Frogspawn And Then Nitrates

[xNOTLOCx]

FROGSPAWN:
I have 5 frogspawns in my tank, when i started out i only had 2, but 1 of the 5 had a mysterious melted spot on it like it just melted or something burned it, so i wiggled my finger over it and brown stringy stuff came out, All tank tests are normal, but i dont understand, i used joes juice to kill an aptasia today but it claims its reef safe and it was nowhere aroudn where the frogspawn is, and the only other thing i can think of is if some saltcreep fell off the tope and landed on it and just sat there, hmm well i cant take ap icture since you cant see it anymore, but imwondering as to what could have happened, if anyone has an idea thatd b gr8

NITRATES:
my second question is, i want to lower my nitrates, so since i dont have a sump, refugium, or the money, i was wondering, could i make a little rectangular box out of acrylic, then drill a million small holes in it, and add some nitrate reducing plant ( sry forget the name of it) and just hang it at the top of my tank? cuz i kno it wouldnt look pretty but it would help all my critters in my tank and if its what it takes... u kno.....

o Nitrates wer 20 and there going up, i do a weekly water change and i take out 30% of the tanks water, but nuthin is helping, im gonna try and feed every other day, since its only my clown right now, BUT I AM ADDING MY FLAME ANGEL IN 2 DAYS ITL B 8 WEEKS ON THURSDAY o 8 weeks in quarantine

 

[SkiFletch]

Some frogspawns grow new heads in the manner you're describing. You may have distrubed it and caused a release of zooxanthellae as a result. Try not to touch frogspawns, especially with your bare hands. They are very powerful corals which can sting badly if in the wrong mood.

For nitrates, decreasing feedings will help, so would macroalgae somehow. Either through a little hang on refugium or something like you described. Do you vaccum up detritus where possible when you water change? And what does your cleanup crew consist of?

 

[xNOTLOCx]

well my clean up crew consists of like 5 snails lol n ! VERY BIG ONE like 3 inches big lol, n then k dnt b angry, 2 hermits i kno i kno thats bad the other 5 have died off cuz i had em in my tank when it was cycling, but everyone else is happy, o well 1 was switching its shell and my cleaner shrimp saw it and brutally murdured it trying to clean it, i could get my arm in fast enough poor lil betsy, but now i only have bruce and lory, those r my only 2 crabs left, everytime i go into my lfs they r sold out of sarlet hermits, i dnt want any blulegs cuz ive heard they hurt lil snaileys but uuum ya i try n get the detritus, with my vaccum, the siphoning vaccuum thing, hmmm and uuuuum my blenny helps too, its hard to vaccum my big rocks they dnt budge cuz ther quarts

 

[SkiFletch]

Are you using the wide vaccum head (around 1" wide)? Sometimes that cant get into the crevices of rock, in which case I'll pull the fat end off and just use the thin 1/4" hose to get in the nooks and crannies. 6 snails and 8 hermits is also pretty low for a cleanup crew on your tank. MIght want to beef that up with some more cerith or nassarius snails to hep with detritus and uneaten food.

 

[xNOTLOCx]

well it has a 3" long head and 1" wide, ill try pushing on it harder, alright when i go to the lfs next i think ill get like 10 hermits, and then 5 more snails, snails are hard since there are so many different types, i have mexican turbo snails and atrea snials right now, im sure alot of people dont liek those.... o well, i love em there cute. lol well my frogspawn seems to be doing fine again, my flame and clown are getting along since i just added him today, it looks gr8 my tank so far....