Cloudy tank emergency

[ReeferBen]

Tanks is SPS dominate, with lots of LPS as well (acans, chalice, favias, etc.) and some zoas palys. Its a 160 gal 4' x 3' x 2' DT with a 40 breeder sump and 20 gal frag tank. Total water volume is probably around 180 gal.

Yesterday I took the frag tank offline and added a single scoop of ultralife redslime remover to the frag tank to try to take care of the little bit of cyno I had in my frag tank. This is the recommened dose for 15 gal. I let if sit off line for a few hours, did a W/C on it and put it back on line.

I run carbon/gfo, a bubble king mini 200, a euroreef rc180, and an midwest denitrifier for filtration.

Last night looking at my DT I noticed it looked cloudy but that was at 2am and all the lights were off and I didnt think much of it. An hour ago I walked by and noticed the whole tank is really cloudy. The clams look shocked, the LPS looks somewhat messed up, a few SPS RTN'd and in my frag tank there is a ton of bleaching 12 setosa frags all look half dead, several pieces RTN'd and a lot of the others are bleaching.

I turned off my lights on the frag tank. I replaced the GFO and carbon in the BRS duel reactor with fresh carbon in both sides. I am preparing water for a W/C right now but it is going to take awhile. What ever this is is caused both of my skimmer cups which were half full of nasty skimmate to overflow and the skimmers wont stop overflowing unless I tilt the cups so they are not fully on the body.

What else can I do? I have not lost any fish and they all seem normal.

 

[inactive]

You didn't let the RSR cycle long enough. You need to let it cycle without a skimmer or carbon for a day or so.... You need to follow the directions on chemicals you are putting into your tank or you will run into problems that may not be as normal as most.

I assume you boosted your skim mate back into your system.. which would explain everything.

 

[ReeferBen]

Seems every time I do a W/C I forget to clean my skimmers first. When I turn off my return pump the sump water level goes up and overflows my skimmers yet has never turned the whole tank cloudy.

I also only added enough for 15 gal on a 20 gal frag tank and followed with a W/C before putting the frag tank back online, so even what was left was less the a 15 gal worth of dose diluted in 180 gal water volume.

FWIW It says "continuation of protien skimming is recommened but may require adjustment". I guess I needed to basically take the cups off prior. Also says "No Need for water changes or removal of carbon filtration."

Is your thinking that the skimmate dumping back into the tank caused a bacterial bloom? Why would this have never happened when I accidently overflowed the cups in the past?

TIA

 

[RBursek]

I agree, when I have used RSR skimmer was to be off for either 24 or 48hrs, and when I did turn it back on it was going nuts for about 5 hrs.

 

[inactive]

Seems every time I do a W/C I forget to clean my skimmers first. When I turn off my return pump the sump water level goes up and overflows my skimmers yet has never turned the whole tank cloudy.

I also only added enough for 15 gal on a 20 gal frag tank and followed with a W/C before putting the frag tank back online, so even what was left was less the a 15 gal worth of dose diluted in 180 gal water volume.

FWIW It says "continuation of protien skimming is recommened but may require adjustment". I guess I needed to basically take the cups off prior. Also says "No Need for water changes or removal of carbon filtration."

Is your thinking that the skimmate dumping back into the tank caused a bacterial bloom? Why would this have never happened when I accidently overflowed the cups in the past?

TIA

Don't believe everything a product is telling you... Remember, they are trying to sell you something!

Chemi/Purigen also claim you don't have to do water changes as often, heh... I don't trust that.

 

[ReeferBen]

So your thinking bacterial bloom? Someone told me if it was a bacterial bloom a 10 micron sock would clear it up but I am not sure I have a 10 micron one. I threw mine in the wash and will put them on the returns once they are clean.

I guess not much more I can do at this point but to wait out my W/C water?

 

[RBursek]

I donot have an answer for that, could it be from something else not related with the frag tank and use of RSR? A Ca precipitaion?

 

[inactive]

So your thinking bacterial bloom? Someone told me if it was a bacterial bloom a 10 micron sock would clear it up but I am not sure I have a 10 micron one. I threw mine in the wash and will put them on the returns once they are clean.

I guess not much more I can do at this point but to wait out my W/C water?

I assume your skim mate being reintroduced into the display was like a mentos truck and a coke truck wrecking into each other.

 

[650-IS350]

mentos truck and a coke truck wrecking into each other
awesome analogy

 

[ReeferBen]

I donot have an answer for that, could it be from something else not related with the frag tank and use of RSR? A Ca precipitaion?

Not sure, dont think its ca precipitations though, it is possible the clams spawned over night due to the stress I guess clouding the tank. They all look pretty rough. The fish seem fine and rest of the corals are open now but clams look half pulled in.

The same person that said a 10 micron sock would clear bacterial bloom said if it was ca precipitation some tank water in a cup with some vinager added would clear that up and either confirm or rule that out.

 

[inactive]

Who told you this?

 

[ReeferBen]

FWIW I put my filter socks on before I went out this afternoon and now the tank is almost cleared. I only have about 20 gal of water so think I am going to wait until tomorrow to do the W/C so I have a full 50 gal. This will give time for the water to mix properly and heat up anyhow. I have to coach a little league game in the early afternoon so will hopefully have time in the morning to take care of it.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[Lazys Coral House]

One thing to keep in mind when you have a tank problem. Use water out of the RO membrane to do a water change. Just add a bit of water conditioner to it. You will be better off by doing the water change quick rather then waiting for your RO/DI unit to make 50 gallons of water.

 

[RBursek]

Just running the RO/DI unit with out the DI cartridge will not give you more gpd then with running the water thru the DI resin. It will only give you higher TDS water to use.

 

[beaslbob]

Gls everything is looking better now.

FWIW I don't recommend any chemicals for red slime. Next time just try killing the lights for a few days.


my .02

 

[inactive]

Next time just try killing the lights for a few days.

Except if you keep SPS.

 

[DaveA]

The same person ... said if it was ca precipitation some tank water in a cup with some vinager added would clear that up and either confirm or rule that out.

Correct, that will tell you if it's Ca/Alk precipitation. The vinegar is acidic and will make the Ca dissolve again.

But be sure to do it OUTSIDE of your tank (in a cup, as he says), and DO NOT put that water back in your tank after adding vinegar.

 

[DaveA]

I guess not much more I can do at this point but to wait out my W/C water?

That was yesterday, so probably too late now, but most LFS carry ready made salt water. You could always use that in an emergency

One thing to keep in mind when you have a tank problem. Use water out of the RO membrane to do a water change. Just add a bit of water conditioner to it. You will be better off by doing the water change quick rather then waiting for your RO/DI unit to make 50 gallons of water.

I agree, do the water change quickly. If you can't get salt water from the LFS, go to your grocery store and buy distilled water at $1.00 a gallon. $50 is better than losing your livestock.

 

[DaveA]

G Next time just try killing the lights for a few days.

Except if you keep SPS.

Why? Surely SPS can last for two days without lights?

Isn't a red slime bloom also a sign of too much nutrients? So, less feeding and/or more water changes would help get rid of it.