I could not agree more with shane, mostly in the fosfate, hardness and
calcium levels, you should correct it, all of them may cause the green algae
growing. Plus the temp. it's to high, take it down please. You could say
that allways is like that, but have you add every thing? The corals can
handle for a while whit one bad parameter, but, can them handle all
toghether??.
By the way, the corals than have died are the most sensitives ones!!!
This is just and advice, but I think is a very good one, I mean Shane's one.
Hope you find the way out!!!!
Walter
Argentina.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2001 1:59 PM
Subject: RE: Need some very good advivce,Please!
> Bob,
> IMO, FWIW and all that stuff, I have to disagree with those recommending
> that you tear the tank down and re-cure the rock.You are going to have a
> horrible mess with the animals you currently have if you go that route. I
> think that if we really look at the water parameters, your replacement
water
> and the water changes, we may be able to correct what you have going on,
and
> get the tank back on the good side.
>
> Here is my 10 cents worth.....
>
> Something caused your snails to die. Could have been many things that
caused
> that, including something that got into the tank via replacement water or
> water in a change, could have been lack of food. How many died, and did
> every single one of them die and did they all die right at the same time
or
> over a period of time? Did you add any of the corals after this event
> occurred, or where they all in there when it happened? See, it does not
> make sense that there was something horribly wrong or you would have lost
> your anemone and probably your soft corals as well. Also, what are the
> nitrate levels and do you have any macro algaes in the tank? What types of
> stony corals do you have in the tank? How many fish, what types, and what
> are your feeding practices? Do you have hermit crabs in the tank?
>
> It would seem to me that you have a tank that is well suited for soft
> corals, as you say that your anemone and softies are doing well. This
tells
> me that you have a tank that is fairly high in nutrients, which could
cause
> certain stony corals to suffer while softies and anemones thrive.
>
> Now, here are a couple things to consider. First, your alk and calcium
> levels are a bit low. Your system is sucking up what you are putting in,
> which to me means that you have a fairly demanding system for alk and
> calcium (could be the stony corals plus your coraline trying to grow). Low
> levels of alk and calcium will cause your coralline algae to recede, and
> when that happens, the green algae is going to take over your rock. You
> mention purple and green algae on the glass. The purple alage is coraline.
> So it is trying to grow, it just may not have what it needs to grow
quickly
> enough to out compete the green algae.
>
> Next, your water changes may be a bit small. I would start doing 15
gallons
> per week instead of 5. I would also get a phosphate sponge in the tank.
Your
> phosphates are too high, which could cause algae and stony corals to
suffer.
> And get a fan on your sump and see if you can get the temp down a couple
of
> degrees. IMO, 84 is just a bit high to run long term. If you could bring
it
> down to 80-81 I think you would be better off. Warm temps can add to
> aggressive green algae growth.
>
> Now the painful part... I would look into an RO (and DI if you can) unit
for
> your replacement water. The tap water purifiers are okay, but they do not
do
> the job of an RO unit. If you can not do that, then I would only recharge
> the purifiers once or twice, then use a new one. To tell you the truth, in
> the long run, and RO unit will pay for itself. Next on the painful list,
it
> is time for new lights. Personally, I would go with 3 actinics and a 6750k
> MH bulb, but that is up to much debate and is really of personal
preference
> to you. I can tell you, get rid of the trichromatic bulb. These things are
> algae enhancing machines. Bottom line, it is time to replace lights. A
shift
> in spectrum of your 10K mh could cause algae growth and cause your stony
> corals to suffer do to lack of proper light, and after a year, you are
> shifting spectrum.
>
> Finally, I would stop using additives, other than to maintain alk and
> calcium. Try using a well known 2 part additive like
> b-ionic. Get your parameters stable (alk around 4-4.5 and calcium at
> 420-450) and keep them that way (easier said than done) with one good
> product. That will produce consistency for you. If you bump your water
> changes up, your other trace elements should be replenished enough to
> maintain the tank. Later, once the tank is under control, you can look at
> re-introducing other elements (if you want).
>
> If none of this helps (and I really think it will) then we need to look at
> your sand bed and how it may be effecting the tank. Over a period of time,
> if the sand bed has not been managed properly, it can become a nutrient
sink
> which could cause some problems. Just something to keep in mind.....
>
> Any ways, sorry this is so long everyone. I just saw a few things that may
> be causing these problems...
>
> Shane C.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rs11 [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 6:14 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Need some very good advivce,Please!
>
> I have had reef tank for approx. 4 years that was doing great,
> corals growing, coraline growing nicely. About 6 months ago I wrote the
> group about my hard corals starting to die.
> Here is a synopsis on how it happened; first all of my snails died.
> Then slowly my hard corals started to shrink back from the skeleton. I
tried
> dipping in Tectra D to no avail. The polyps that where on the rocks
> died,there were many,all colors.
> My present water Readings are:pH 8.35, Alk3.5, phos .5, iodine .05,
> calcium 375ppm, Specific Gravity 1.024. temp around 84F
> I have a 65 gallon reef with a 15 gallon sump. An Amiracle 100
> skimmer.
> I use a 300watt MH 10K along with 2 actinic bulbs and a Coralife
> Trichromatic bulb, all about 1 year old now.
> I have at present 3 toadstool leather corals that are opening
> nicely, part of a button coral, a finger Coral and some mushrooms. All
> appear to be good.
> The glass shows a lot of algae growth, green and purple in color.I
> have to scrape it once a week
> The live rocks also have a green algea growth very low,covering
> them. Feels like moss,
> The coraline is gone
> I have about 2 1/2 inches of aragonite on the floor
> I have used reef crystals and change 5 gallons per week.
> I used the following suppliments from the start: Seachem Reef
> Iodine,Reef Calcium,Reef Strontium. Used them very inconsistantly.
> I changed to Tads iodine, KLH and vital gold, on a consistant
> basis.Changed to this based on the praise I heard on various groups and
> started to drip Kalk.That's when things started to go wrong.presently not
> using any suppliments.
> I also have a 30 gallon tank in the garage that replenishes the
> water as it evaporates, through a tube. I use the Tap Water Purifier by
> Aquarium Pharm.I have recharged them a few times myself.
> My question is, I want to start building up the reef again. What are
> your suggestions ? Do I throw 120 pounds of live rock out and start fresh
?
> How do I get rid of the algae on the rocks?
> What suppliments do I use, what manufacturer?
> I have bubble tip anenome that is doing great, the fish are doing
> fine.
> I do not want this to happen again.
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
> Thanks
> Bob Stuhl
> --------------------------------------------------
>
>
> ________________________________________
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