I'm not new to this hobby, but have been out of it for a while. I'm a long
way from an expert and google is not helping. I just set my system up again
8 weeks ago. 75 gallon 4 foot long under tank wet dry, protein skimmer,
charcoal filter, great water flow, good algae colors and all water
conditions test great with 3 different kits all new. (specifics below)



I started with 10 pounds of live rock, 2 weeks later added 3 damsels. After
2 weeks water was great and my dealer suggested 45 snails. I also added a
small rock packed with simple brown Ricordia and another with a few purplish
Mushrooms. For 2 weeks these guys were full, open, happy and pretty! (I have
proud pictures) on 4 occasions in that time I fed the Ricordia small amounts
of thawed silversides, some of which went to the bottom of the tank, but
most of which was eagerly consumed.



One of the original live rock came with a free small tube anemone, and small
feather duster. My dealer said I needed more light so I dumped the 7 year
old technology and bought one 48" 4x65W Coralife Aqualight CF hood, 2x
Actinic and 2x 10,000K, -Straight Pin and one 48" 2x65W Coralife Aqualight
hood w/ 50/50 -Straight Pin.



About a week later things changed. The duster is not as happy as it was but
not bad at all, the tube in constantly on the move and not full at all, the
Ricordia and Mushrooms are tiny, green and all but dead. Or maybe they are
and have just not burned off yet.



Specifics... The tank, wet/dry container, bio-balls, power heads, ceramic,
and plastic decorations (filler until more live rock) were all gathering
dust for 5 or so years. I washed everything in hot water and vinegar and
rinsed until my prune shaped fingers looked good enough to eat in cold but
softened water. I bought 90 gallons of RO water transported in 2 NEW 50
gallon Rubbermaid containers rinsed well in non softened very hard high in
iron water and dried completely.



Specific Gravity started at 1.0235 and after 2 25% water changes,
evaporation replacement etc., all with RO water it is now at 1.0225.



PH is 8.3 Alk is above normal, no ammonia, no nitrite no nitrate water is
plenty hard. Tried chem. absorb, copper absorb, and after reading an article
saying my pumps may be releasing charges to the water because of their age
and length of misuse I bought a grounding system that has a titanium rod in
the tanks, and a ground plug only in a grounded outlet.



The blue lights go on at 9:30 am and go off at 10:30 PM, the white lights go
on at 10:00 am and off 12 hours later. I added 6 emerald crabs, and 3 shrimp
to get rid of any leftover silversides, no I don't overfeed, and besides I
have not been able to feed the Ricordia since they shriveled up. I have
green bubble algae I'm thinking is NOT related, and the only other thing I
can think of to add is that it all seemed to have started when:



Within about 2 days the front and 2 sides were covered with green algae that
the snails could not keep up with. The dumb things were all worried about
the back! I bought a magnetic algae remover that worked great but clouded
the water to a green tint until I got out the old Magnum 350 (after thorough
cleaning and rinsing) and installed a new micron filter in it.



The water is once again clear but the inverts are not happy. The fish are
and in fact my niece bought a cinnamon clown from my dealer that has been
happy for the week I've had it. Snails, crabs and shrimp are all happy too.



Please help!



Brian and Mary Adams, Plainwell, Michigan and getting cold outside!