detritus or algae

[rbarb1111]

Is there any algae that grow on the rock or corals that looks like detritus. I have this stuff taking over my corals. I changed my t-5 bulbs and everything went downhill from there. All of my corals turned dark brown as if they dried up. I think they all all dead. My zoos and gsp have not opened and are being consumed by this stuff. I brush it off the rocks and it seems to come back. I added 20 snails and 20 hermit crabs. Is there anything i can put in my hob filter that might help trap it when i i get it into the water column. It does not grow in my fuge.

Thanks
Richard

 

[Krish]

Sorry to hear about your troubles...Any chance to get a pic of what you are referring to? Should help determine what it is rather easily that way

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Waht was your lighting before the change? Tank size, lighting wattage?

 

[rbarb1111]

I didn't change light just new bulbs, they are the same as the old ones.
30 gallon tank 36 "4 t-5 bulbs.

I am trying to add picture hope it works

 

[returnofsid]

If your old bulbs were seriously depleted, the sudden new lighting may cause a diatom bloom of some sorts.

 

[rbarb1111]

Is there anything i can do?

 

[returnofsid]

Well, before deciding what to do, you need to find out what's truly going on. But a couple things that couldn't hurt is making sure you have good circulation, good water quality and good skimming. A couple extra water changes couldn't hurt, as long as you're using RO/DI water or good quality water. Depending on what corals you have, you may think about reducing your light time by a few hours for the next week or so.

 

[rbarb1111]

Water quality is good and the fish, hermit crabs, snails are all fine. Just affecting the corals. I have had the lights off for a couple of days and the color is changing from orange to grey. Not many corals left to worry about!!!
Do you think it would hurt if i pulled out a few of the rocks and brushed them off during a water change. i am using ro/di and tds are 0.
Thanks
Richard

 

[returnofsid]

Nope, wouldn't hurt at all. I've done that myself when I had a bad hair algae problem. It did seem to help a lot with the problem. Might even have a fresh bucket of saltwater to swish them off in before placing them back in your tank. That'll help make sure that you're not just re-introducing algae bits back into your display. Have you checked your phosphate and nitrate levels? TDS at 0 is good. I don't know that I'd totally turn lights off for long. This may end up killing your corals.

 

[rbarb1111]

i took alot of the rock out and cleaned it. I think much of it was detritus. My question now is can i run the sponge that comes with my aqua clear hang on filter to try to trap all the crap in the water column as long as i keep it clean or should i keep on doing water changes every few days and see if i can suck it out. i usually use the filter only to run carbon.

Thanks
Richard

 

[returnofsid]

Yes, you can run the sponge for mechanical filtration. Just make sure you don't leave it in there more than a few days. If you need to, rinse it every few days.