BIG TROUBLE!! Need advice please.

doch · #1 09-30-2011, 10:40 PM

This is of course assuming that the IO bucket actually falls at ~380ppm. Can't win. lol

doch · #2 10-02-2011, 01:56 PM

And the plot thickens!! Unbelievable. I got my BRS order in, and in it was a Mg test kit to replace the one that I ran out of. I go and test the display for Mg, and it shows up at a heart stopping 2500!!!!! WTF?!?! Fortunately, at the time, I had a fresh batch of water ready to be put into the system, so I tested that. IO salt... it came in at 2400. Holy crap. Did I get a bad kit... or am I challenged in the test kit area of this hobby? I've never had troubles before... I don't think at least.

Anyways, crash seems to be over. I'm still losing 2 loripes, and I've got a Rainbow Stylo that's not doing all too good, but everything else has stabilized, so that's good. Last test for kH came in at 10.5. Ca is a little low... depending on which kit I'm going to trust... we'll call it 350.

And here are a couple before and after pics. Unfortunately, this won't show the whole extent of the damage as I had added a bunch of stuff after the latest 'before' pic, but here goes anyways.

Before:

After:

Try to ignore the hair algae everywhere... it's getting better now that I'm running the right amount of GFO. I'm surprised... the after pics don't look that bad in comparison to the befores. I pulled a lot of stuff out of there... more in the frag tank which was almost full before this went down, but quite a few in the display as well.

Myka · #3 10-02-2011, 02:01 PM

You had issues before the crash...you can see it coming with the before picture. How long before is that?

Why don't you put a 50 mL sample of water in a small glass jar and send it to me? I will test it for you. Prob cost you $15 to send it Express and I would have it on Tuesday I think.

doch · #4 10-02-2011, 02:08 PM

Myka... Hmmmm..... I might just do that. Thanks for the offer. I'll PM you.

On another note, I just counted the death toll... (shudder)

11 colonies base ball sized or bigger
Probably 20-30 frags
4 fire shrimp
2 cleaner shrimp
2 emerald crabs
I'm missing one of my dracula gobies which really ticks me off. Come to think of it, the whole freakin' thing ticks me off.

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

doch · #5 10-02-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

You had issues before the crash...you can see it coming with the before picture. How long before is that?

What do you see in that picture that I don't? Everything was super happy before the crash. Are you talking about the hair algae? That wouldn't crash a tank would it? Phosphates were a little high (0.2 for a short while), nitrates have always been low (I just checked with my elos kit... clear as can be). At the time of the crash, the phosphates were at about 0.10. The before picture of the display was probably 2 months ago or so... things got WAY better after that, and then BOOM!!

daniella3d · #6 10-02-2011, 02:27 PM

What do you have on the back glass? is that hair algae?

dc4 · #7 10-02-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doch

What do you see in that picture that I don't? Everything was super happy before the crash. Are you talking about the hair algae? That wouldn't crash a tank would it? Phosphates were a little high (0.2 for a short while), nitrates have always been low (I just checked with my elos kit... clear as can be). At the time of the crash, the phosphates were at about 0.10. The before picture of the display was probably 2 months ago or so... things got WAY better after that, and then BOOM!!

I had a little hair algae before and found out the problem with testing for phostphate/nitrates with a tank full of hair algae is that they would absorb it all and then your tests would be all skewed. I had tests showing 0 ph and 0 nitrates but having hair algae in the tank would mean that the tests are giving a false negative. Having that much hair algae in your tank and having the tests still showing phosphates would mean that there is too much even for the hair algae to feed on. I was over feeding my tank and probably still am but I have added gfo and algae grazers to prevent another outbreak in my new tank.

Bblinks · #8 10-02-2011, 07:16 PM

That's so weird, my Hanna tester has been fairly accurate thus far, I use salifert, redsea, and elos. Usually all within 20 ppm difference. Which mag test kit did you get from brs? I only have salifert and red sea to test mag but never does it hit that kind of numbers... See what ever is cheaper, either send a water sample to myka or if it's cheaper and faster you can send it to me in bc and I'll test it for you too. My wife does a lot of the testing for me which I found to be better, she is a lot more careful and accurate than me.

are you still dosing probiotic by chance? How long ago did you start that system, was it prior to the crash, maybe the answer to your current issues is related to probiotic system. Did you test the freshly made salt water and see what kind of results it gives you and maybe use it to reference the results from your tank water. Keep in there bud. It will work itself out.

chris88 · #9 10-02-2011, 11:56 PM

Doch, Have you tried carbon dosing? I think it would get rid of your nutrient issue.

spawn · #10 10-03-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris88

Doch, Have you tried carbon dosing? I think it would get rid of your nutrient issue.

+1 & make sure to inoculate with a bacteria source. Also maybe get the biggest mixing reservoir you can find in relation to your total display volume & try a huge water change by adding a bit cooler water closer to the bottom while siphoning the warmer water from close to the surface.