By Request - green tank pics
 

Alan, is it possible that something is leaching from your rock or sand? Where did you get these from? Do you know others that obtained rock or sand from the same source? Also, have you tried varying your salinity and/or pH? A long shot, but you never know.

By Request - green tank pics
 

Alan,

I don't think you need to shut it down. But you may need to put some work into it. If you want I am sure we can help you figure out a plan to get it done.

Let us know. [img]smile.gif[/img] between all of the brains on here I am sure we cna come up with something. :D

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I've got a UV sitting around gathering dust. You're welcome to give it a try.
I would stop doing the water changes and adding that stuff from Big Als.
Tony's right. Let that stuff run it's course.

Mitch

[ 17 July 2002, 06:25: Message edited by: Carpentersreef ]

By Request - green tank pics
 

If your sure that it is phyto and your other water parameters are good add a couple of clams,gorgornians and feather dusters. These all feed on phyto and will clear your tank in no time.

By Request - green tank pics
 

Well I do want to jump in and claim that it can't be the tap water, because I've used our tap water exclusively for 4 years, and I have yet to have a problem that was caused by the water supply (plenty other problems cause by plenty other things, including stupidity of the tank daddy, but let's not go there.)

But the bottom line is, I am convinced that the phyto is living off something. So we have to systematically eliminate the variables, and that does include the water. (For now. [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

A 100% water change seems drastic and expensive, but it's not really akin to shutting the system down. The sand, the rocks, etc. will still have topical baterial cultures. It won't be a "back to day one" for the biological filter.

(If it helps you decide, I'm considering a 100% water change on one of my systems [after it was implicitly suggested by Rob/Biogeek last week]. I need to buy some time on this one tank with a nitrate problem while I decide what to do with it, take it down, or run it in series with another tank that CAN reduce nitrates..)

But the flip side of the coin is, if the source of the problem isn't eliminated, water changes arguably are probably only going to dilute the problem and prolong the agony. It would be treating the symptoms, not the cause.

This may sound dumb, but have you considered running your old Iwasaki over your refugium? I bet you could get your caulerpa to go nuclear with that thing. It would probably take a few weeks though, for it to start to outcompete the phyto, since the balance is seriously tipped in the phyto's direction right now.

I dunno. I know I would be seriously dejected were it me in your position. Keep slogging at it: we'll figure this out.

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Jayson has a good point. Are we sure this is phyto? What else could it be though? Hmmm. Have you looked at a water sample under a microscope?

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Very encouraging response, to say the least!

Em: the aloe goop I stopped using awhile back, now using the pure chlorine/chloramine remover. You're right, too goopy.

Brad: got the rock from a local hobbyist, says it was in his tank for a year as baserock. Sand bed is from another local guy, 5" of oolitic, about a year old also. The sand I saw live, the rock was dry, in tubs in the other fellow's garage. Caribbean, I think he called it - porous but heavy.

Darren: I don't want to shut it down necessarily, but I have 1.5 jobs, 3 boys, wife, dog, house, etc... So yes, I'll gladly accept any and all advice offered, and work towards a solution, within reason. Thanks again, BTW.

Mitch: very kind offer, might be just the ticket. Your rental rates appeal to me. ;)

Jayson: impeccable retail advice, I'll put in an order today. ;) J/K, sounds like it might be shopping time (after one more receivable). I might stay away from clams for now, though. :eek:

Tony: sage advice as always. I've said it before, I'll succeed in this hobby because of you all. (I have not seen a sample under a microscope.) You're right, the competition is stiff now, the caulerpa and halimeda are suffering. The SAKI! over the 'fuge - what an inspired idea. Actually, I have that last ballast and 2x24" tubes handy, an .03 and 10k I think. Should get off my @ss and make up a "fixture", too hot still for the MH inside the cabinet?

If it's NOT phyto or something similar, then it may as well be from another planet. BTW, the guys from the other board said that after a couple of months it went as quickly as it came. So there is hope, but man O man...

Cheers and many thanks,

Alan

[ 17 July 2002, 08:20: Message edited by: AJ_77 ]

By Request - green tank pics
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Alan, is it possible to remove the rock to a separate container? Dry rock from a tub somewhere sounds suspicious. Maybe some lawn fertilizer fell on the rocks in his garage!! If you can put the rock in a separate tub with a heater, etc, it might remove a possible food source for your soup. Far fetched, yes....but it would eliminate a big possibility.
If you saw the sand working, it's most likely fine.

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I don't know if I agree with Jayson. Adding livestock at this stage wouldn't be responsible. From the pictures it doesn't look like there is much light penetrating the water so a clam and gorgonian are ruled out right away. Secondly, it may not be a phyto that the animals will eat or it may not even by a phyto at all.

Good luck.

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Holey smokes! Can I send you some oysters?? They would have that cleaned up in a matter of hours and then you could have a tasty dinner. Seriously, go to the seafood store and buy some live oysters they will clean the water for you. Probably about 10 would do it (or whatever you want to eat for dinner :D ). At least it would be a temporary solution while you figure out what the problem is.

Christy [img]smile.gif[/img]

BTW I have a 15W UV sterilizer that you could try if you'll pay for the shipping. I don't know how big your tank is tho, maybe you'd need something stronger?

[ 17 July 2002, 09:32: Message edited by: christyf5 ]