i think my tank is crashing

dermer · 01/22/2007, 06:08 PM

well for starters i have been having alot of trouble with my sand turning green. i decided to remove all corals and place in different tank and move the lr as i was doing so i noticed the sand is grey in the bottom area as well as under all the lr. the water has a very strong dead smell to it as well. what is the best thing to do from this point.

thanks

hgbarwick · 01/22/2007, 06:14 PM

if it smells you probably have high nitrates and phosphates. DO a water change, a massive one, and can you give us your tank params?

Hormigaquatica · 01/22/2007, 06:22 PM

The grey was probably accumulated debris, which has now been stirred up. Might be a combo of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. Makes me think that your filtration probably isnt sufficient, or at least your circulation isnt that strong.. You have debris settling back into your rockwork where it is decomposing- that will cause the smell, and will elevate numerous chemical levels, which could easily account for the green algae/cyano on your sandbed.

Best thing to do at this point IMO- siphon the sand fairly well, do a few good size water changes, and rearrange your rocks into a more open arrangement so water can circulate through them better and get the muck to your filter, rather than settling on the bottom.

dermer · 01/22/2007, 06:35 PM

thanks for the advice
as for levels i can but not right now as for iam at work

dermer · 01/22/2007, 07:29 PM

will cooking my lr help in any of this problem with the debris building up on the lr

dermer · 01/22/2007, 09:15 PM

bump

RedEyeElf · 01/22/2007, 09:43 PM

uhm...cooking sounds like a bad idea, debri is building up cause the current is'nt taking it to your filter, add a powerhead/ or rearrange your rock so it all get a good flow

cooking will just make live rock...dead rock for the most part

oh and count your fish, who's missing and decomposing somewhere?

ACBlinky · 01/23/2007, 10:14 AM

I believe he means cooking as in placing the LR in a dark tub with heat and circulation for a few weeks/months, doing frequent water changes to remove built-up detritus and kill off pest algaes... not putting it in the oven

dermer -- have you got a refugium on the tank? A bunch of chaetomorpha macroalgae could really help. If you've got a good amount, it can reduce NO3 and PO4 to the point where other algaes are completely starved for nutrients, and they'll die off.

dermer · 01/24/2007, 10:16 PM

well here is the latest decided to remove non live sand due to build up an current problems its causing but before i got started on it i have lost 4 fish and 2 corals so now the tank has been totally cleaned out new live snad put in half of my lr is in tank other half is cooking
well no refugium to his date but it is coming in the very near future as for im trying to decide on what to go with as far as pumps and size of sump and so forth

01/22/2007, 06:08 PM	#1
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	i think my tank is crashing well for starters i have been having alot of trouble with my sand turning green. i decided to remove all corals and place in different tank and move the lr as i was doing so i noticed the sand is grey in the bottom area as well as under all the lr. the water has a very strong dead smell to it as well. what is the best thing to do from this point. thanks

01/22/2007, 06:22 PM	#3
Hormigaquatica Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 3,022	The grey was probably accumulated debris, which has now been stirred up. Might be a combo of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. Makes me think that your filtration probably isnt sufficient, or at least your circulation isnt that strong.. You have debris settling back into your rockwork where it is decomposing- that will cause the smell, and will elevate numerous chemical levels, which could easily account for the green algae/cyano on your sandbed. Best thing to do at this point IMO- siphon the sand fairly well, do a few good size water changes, and rearrange your rocks into a more open arrangement so water can circulate through them better and get the muck to your filter, rather than settling on the bottom. __________________ Reaching up and reaching out and reaching for the random, or whatever will bewilder me. Have Some Personal Accountability Current Tank Info: 240g LPS/Softie Reef

01/23/2007, 10:14 AM	#8
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	I believe he means cooking as in placing the LR in a dark tub with heat and circulation for a few weeks/months, doing frequent water changes to remove built-up detritus and kill off pest algaes... not putting it in the oven dermer -- have you got a refugium on the tank? A bunch of chaetomorpha macroalgae could really help. If you've got a good amount, it can reduce NO3 and PO4 to the point where other algaes are completely starved for nutrients, and they'll die off. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

01/22/2007, 06:14 PM	#2
hgbarwick Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Plant City, Florida Posts: 1,390	if it smells you probably have high nitrates and phosphates. DO a water change, a massive one, and can you give us your tank params?

01/22/2007, 06:35 PM	#4
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	thanks for the advice as for levels i can but not right now as for iam at work

01/22/2007, 07:29 PM	#5
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	will cooking my lr help in any of this problem with the debris building up on the lr

01/22/2007, 09:15 PM	#6
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	bump

01/22/2007, 09:43 PM	#7
RedEyeElf Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 462	uhm...cooking sounds like a bad idea, debri is building up cause the current is'nt taking it to your filter, add a powerhead/ or rearrange your rock so it all get a good flow cooking will just make live rock...dead rock for the most part oh and count your fish, who's missing and decomposing somewhere?

01/24/2007, 10:16 PM	#9
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	well here is the latest decided to remove non live sand due to build up an current problems its causing but before i got started on it i have lost 4 fish and 2 corals so now the tank has been totally cleaned out new live snad put in half of my lr is in tank other half is cooking well no refugium to his date but it is coming in the very near future as for im trying to decide on what to go with as far as pumps and size of sump and so forth