Author |
Topic Search Topic Options
|
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
phys
Guest
Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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.
|
 |
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
phys
Guest
Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 05 2013 at 3:31pm |
good point... You should vacuum the sand during the water changes...
|
 |
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
phys
Guest
Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 05 2013 at 8:13pm |
how's your flow and lighting?
|
 |
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
phys
Guest
Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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.
|
 |
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
phys
Guest
Joined: March 04 2011
Location: Capitol Hill
Status: Offline
Points: 1982
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: January 06 2013 at 4:39am |
did you acclimate them properly?
|
 |
jaschall
Guest
Joined: March 13 2009
Location: Clearfield
Status: Offline
Points: 690
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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?
|
 |
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
Dion Richins
Presidency
Joined: April 03 2005
Location: Farmington
Status: Offline
Points: 11664
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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.
|
|
 |
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
rsm 250
|
 |
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |
Pete Moss
Guest
Joined: March 26 2010
Location: Roy UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2114
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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.
|
 |
Plakatpusher
Guest
Joined: January 26 2003
Location: Millcreek, Utah
Status: Offline
Points: 356
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
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
|
 |