Puzzling Problem

bonofish · 08/16/2009, 09:40 AM

I can't figure this out so I thought I would throw it out to the Reef community. I started out with a 30 gal tank about 5 years ago. I was new to the hobby, but the tank ended up working great and looked really good.

1 1/2 years later, I upgraded that tank to a 90 gal. I took all the sand/rock/corals and transfered them over. I ran the 90 for about 3 years, adding more coral and rock and fish along the way. All was well and the tank flourished.

6 months ago, I upgraded again to 150 gal. with 2 - 75 gal. tanks on a custom corner stand, plummed to a common 75 gal. sump. Same rock, same sand and corals split between the two tanks. All was well until recenty. One tank is pristine and the other tank has a huge algae problem, most notably hair algae as well as algae on the glass. The water parameters are right where they are supposed to be, where they have always been. The exact same lighting is on both tanks with the same time cycle. They both have about the same amount of fish which is 6-7 per tank. There are two Vortec MP40's on both tanks in the exact same position so the flow is great.

I am adding 15-20 Mexican turbos and some red and blue leg hermits to help attack the problem. I currently have a dozen or so turbos, astreas and nassarius snails per tank now.

The part that obviously puzzles me is, with a common sump, why hasn't the problem spread to the other tank (not that I want it to) and why does it seem to be just one tank when both have the exact same water (same parameters in each tank and the sump), sand, rock, corals, fish, shrimp, snails and lighting.

For those interested, my sump is a 75 gal. tank which has an inflow chamber with 1" pvc lines from each tank. This chamber is topped with an egg crate shelf where I use a two stage filter pad, directly underneath that is a row of carbon bags and directly below that the rest of the chamber is filled with bio balls. There is a baffle that leads to my refugium section that has some of the same live sand from the tank (as well as some new) and some of my live rock as well as calerupa and cheto algae and a filter bag with Phos-Ban media. Another baffle leads to the skimmer chamber and then to the return pump.

So that's my story. I welcome all opinions. I must also add, that I have done some massive water changes (each time siphoning off as much hair algae as possible) and have regularly changed 15-20 gal. per week. I use Tropic Marin Pro-Reef and have all along. It is the same batch (I mix two 200 gal. buckets into one container) as before the problem began. And of course I use R/O water and have checked and even changed the filters. So have at it fellow reefers.

sikpupy · 08/16/2009, 11:04 AM

Have you checked that both tanks are getting the same return volume? Sure, it may be split and both getting flow, but how much to each tank?

Tadashi · 08/16/2009, 11:27 AM

The circulation is different in each tank as is the lighting. Maybe the bulbs are reaching the end of their life. It could also be that the major bacteria population to deal with the nutrients are in the other tank without the algae and it is trying to support the tank with the algae.

I just posted about how a buddy and I setup almost similiar tanks except for circulation and pumps and we are experiencing much different types of algae and diatoms. The only difference in our tanks is circulation and lights.

mullinsd2 · 08/16/2009, 01:08 PM

I would check the bulbs

Toddrtrex · 08/16/2009, 01:21 PM

It could be that the rock in the one tank is "dirtier" and if fueling the HA on the rocks them selves.

bigtex52 · 08/16/2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toddrtrex
It could be that the rock in the one tank is "dirtier" and if fueling the HA on the rocks them selves.

+1

Did you by any chance use Marco Rocks or some other dry rock equivalent when you upgraded?

I had a terrible time with GHA when my Marco rocks were new. Nitrates and phosphates were always at or near zero but the algae was going wild. Turns out, they were consuming the leaching phosphates about as fast as it leached. Many water changes and some time later, it just quit and died.

blumoon reefers · 08/16/2009, 04:04 PM

Maybe a simple question - but could one tank be getting more natual sunlight than the other?

bonofish · 08/16/2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sikpupy
Have you checked that both tanks are getting the same return volume? Sure, it may be split and both getting flow, but how much to each tank?

There are even amounts to both tanks. Each tank has a shutoff valve on the return and the overflow. When I set up the tanks I watched as it filled up both tanks and they filled up at the exact same time. The returns are positioned such that they would have the same distance to pump on the returns and the same on the overflows.

bonofish · 08/16/2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tadashi
The circulation is different in each tank as is the lighting. Maybe the bulbs are reaching the end of their life. It could also be that the major bacteria population to deal with the nutrients are in the other tank without the algae and it is trying to support the tank with the algae.

I just posted about how a buddy and I setup almost similiar tanks except for circulation and pumps and we are experiencing much different types of algae and diatoms. The only difference in our tanks is circulation and lights.

bonofish · 08/16/2009, 06:30 PM

The bulbs are all brand new and I have the exact same fixtures on both tanks. I have tested the light levels at various points in both tanks and they are all the same. The live rock is the same and was merely split from my 90 gal. (I had more than enough to go around including putting some in my sump, which does not have an algae problem). I even pumped the same water from my 90 to the new tank and then added more every couple of days until the tanks were full while my fish were in isolation. Both tanks are on the far side of the room and get no direct sunlight and the general light in the room would affect both equally as they are in a corner on the opposite side as any windows, and it's a pretty large room. I don't overfeed, I do regular water changes, I monitor my levels every few days and these tanks have both been up and running for 6 months after the move and both were pristine until now. I have even exchanged a few pieces of live rock from one tank to another for a better arrangement. Both have the same amount of fish, both have roughly the same corals (sps,lps,zoa's, shrooms). Each tank is about as identical as could be so there is definately something more that we are all missing. I appreciate all your responses, I really do, but this is more than the normal things that affect a tank. I have been through those and this one has me baffled.

freeswimmingfis · 08/17/2009, 10:06 AM

If you can, switch light fixures, see if the problem follows.

freeswimmingfis · 08/17/2009, 10:39 AM

If you can, switch light fixures, see if the problem follows.

seapug · 08/17/2009, 11:35 AM

Are the two display tanks set up flowing from one to the other (in series) or does each have its own input line from the return?

