running.

If your Cheeto isn’t growing and it’s likely not doing much if anything.

I’m not saying I don’t believe you haha. I am just doubtful.

I have the IM 15g with only the return pump as flow and have anemones sps etc but I do not run a refugium or a protein skimmer. Just good ol fashioned 4g water changes weekly and a good clean up crew consisting of mainly urchins and blue leg hermits. I use blue chemipure and change filter floss 2 times weekly sometimes more sometimes less.

However if you are actually bottoming out then I’d start first by removing the chaeto as it’s consuming it too quickly.

For me I use a 1” black foam and cover my rear aio from light and no longer have any algae issues in the rear compartment.

Personally I think you are way overstocked to not have nitrates and phosphate. I’d highly recommend you get a second test going on these parameters before you make any changes.

And lastly before your chaeto begins regressing I’d remove it before it leeches back into your water column.

Personally If I were you I’d choose one lane for maintenance and do it well vs choosing multiple areas. Meaning if you plan on doing water changes do this.

If you plan to use a refuge do that.

 

[Antho446]

I run a 15g mixed reef with similar setup and less fish and I run a very similar maintenance as you do.

How are you testing phosphate and nitrates?

I’d find it impossible that you are at 0 with a clarkii and 3 other fish in regards to nitrate and phosphate.

Especially considering you are over a year.

I am doubtful.

Surprised no one has said anything in regards to how your testing etc and what tests are you running.

If your Cheeto isn’t growing and it’s likely not doing much if anything.

I’m not saying I don’t believe you haha. I am just doubtful.

I have the IM 15g with only the return pump as flow and have anemones sps etc but I do not run a refugium or a protein skimmer. Just good ol fashioned 4g water changes weekly and a good clean up crew consisting of mainly urchins and blue leg hermits. I use blue chemipure and change filter floss 2 times weekly sometimes more sometimes less.

However if you are actually bottoming out then I’d start first by removing the chaeto as it’s consuming it too quickly.

For me I use a 1” black foam and cover my rear aio from light and no longer have any algae issues in the rear compartment.

Personally I think you are way overstocked to not have nitrates and phosphate. I’d highly recommend you get a second test going on these parameters before you make any changes.

And lastly before your chaeto begins regressing I’d remove it before it leeches back into your water column.

Personally If I were you I’d choose one lane for maintenance and do it well vs choosing multiple areas. Meaning if you plan on doing water changes do this.

If you plan to use a refuge do that.

Wonderful set up, I've been keeping fish for a while in the freshwater aspect and water testing isn't new to me. If you see what I have in my list of equipment/ test methods, I've been using the API system and just today I received my Hanna kit. My parameters are listed as I keep a notebook with dates.

I ran my tests again 3 hours ago with the same double zero with API (ill be testing every other day). I have to test out the Hanna equipment that I just bought to make sure its calibrated and functions.
I also removed my chaeto following that test and cleaned out my back compartments of any debris/ algae, also I pulled my skimmer yesterday morning.
I like that idea with the black foam and will most definitely take that out of your play book .
I absolutely over did the refugium and water changes... I'm going to dial back on things and give it some time.

 

[Antho446]

That's a crazy good deal! Was this a dedicated dealer on ebay?

I've been hunting for a full kit/ semi full kit from someone leaving the hobby and this was the best I found on my hunt for them. Definitely not a dedicated dealer though.

 

[sushiboss]

Wonderful set up, I've been keeping fish for a while in the freshwater aspect and water testing isn't new to me. If you see what I have in my list of equipment/ test methods, I've been using the API system and just today I received my Hanna kit. My parameters are listed as I keep a notebook with dates.

I ran my tests again 3 hours ago with the same double zero with API (ill be testing every other day). I have to test out the Hanna equipment that I just bought to make sure its calibrated and functions.
I also removed my chaeto following that test and cleaned out my back compartments of any debris/ algae, also I pulled my skimmer yesterday morning.
I like that idea with the black foam and will most definitely take that out of your play book .
I absolutely over did the refugium and water changes... I'm going to dial back on things and give it some time.

API is not known for its credibility in the saltwater game.

You purchased a Hanna nitrate checker.

I’d imagine you also got a phosphate checker.

Test them and post results.

I’d be surprised if they show as low as the API kit does considering the tank and rock is 1yr and 6months.

Not impossible just wildly unlikely given the stocking.

Like I said I have a 15g aio and I do weekly 4g water changes and change filter floss a few times a week as my maintenance and after 9 months my phosphate is .2 nitrates remain stable in the 14-18 range consistently on a weekly average. I only have two younger smaller clowns and I feed only 5 times a week.

I’m using the same light ai prime 16hd as you are.

We’re almost using identical setups. I’d be shocked if you were bottoming out which I believe is due to bad testing kits.

For reference I use Hanna checkers for everything except mag and calcium (salifert all the way)

 

[Digimes]

TBH, I only cycle about 10-15% of my water monthly and just top off with R/O to maintain salinity and feed twice a day. I also don't use a lot of additives other than Seachem Fusion 1&2. Be careful you don't start chasing the numbers and less is more for stability.