salt creep

[Rae C.]

Hey all!

I'm doing a thorough cleaning of the system today...It's now been at our house for one year. I have salt creep on the new VHO lights that I installed last month. Worse than the old bulbs, probably because I've been directing flow toward the surface. Anyway, now that the bulbs are cool, I can't seem to get the salt off them. I've tried a soft brush, a nylon scraper. What's the best way to remove it.

Also, the hood that the lights are attached to is wood. The finish/wood is starting to flake, I assume because of the humidiy and light heat? Is the flaking harmful? (I guess it hasn't affected it yet, the cover has been over this tank for several years.)

I've thought of puuting aluminum foil between the VHO's and the wood. Any thoughts out there?

Thanx!

[Aquarist007]

vinegar will take them off the bulbs--once done I would do it more frequently so it is not such a PITA to do

I would not take the chance with the wood finish flaking off--you don't know what was used
I would suggest you take the hood off, sand it down and restain it with a marine wood stain/preservative

[Aquarist007]

BTW
if you are getting that kind of salt creep I would suggest you invest in a tank ground probe and gfci's for all your receptacles

[Rae C.]

Oh ya. GOt the GFCI's. My hubby is an overacheiving engineer!

Just wet a rag with white vinegar and wipe the bulbs down?
Bummer, I just used all my vinegar cleaning the power heads.

Thanx Capn.

[Rae C.]

I'm removing three large rocks with zoas and gsp on them. Going to see if the LFS wants to but them or give store credit. After looking at everybody's tanks, I'm thinking my tank has too much rock, in addition to being over grown with xenias, and zoas.

Hopefully, I haven't upset everybody by moving my rock around. Needed to get the leathers a bit higher. They just aren't very pretty this big. Hoping that moving them up will help them open more. I did a 20 gallon water change this evening, will probably do another in two days if things look cranky.

Sent my hubby out for more vinegar to get the salt off my lights. I should probably also back off on the light schedule for the leathers' sakes.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by out
I'm removing three large rocks with zoas and gsp on them. Going to see if the LFS wants to but them or give store credit. After looking at everybody's tanks, I'm thinking my tank has too much rock, in addition to being over grown with xenias, and zoas.

Hopefully, I haven't upset everybody by moving my rock around. Needed to get the leathers a bit higher. They just aren't very pretty this big. Hoping that moving them up will help them open more. I did a 20 gallon water change this evening, will probably do another in two days if things look cranky.

Sent my hubby out for more vinegar to get the salt off my lights. I should probably also back off on the light schedule for the leathers' sakes.

wait a sec --you shouldn't get rid of reef rock--its your tanks most valuable asset. If you feel you don't have enough room in your tank then add some to your sump--same water column--same filtration benifits
I have 160 lbs in my tank but another 100 lbs in the sump and two refugiums

[Aquarist007]

I notice your name is Rae. You might be interested in this thread posted by another Rae

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1420139

[Rae C.]

I don't have a sump. It s a hang on the back refugium. I've already broken one of the two supports on the back edge of teh tank. Its propped up with a couple of power head boxes stacked on each other. I'm not sure there's any room for rock in there. What would happen to the zoas and gps on those rocks if they did fit in the fuge?

Basically, my tank is a mishmash of two 65 gal tanks that were started by my husband's boss's son and a friend when they were in high school. They learned together through high school, then went off to college, combining their tanks into one, and let the dad take care of it. Then last spring, the son graduated and got a job out of state, the dad/boss offered it to my husband and I got a new set of responsibilities last summer when it came home. I'm loving it, don't get me wrong, but I didn't slowly build up like most. I got a full, healthy tank that is rapidly growing.

With the three pieces of rock out of the tank, there does seem to be more water circulating, more debris. Still a whole lotta rock.

[Rae C.]

"I notice your name is Rae. You might be interested in this thread posted by another Rae"

Yes, I've introduced myself there and LOVE reading that thread! You guys are a hoot! I posted a Christmas pic of my family with "Bahhumbug" shirts on!

I didn't want to hijack her thread with my own issues, but I do respond once in a while!

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by out
"I notice your name is Rae. You might be interested in this thread posted by another Rae"

Yes, I've introduced myself there and LOVE reading that thread! You guys are a hoot! I posted a Christmas pic of my family with "Bahhumbug" shirts on!

I didn't want to hijack her thread with my own issues, but I do respond once in a while!

IMO it is one thread that is impossible to hijack--impossible to figure out at times too

[Rae C.]

Vinegar took that salt off like a dream! Thanx!

[Aquarist007]

glad to help