If they are set up in series, which one (in sequence of flow) has the algae problem?

08/16/2009, 09:40 AM	#1
bonofish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11	Puzzling Problem I can't figure this out so I thought I would throw it out to the Reef community. I started out with a 30 gal tank about 5 years ago. I was new to the hobby, but the tank ended up working great and looked really good. 1 1/2 years later, I upgraded that tank to a 90 gal. I took all the sand/rock/corals and transfered them over. I ran the 90 for about 3 years, adding more coral and rock and fish along the way. All was well and the tank flourished. 6 months ago, I upgraded again to 150 gal. with 2 - 75 gal. tanks on a custom corner stand, plummed to a common 75 gal. sump. Same rock, same sand and corals split between the two tanks. All was well until recenty. One tank is pristine and the other tank has a huge algae problem, most notably hair algae as well as algae on the glass. The water parameters are right where they are supposed to be, where they have always been. The exact same lighting is on both tanks with the same time cycle. They both have about the same amount of fish which is 6-7 per tank. There are two Vortec MP40's on both tanks in the exact same position so the flow is great. I am adding 15-20 Mexican turbos and some red and blue leg hermits to help attack the problem. I currently have a dozen or so turbos, astreas and nassarius snails per tank now. The part that obviously puzzles me is, with a common sump, why hasn't the problem spread to the other tank (not that I want it to) and why does it seem to be just one tank when both have the exact same water (same parameters in each tank and the sump), sand, rock, corals, fish, shrimp, snails and lighting. For those interested, my sump is a 75 gal. tank which has an inflow chamber with 1" pvc lines from each tank. This chamber is topped with an egg crate shelf where I use a two stage filter pad, directly underneath that is a row of carbon bags and directly below that the rest of the chamber is filled with bio balls. There is a baffle that leads to my refugium section that has some of the same live sand from the tank (as well as some new) and some of my live rock as well as calerupa and cheto algae and a filter bag with Phos-Ban media. Another baffle leads to the skimmer chamber and then to the return pump. So that's my story. I welcome all opinions. I must also add, that I have done some massive water changes (each time siphoning off as much hair algae as possible) and have regularly changed 15-20 gal. per week. I use Tropic Marin Pro-Reef and have all along. It is the same batch (I mix two 200 gal. buckets into one container) as before the problem began. And of course I use R/O water and have checked and even changed the filters. So have at it fellow reefers.

08/16/2009, 11:27 AM	#3
Tadashi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Ft. Hood, TX, USA Posts: 2,252	The circulation is different in each tank as is the lighting. Maybe the bulbs are reaching the end of their life. It could also be that the major bacteria population to deal with the nutrients are in the other tank without the algae and it is trying to support the tank with the algae. I just posted about how a buddy and I setup almost similiar tanks except for circulation and pumps and we are experiencing much different types of algae and diatoms. The only difference in our tanks is circulation and lights. __________________ Honey, put down the bleach and step away from the tank. I promise we will spend more quality time together. Current Tank Info: 14-gal Oceanic BioCube (see homepage link for current status)

08/16/2009, 01:21 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	It could be that the rock in the one tank is "dirtier" and if fueling the HA on the rocks them selves. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

08/16/2009, 04:04 PM	#7
blumoon reefers Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 449	Maybe a simple question - but could one tank be getting more natual sunlight than the other? __________________ Chuck and Milissa Current Tank Info: 150 gal with 40b sump/fuge

08/17/2009, 11:35 AM	#13
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Are the two display tanks set up flowing from one to the other (in series) or does each have its own input line from the return? If they are set up in series, which one (in sequence of flow) has the algae problem? __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/16/2009, 11:04 AM	#2
sikpupy Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,431	Have you checked that both tanks are getting the same return volume? Sure, it may be split and both getting flow, but how much to each tank?

08/16/2009, 01:08 PM	#4
mullinsd2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 753	I would check the bulbs

08/16/2009, 06:30 PM	#10
bonofish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11	The bulbs are all brand new and I have the exact same fixtures on both tanks. I have tested the light levels at various points in both tanks and they are all the same. The live rock is the same and was merely split from my 90 gal. (I had more than enough to go around including putting some in my sump, which does not have an algae problem). I even pumped the same water from my 90 to the new tank and then added more every couple of days until the tanks were full while my fish were in isolation. Both tanks are on the far side of the room and get no direct sunlight and the general light in the room would affect both equally as they are in a corner on the opposite side as any windows, and it's a pretty large room. I don't overfeed, I do regular water changes, I monitor my levels every few days and these tanks have both been up and running for 6 months after the move and both were pristine until now. I have even exchanged a few pieces of live rock from one tank to another for a better arrangement. Both have the same amount of fish, both have roughly the same corals (sps,lps,zoa's, shrooms). Each tank is about as identical as could be so there is definately something more that we are all missing. I appreciate all your responses, I really do, but this is more than the normal things that affect a tank. I have been through those and this one has me baffled.

08/17/2009, 10:06 AM	#11
freeswimmingfis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Katy Tx Posts: 622	If you can, switch light fixures, see if the problem follows.

08/17/2009, 10:39 AM	#12
freeswimmingfis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Katy Tx Posts: 622	If you can, switch light fixures, see if the problem follows.