Hi guys, just need some advise.. :(

[FuEl]

Hi guys..just interested to know if that I can't get a new tank..and have to stick to my existing one using I-box...what do you all suggest I do? Esp for those who have seen my tank.

My water parameters are rather stable..other than the nitrates in my tank..around 10-20ppm...I am not using DSB..as my tank is 6mm and I'm afraid of adding too much sand.. Using 3X54W T5s. Using protein skimmer from octopus bay..rated for 600l. Got a calcium reactor already...rated for heavy calcium consumption (I think the media can last me 1.5-2years)

The point is that I might not be staying in SG for long..and my mom is not very happy about me changing a tank...have not asked my dad as he is still in m'sia.

I have thought of the following last night during my sleep..on how to improve my tank

1) Get a deioniser or r/o unit...diatoms r driving me nuts.

2) Upgrading my return pump to increase flow rate

3) Adding one more maxijet for enough current

4) Adding one more T5 tube (my ballast still can hold one)

5) Investing in auto-top up due to evaporation rate.

6) MACROALGAE sandbed. Was thinking of lining the whole of my sandbed with caulerpa etc...the whole length of my mini 4 ft tank...Will that help to absorb enough nitrates?

If i were to change my tank...i would be downgrading to a 2ft tank....and instead of T5 switch to 1X250W MH with a clip on fan cooling my water 24/7. I will get have to invest in a tubby too. I will save on another maxijet in my tank and I wun have to upgrade my return pump.

So....which choice seems more sensible in terms of $$ spent and total manual effort and time spent?

Hope the wiser can advise... I'm in a dilemma!

[alanseah]

well since u r not going to stay in sg for long..

depend on how long u going to stay in sg.. if less then 1 yr then forget about upgrading.. if 5-10 later then move.. why not upgrade..

think about it.. dont waste the money.. save it up and wait till u find a perm place and use it to make a real gd big tank..

[DeepBlue]

bro..I dun have a DSB as well....but managed to control most of the algae problem fairly well...

I think you dun have to change your tank, can restart your tank in a way.....I think you have quite a bit of equipment to start a good tank again....

suggestion, like AT recently shared...take out your LR, and scrub the unwanted algae off...sunning them could be a bit drastic..

sell off all your LS...black out your tank(means covering the tank up) for days......remove what ever diatom you can find....then slowly restock the tank...with your new skimmer ....it should do fairly well, add a lot of contraphos or Rowaphos to prevent the phosphate from climbing again

I think DSB is good, but if you change your tank, you are in a tough position with your family....dun stress yourself. Hope my suggestion can kick off more pple giving you better suggestion

[FuEl]

Oh well..now just selling some of my stuff to reduce bioload and to clear my sandbed...waiting for my dad to come back from m'sia and scream at me about the Ca reactor (he knows how much it costs..=x)..if he say nothing then maybe i do something about my tank..if one Ca reactor he got big rxn then no need to say for setting up a tank all over again.

[hmkui]

hi fuel.. thks for the pair of true percula...really appreciated it.. nice color and pretty stable... will move them to my main tank once it has stablise...

[FuEl]

No problem...that pair really has show quality potential. If you look carefully both patterns on both fish are the same. Somemore the black can be seen to be spreading further. Glad they found a nice home.

[ben]

all I can say,...dont stress urselves too much

[hmkui]

yup.. the colour was vibrant reddish orange.... and it was one of the best pair i have seen in terms of colour and pattern ... no regrets... too bad.. you have to sell them... the male have the same colour as the female now... will monitor them for a while... present moment feeding them with live brineshirmp... and they should be in my main tank soon....once again thks

[FuEl]

all I can say,...dont stress urselves too much

Everyday I look at my glass...looking if there are any signs of bowing. How can I not be stressed? Been doing that for the past 7-8 months already...

[FuEl]

Ah..more stress. I have been issued a yellow card.

[hmkui]

well.. u need not be too stress abt it... the glass won't break so easily unless your live rock is giving pin point pressure on the glass ... i use to have tank abt the same thickness as you .. and it serve me well enough... so don't worry too much ....

[Achilles Tang]

Referee will now change your vague title of 'Hi guys, just need some advise.. ' to include:

'Dilemma about downgrading or improving'

[FuEl]

I'm a very paranoid person. Noticed I even had the I-box customized to accomodate the low water level from the top of the tank? 10cm of tank height is unused just in case

[hmkui]

well relax bro... if the glass is so easily broken ... it will break long ago... so relax... cos.. it won't just break like that.. unless you did something to it... such as.. adding LR ... or accidentally knock something onto it... etc.... so.. don't worry too much.. yaa.....

[FuEl]

Ok..if it ever gives way then at least I will have a proper excuse to change a tank...evil thought of mine.