Utah Reefs Homepage
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Softies not happy... ?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Softies not happy... ?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Softies not happy... ?
    Posted: January 05 2013 at 3:03pm
Ok so I picked up a used RSM250 here on the board less than a month ago. The kid had a hair algae outbreak and I talked him down to a reasonable price on the tank because of it. I got the tank home (moved it with the sand in the tank, i know) and started in on the hair algae. Toothbrush and water changes I had it under control in about a week. Now I'm having an issue with my zoas, lps, and softies. Most of them seem kinda pissed and closed up, some are open but for instance a frogspawn I put in last night is closed and so are the duncans. My params are pretty good. Mag 1440, Ph 8.2-8.4, Ca 460, Alk 9ish. I've put in some sps and they are opened up ready to feed but the softies just don't look happy. I also put in a sunset monti a week or so ago and he's already bleaching out. So I'm getting kinda mixed results. Would all this flux be just from the move and the tank getting back into a proper bio rhythm? Any suggestions are appreciated.
rsm 250
Back to Top
phys View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 05 2013 at 3:16pm
it might be cycling a bit.. Have you checked ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and phosphates? Do a water change every few days and see if that helps too.
Back to Top
bstuver View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bstuver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 05 2013 at 3:19pm
I would guess it is cycling, unfortunately probably not the best idea to not rinse the sand. I made that mistake and lost everything I had in a 120g :(
Jackie Stuver

"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas?   I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
Back to Top
phys View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 05 2013 at 3:31pm
good point... You should vacuum the sand during the water changes...
Back to Top
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 05 2013 at 5:15pm
Yeah I've done the above. Zero nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, and Phos. I'm running a media reactor with phosban now in case I'm getting a false reading but between that and the water changes I'm stumped.
rsm 250
Back to Top
phys View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 05 2013 at 8:13pm
how's your flow and lighting?
Back to Top
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 12:07am
I've got the stock pumps in the back but I added two koralia 1050 powerheads as well as buying 6 new coralife t5 bulbs (I know i should've gotten ATI) 
rsm 250
Back to Top
bstuver View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bstuver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 12:18am
Did you replace all your bulbs at once? If so that may be part of the issue...
Jackie Stuver

"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas?   I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
Back to Top
phys View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 12:27am
you may have too much flow for them... Is it really powerful in their area? And yes, switching all your bulbs at once will cause problems too.. They need to be acclimated to lighting as well as to water conditions.
Back to Top
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 1:29am
Yes I did replace all the bulbs at once but I did it when the tank was barely stocked and the issue has been happening to corals I've been adding from systems with more than sufficient lighting. As far as flow I have the two stock heads pointing up to create ripples and then the koralia's are at either end of the tank in the lower half pointing up at a 45 degree angle towards the front glass. I've watched the flow patterns and I don't see anything that looks too turbulent for them. Am I missing something else?
rsm 250
Back to Top
phys View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote phys Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 4:39am
did you acclimate them properly?
Back to Top
jaschall View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 13 2009
Location: Clearfield
Status: Offline
Points: 690
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jaschall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 8:32am
What is your temp and salinity at? How are you going about checking your salt levels? Hydrometer/Refractometer. Are you using lfs premixed saltwater or are you mixing it yourself during water changes?
Back to Top
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 9:49am
I acclimated them the way I have for the last ten years, never had a problem before. :-( Temps have been good. I have an aquacontroller jr on it with temp and ph probes both of which I calibrated. However I have been using pre mixed water from a LFS, I hadn't thought of that yet. I've been checking with a hydrometer usually I keep it around .025. Not sure how accurate the hydro is since I got it with the tank used. Problem with the water then is if the pre mixed saltwater from that store is no good then I'd assume the R/O is no good as well and I'm pretty sure ppl would be complaining about it since it's a popular store I use. I'll buy some aquavitro salt and start mixing myself for a few see if that makes any difference. Thanks for all the input you guys I really appreciate the help!
rsm 250
Back to Top
Dion Richins View Drop Down
Presidency
Presidency
Avatar

Joined: April 03 2005
Location: Farmington
Status: Offline
Points: 11664
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dion Richins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 10:53am
If you didn't clean the sand then I would empty it and do so. If that sand has a few years odetritusbuilt up in it then you will continue to have algae issues as well as problems with the corals. I highly recomend at least vacuuming the sand dureing a move.
Bad "censored" Cabinets
Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC)
Back to Top
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 11:09am
I vacuumed after the move around the rocks I'd placed and then I put down some new substrate to help with the calcium depletion in the tank on someones advice. The previous owner never dosed and the coraline algae and sand bed had been starved of calcium. I didn't add much but i made sure to vacuum when I did. I'm thinking it's gotta be coming from the sand bed. I'm just dreading emptying the tank and starting over Cry
rsm 250
Back to Top
bstuver View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bstuver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 06 2013 at 1:00pm
Yeah I would guess the sand bed as well. Unfortunately I learned a hard lesson on that one and will always rinse any sand whether it got completely removed from the tank or just left and moved as it will still cause problems:(
Jackie Stuver

"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas?   I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
Back to Top
Pete Moss View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: March 26 2010
Location: Roy UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2114
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pete Moss Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2013 at 10:19am
I always replace sand when I move a tank. If you vacuum it really well, you might be able to fix most of the problem.

It's going through a cycle. Whenever you move a tank there will be some die off and stress, especially if you've scrubbed the rock to remove hair algae. I would vacuum, do regular water changes, then wait 3 weeks and see how things are then. If things haven't picked up after that, it's time for some new sand, and maybe even some new rock.
Back to Top
Plakatpusher View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
Avatar

Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Plakatpusher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 07 2013 at 11:40am
Totally agree. Thanks guys! Actually things are already starting to open up a bit more. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I might be able to slide by on this one without doing a complete tear down.
rsm 250
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.297 seconds.