really dumb question here.......

[dclegern]

Still going at it with my new 75 tank.
stupid question is..............................
Does the amount of inverts/mushrooms etc. determine the amount of constant cleaning involved on this tank?
I swear to god it's gorgeous if I stay on it every friekin' day.
I've got 6 fish i a 75 gallon, so that's cool.
But I've got it well stacked with live rock and a multitude of shrooms/polyps/etc.

any help is appreciated.

[aquasport24]

NO, the amount of livestock,filtration system, water change habit (how often),bad lighting (old bulbs) , these are just some of the majors that would cause dirty tank.

[Kristy]

Not at all a dumb question... and one with many, many layers of answers.

The number of inverts WOULD impact it if you are referring to your clean-up crew of course! Lots of other things contribute, like Giau is referencing. Can you describe the stuff you end up cleaning in a bit more detail? Like are you talking about the accumulation on the glass or something on the rocks, etc and describe it? Different problems have different fixes or strategies.

[allan]

As far as algae on the glass (primary cleaning area for me) a clean up crew just doesn't work effectively. You have long squigly lines for the snails and kiss marks all over the glass from the starry blenny.

[Kristy]

Agree... the solution for the algae accumulation on the glass that worked for us was shortening the light cycle by a couple hours.

[dclegern]

I'm hoping I'm a the end of whatever has been plaguing my tank/me!
First, it was a diatom bloom after the switch-over to the new tank....has lasted 4 friekin' months.
Then that bloom turned green.....
then it all turned into brown, lacey-stringy, death muck.... all over the substrate, polyps, etc. that i've had to syphon out daily.

all tank inhabitants have dealt with it fine. And all water parameters are cool.
just a non-stop headache that could put a person out of this hobby.

But I think it has finally subsided......Thank god!

[Kristy]

You're right on schedule... that's all part of new tank syndrome! There's a reason that many of the more delicate livestock is recommended for tanks over six months old. It really seems to take the first six months for the biochemistry of the tank to stabilize. And I personally think a tank doesn't seem to reach its "sweet spot" in mature growth, flourishing, etc. until about a year.

So the good news is that you are coming up on some good times ahead!