Help, my tank is turning green

I think it does matter where the nitrification occurs.

Simplified nitrification:
   NH3 + organic food + O2  --->  NO3 + CO2 + H + H2O

Simplified denitrification:
   NO3 + organic food + H ---> N2 + CO2 + H2O

The common thread is hydronium (H+).  It's a product of nitrification and a reactant in the denitrification reaction.  If nitrification occurs far away from an anoxic region, then the H+ produced has a greater chance of being swept away in the bulk water to eventually react with carbonate or bicarbonate in your tank, lowing your alkalinity.  If the nitrification occurs in close proximity to an anoxic region, then that H+ ion has more of a chance to be involved in the denitrification process.  Denitrification processes prefer a pH in the low 7s to high 6s because of the availablity of H+.  There is 10 times less H+ at pH 8 as there is at pH 7.  That is my reasoning for stating what I did in the other post.  And it's been my personal experience that the removal of a wet/dry resulted in a decrease in nitrates.  I'm also willing to consider it just doesn't matter where it happens too .  (but I might need a little convincing).

The difference comes in having organisms (corals, algae, etc.) that can uptake the ammonia and nitrite before it is converted to nitrate.  Sometimes a bio-wheel is too efficient and will not allow enough time for the organisms to absorb any of these compounds.

That is absolutely true!  So why not allow that ammonia to make another pass through the tank... maybe that xenia or caulerpa will pick it up .

Carl,

Think of H+ as Jessica Simpson.
Jessica braking up with "what's his name" is the nitrification reaction.
Jessica hooking up with Carl is the denitrificaiton reaction.

Would the likelyhood that you're the envy of the neigborhood guys be greater if she broke up with "what's his name" while traveling through  Syracuse, UT or Syracuse, NY?  What's the odds that she wanders from NY to UT?  I'm not sure she know's where UT is .

Most of the nitrification happens in high water flow areas.  Therefore I believe that the byproduct of nitrification will usually be spread around the tank no matter where it is done.

I think removing the bio-wheel will slow down the nitrification process allowing more intake via coral, algae, etc.

I can agree with those statements too.  That description also explains what can be observed by removing bio balls.  I think most reef organisms will preferentally uptake ammonia over nitrate.  And actually your explaination fits in well with another pet idea of mine...

Thanks Jake.

Wow,  What a differance three days and alot of advice makes. (some of it I coundn't make heads or tails out of.)  This is what we have done already,  20% water change with ro, left the lights off for two days, hand scrubed (with my husbands toothbrush) about half the rocks, cut back on feedings since three fish died, and added ten hermits and ten snails.

I think that most of our problems come from our filtration.  Apparently we could talk all day on bio wheels.  I haven't removed them yet, the problem is I cant aford to go buy a wet dry sump right now.  If anyone has one they are not using and wants to get rid of real cheap let me know.  I think if we had a sump and changed out our substrate we would be in good shape.  Help, what do you think???????????   (here are some current pics)

some of it I coundn't make heads or tails out of

Sorry about that, sometimes threads just seem to evolve a life of there own and some of us like to talk about things that really don't interest the average aquariast .

Your tank appears to me to have adequate live rock and sand.  The two powerhead are probably doing fine for circulation.  Adding snails and crabs is always a good thing.  Maybe a blenny, goby or tang for additional algae control.  Get some macro algae and put it around in your tank.  If you get a tang, he will eat it all (one of the reasons why people grow it in their sump).  You need something to consume the nitrates in your tank.  Water changes will help to drop the levels, the algae will help to keep them down.

Don't get frustrated and quit.  Many tanks go through the same "green" phase.  Just think of this as "rush" week in the reef keepers fraternity (or sorority).  It too will pass.

kfowler,

Is all of the rock in your tank "live rock" or did you buy some dry rock as well?

So whats in lace rock that is not good for marine tanks?

I figured the rock in her tank was carribean, not lace.  What is it Kristy?  As Mark said, it might make a difference.