SPS Tank O Death

marie · #1 04-21-2008, 04:15 AM

Hi Catherine, did i read in your other thread that you are running a calcium reactor? I'm beginning to believe that some of my acro problems are tied into a new co2 bottle.
Here is a brief (

) description of my problems

In Nov Anthony had found a good deal on a 35lb co2 bottle for me, he had it filled and brought it up (just to start the time line).
The second week of dec I treated the whole tank for red bugs and did the second treatment a week later. 2 days after the second treatment I had an outbreak of cyano and dinoflagellates. One acro RTN'd, some turned brown, one bleached and couple had issues were the tips fell apart, skeleton and all. I blamed the inteceptor treatment and started doing massive water changes.Because growth had slowed or stopped in most corals, my alk climbed a bit too high so I stopped the reactor to let levels fall back down again.
Everything started improving and I assumed it was because of all the water changes I've done. I started the reactor back up, things went down hill, growth stopped, reactor was shut off. This pattern repeated itself over and over for the next three months (I'm a slow learner).
As it stands now, for the last 2 weeks I have been using kalk and 2 part to maintain levels. I still have one millie that is stning but the other has finally started puting out the long polyp tentacles and looking kind of millie like. I have 2 corals that appear to have lost all polyps (just holes were they used to be) but the tips look healthier. The only other sps corals that were affected were 2 of my large pocillipora colonies. Every thing else was unaffected.
I have reached the point now where my cal/alk demand is climbing and I would of started the cal reactor up. It will be interesting to see how everything goes without it
I have no proof that it was the co2 but I think I will stick with dosing 2 part for now it's safer.

michika · #2 04-21-2008, 04:28 AM

I'm running the same CO2 bottle that I was running on my 24g cube since I started it. So your CO2 bottle before your dud bottle didn't cause any problems?

Rock is all years old, came from reputable sources, LFSs or came dried. The bulk of it is stuff I've had since 2004.

The glass is the only thing I can't account for. Everything in the tank aside from the display tank glass was previously in use in one of my other systems. None of my other systems had any problems with SPS. I only know part of the display tank's history, I was told it was used as a macro grow out tank and that no chemicals were used in it. Although for all I know the glass was previously used for another purpose and could have been exposed to something that may have leeched into the glass.

fkshiu · #3 04-21-2008, 04:47 AM

Have you tried running carbon? Could be alleopathy from the LPS/softies in a small tank.

As far as Marie's possible issues with CO2, the two possible issues that could be caused are a lowering of pH and then ORP as more CO2 enters your system. Having a pH controller and solenoid is the preventative measure. Running a kalk reactor or an extra effluent chamber to counteract excess CO2 is the reactive measure if problems persist.

michika · #4 04-21-2008, 04:57 AM

I run carbon 24/7, and used to run GFO 24/7 as well. I don't have that much for zoas, maybe 10-15 heads total. I have a small head of frogspawn, and a small patch of GSP.

marie · #5 04-21-2008, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Have you tried running carbon? Could be alleopathy from the LPS/softies in a small tank.

As far as Marie's possible issues with CO2, the two possible issues that could be caused are a lowering of pH and then ORP as more CO2 enters your system. Having a pH controller and solenoid is the preventative measure. Running a kalk reactor or an extra effluent chamber to counteract excess CO2 is the reactive measure if problems persist.

I've been running a calcium reactor with great success up till this point. The problem was that a 10lb co2 bottle was only lasting me a few months (I was also going through 5lbs of reactor media a month) and there is no place around here to fill. The 35lb bottle was the answer to that problem.

I do have a ph controller hooked to the solenoid and I dripped kalk at night as well

Delphinus · #6 04-21-2008, 05:43 AM

I wonder if it might be the CO2 inside the bottle, if not the bottle? I've always wondered where the CO2 is coming from. If you buy CO2 from a fire extinguisher place, is it going to be the same CO2 that is used in say beverage making?

bv_reefer · #7 04-21-2008, 06:04 AM

hey tony, the acro did have a green tint to it after the RTN was finished, i'm thinking theres not much i can do about this, i've dipped them a couple times in tropic marin thinking it could possibly be AEFW's, but nothing-

Jason McK · #8 04-21-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bv_reefer

hey tony, the acro did have a green tint to it after the RTN was finished, i'm thinking theres not much i can do about this, i've dipped them a couple times in tropic marin thinking it could possibly be AEFW's, but nothing-

bv_reefer Start your own thread. Catherine has provided a great deal of information relating to her problem while you have provided none. This is called high jacking and it's not an acceptable forum practice. Just start your own thread and everyone can concentrate on your issue. This thread is for Catherine's issue

J

Jason McK · #9 04-21-2008, 06:05 AM

I would suspect any toxin from the Glass or Co2 bottle would also effect other corals and inverts.

Mind you. Where did the glass come from when you constructed the tank? I see why you may think it was the glass.

Myka · #10 04-21-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michika

Rock is all years old, came from reputable sources, LFSs or came dried. The bulk of it is stuff I've had since 2004.

The glass is the only thing I can't account for. Everything in the tank aside from the display tank glass was previously in use in one of my other systems. None of my other systems had any problems with SPS. I only know part of the display tank's history, I was told it was used as a macro grow out tank and that no chemicals were used in it. Although for all I know the glass was previously used for another purpose and could have been exposed to something that may have leeched into the glass.

So this rock was previously run in another system of yours I assume...? If it were my tank, especially considering it's only 24g, I would pull the rock (and sand), and replace it with different stuff from one of your other systems possibly. At this point, I think the biggest suspect would be the rock. Even if it was run in a different system before... I know you had some GHA issues in the tank previously.

I'd have a really hard time believing it was the glass. Possible...but unlikely for sure.

I would also suspect the silicone before the glass.

However, I doubt it's the glass or the silicone, as I believe if that were the issue it would affect all the corals. Honestly, I doubt it's the rock either (although that's an easy try). If I ignored all the information I know about your tank (I skimmed your journal), and was just told, "hey my softies and LPS are fine, but my SPS are dying, what's wrong?" I would immediately suspect parasites, flow, and micronutrients first. Do you know what red bugs, and AEFW look like? Have you seen them in person before? Can you test for Strontium, Iron, and Silicates? Can you take a short video clip of your tank that will show the polyps waving in the flow?