Greatings from Whidbey Island

[NWDiver]

You would know for sure by now if it had not eaten something
Have you considered the use of a gfo reactor? I got a really nice 2x unit from bulk reef supply along with a maxijet 1200 to push it.
Pretty inexpensive, and I run carbon in the other side. I have heard folks say that it toasts the hair algae after a coupla weeks.
How many water changes have you done so far?
I think that you will beat it just by doing a bit of cleaning, and changing the heck out of the water. Remove the fuel, remove the problem.
Easy for me to say right

 

[Fishfry]

I dont know if that is needed as I just started using RO/DI water. But I will keep it in mind. It looks rather simple though. Here is question, I have not had a UV sterilizer for a whil enow ahould I get one or no?

 

[NWDiver]

My feeling with UV is that it can help slow some bacterial infections, especially for fish. Most of the people I know are not running one, but I have not done the research to see all of the possible benefits. I don't think it will help your current problem in the least.
There are almost certainly more useful ways to spend your money at this stage
Or you could just run UV over your whole tank like Floyd did >

 

[Fishfry]

The more I sit here and contimplate it I might just take it down to parade rest. Have my fish and coral in a holding tank for a while and just fix everythign that I wanted to for a while. I have a real issue with how this tank is plumbed and worry everytime we get a good gusty day. So with algae blooms and the fear of flooding my living room I think I might kill two birds with one long weekend. We shall see.

 

[tat2z_21]

Though I agree with Todd, a steady water change schedule is important. I also understand that most of your parameters are accumulative. So by doing small changes every 3 to 4 days is a steady way of getting it down slowly, but if you do a couple of major water changes it will drastically reduce the amount of pollution in the tank. I am by no means an expert on this, I am just stating what has worked for me before.

 

[Fishfry]

Now if i do this I am going to have to put the corals and fish in a new holding aquarium for a coupl edays do get this one completly setup the way I want. I have the space and I imagine the shock on the livestock wouldnt be as bad consideringt hey will be going into a cleaner aquarium.

 

[tamarindthai]

:rockon:welcome to the RF,,,

 

[NWDiver]

You are correct Floyd! I was not in any way trying to diminish what you were saying. My point )poorly made(* was that lots of small changes were *almost* as good as one big change. I was shocked to find that was true. I figured that you would be changing out some of your already good water with a series of small changes and that it would take much more water to come close to the same dilution. Much to my surprise the numbers don't support that theory.
I think it is good info for people that are not setup to do a huge water change.

*Please note the use of reverse Floyd silencers, aka Floud speakers.

 

[NWDiver]

Ed: A careful move to another tank while you correct all the things you are unhappy with seems like a fine idea.
I don't think it is necessary to do that to win the algea fight though...

 

[Fishfry]

Nice info and am tossing it all around. I think I am going to do 'A' and then I lean towards 'B' we shall see. On to a sad note, Blobby the sea hare passed away today sometime while I was at work. He leaves behind a very gross looking trail of slime. He will be missed

 

[NWDiver]

Sorry to hear that Ed...

 

[Fishfry]

Just more money getting thrown at it. It is getting to both my wife and I. It's like there is something abviously wrong and we are just too close to see it.

 

[NWDiver]

Well honestly I think Floyd nailed it (much as I hate to admit that) If you want some help setting up for a large water transfer, I have barrels and stuff. I'm sure that we can drag Floyd along to help.
I really doubt the Hare's death was your fault.
Let's get the water changed and see if things don't perk right up.

 

[Fishfry]

If I go that way I am going to just break it completely down, move everything over to another holding tank and redo the return plumbing. Rightnow as it is set up the over flow is built into the end (my tank T-bones my wall, made that way) empties into my sump and does it's flow and to the pump it get returned through one line that splits into 2 seperate bottom (yes the bottom of the tank) Y ball lock returns. Hard to picture? Just imagine 2 Y's coming through the bottom of my tank with ball valves on the bottom. Those 2 ball valves join into on return line, goto a check valve and then the pump. When power goes out I am going to have 60+ gallons of water on my deck unless I am there to close the ball valves. The check valve only slowes the process. lol

 

[NWDiver]

I see the issue. The quick fix is to bring the returns up from the bottom of the tank to a point high enough that you will not siphon more than your sump can hold.
Ugly? Maybe, but your floor will stay dry until you make the change
Paint the plumbing black, and Bob's your uncle!
-Todd

 

[Fishfry]

LOL.. Yes it is a pain. What I am thinking of doing is bringing the return up through the over flow like a normal tank and have a small outlet there and then have it continue the feed to the bottom returns as well. I like the way they are in there (kind of unique) and at least this way I will have a siphon break.

 

[Fishfry]

On another note anyone know where you can get that Coral RX locally? I mean withing an 2 hour drive. I think if I go the long way then I will dip all my corals and rock while I transfer them to a holding tank.

 

[tat2z_21]

Can we book mark this page. Well maybe not the whole page but this remark "Well honestly I think Floyd nailed it (much as I hate to admit that)." Just kidding Todd, I am really not sure what the issue is with the tank, but I would try everything before I broke the tank down to parade rest. But in the mean time, I am here if needed. If you just want someone to come by and look at it before you break it down, let me know.

Hey Todd, are you coming up for that 5th meeting?

 

[rainydave]

I have a spare TFL Phosban Reactor 150 laying around that you can borrow if you'd like to try running carbon for a while. You'd just need to toss on some hose and a powerhead.

 

[NWDiver]

Very nice Dave!

Ed: I have some Coral Rx that you can use if you just want to do a dip. Well it's actually Justforfun's, but I'm sure he wont mind if you use some. It's my turn to buy when we run out anyway We have the BIG bottle.

Floyd: Well, I was planning to drive over, but it looks like Justin can't do it. I guess I'm gonna plumb the 300 for constant flow for the koi on Sat instead. Did ya have something in mind? If folks want to get together, we can gather in my shop...