Expert Advice Needed - Sand Swap (possible "Old Tank Syndrome")

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinstripe http:///t/389014/expert-advice-needed-sand-swap-possible-old-tank-syndrome#post_3434818
I think I will follow your list to the T.............
but doesn't an algae scurbber require a fuge? I have read your thread on the subject, very interesting.....actually awesome natural solution......but I don't think I can run that with just a canister right?
and by the way......does "old tank syndrome" actually exist? I've heard very conflicting opinions. I'd like to hear what you all think!
Lol, thanks for the flattery. A scrubber is a verticle fuge in itself. The easiest way to add a scrubber is to put it in a rubbermaid bucket and hang it above your tank. I chose to put mine in the sump, but I'm fixing to build another version with the rubbermaid container beside the tank. I'm also going to do a DIY build thread on that. I would really like to get some fish and coral in my tank before I spend more money on equipment though. lol.
The question of whether old tank syndrome actually exists... it all depends. The other day, Spanko posted a link to a guy who just celebrated his tank's 40th birthday. You be the judge...

 

[pinstripe]

lol....40 years....well then I guess there is no definite answer. Keep this thread in your head, I'll let you know how it goes
Thanks again,

 

[snakeblitz33]

Uhh, sure! I'll try! If you want me to come back, you should probably PM me. lol. I and here-there and everywhere on all different kinds of forums.

 

[novahobbies]

Probably not pertinent, but have you looked at your LR lately? I once had a piece of LR in the old tank that developed a weird piece of LR. For whatever reason, nothing ever wanted to grow on it. The problem spread to the area around the rock, and seemed to "grow" a dead zone around it as time went by. I eventually removed the rock, and as I did....it split apart (out of the tank, thankfully), revealing a soft black core and a rather unpleasant smell.
This rock seemed fine when I first had it, and it took quite a few months for the problem to develop. To this day I have no idea what the hell was going on inside that one piece of LR, but it definitely was affecting tank chemistry while it was in the aquarium.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Interesting, nova.
Did it smell like rotten eggs? like hydrogen sulfide?

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/389014/expert-advice-needed-sand-swap-possible-old-tank-syndrome/20#post_3434838
Probably not pertinent, but have you looked at your LR lately? I once had a piece of LR in the old tank that developed a weird piece of LR. For whatever reason, nothing ever wanted to grow on it. The problem spread to the area around the rock, and seemed to "grow" a dead zone around it as time went by. I eventually removed the rock, and as I did....it split apart (out of the tank, thankfully), revealing a soft black core and a rather unpleasant smell.
This rock seemed fine when I first had it, and it took quite a few months for the problem to develop. To this day I have no idea what the hell was going on inside that one piece of LR, but it definitely was affecting tank chemistry while it was in the aquarium.
Good advice! I would never have thought to look at the LR.

 

[pinstripe]

some guy at a LFS told me a while back that you have to swap out LR ever 3 to 5 years, and I know that is total bull......but the LR thing you describe could be something. I have sold off pieces of my once successful reef numerous times, and have replaced with other pieces of LR to make up for the exports. I don't have that "one" piece of LR that is an obvious problem, but that's not to say that it isn't there. If that's the problem then man on man, what a chore it would be to find that one piece!
I am going to follow snakes suggested list, and pay more attention to the LR. I don't think this is going to be an easy fix. I can't tell you why I feel that way, I just see this all ending badly.
BUT.....going to force myself to remain optimistic....thanks for the thought!

 

[slice]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/389014/expert-advice-needed-sand-swap-possible-old-tank-syndrome/20#post_3434829
The question of whether old tank syndrome actually exists... it all depends. The other day, Spanko posted a link to a guy who just celebrated his tank's 40th birthday. You be the judge...
PaulB, the guy with the 40 year old tank, regularly brings in all grades of critters and stuff straight from the ocean. His biodiversity is amended on a near weekly basis. He has said many times that, in his opinion, a clean tank is an unhealthy tank (with regards to biodiversity).
Failed to mention this in Spanko's thread, but my favorite quote from PaulB's threads is when he was asked "What can I do to have a tank last 40 years?"
Paul said "Well first, you have to live long enough!"
From my readings, I tend to believe in "Old Tank Syndrome". Keeping the same set of microorganisms in a closed biotope for years can lead to the same inability to respond to changes as generations of incest in higher organisms can. Gotta mix up that gene pool once in a while. I am considering adding a small amount of "Grunge" to my system soon, just to shake things up.

 

[kiefers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///t/389014/expert-advice-needed-sand-swap-possible-old-tank-syndrome/20#post_3434904
PaulB, the guy with the 40 year old tank, regularly brings in all grades of critters and stuff straight from the ocean. His biodiversity is amended on a near weekly basis. He has said many times that, in his opinion, a clean tank is an unhealthy tank (with regards to biodiversity).
Failed to mention this in Spanko's thread, but my favorite quote from PaulB's threads is when he was asked "What can I do to have a tank last 40 years?"
Paul said "Well first, you have to live long enough!"
From my readings, I tend to believe in "Old Tank Syndrome". Keeping the same set of microorganisms in a closed biotope for years can lead to the same inability to respond to changes as generations of incest in higher organisms can. Gotta mix up that gene pool once in a while. I am considering adding a small amount of "Grunge" to my system soon, just to shake things up.
+1.
When we go to the coast we bring back different things from the beach. The purple macro I have is from there and it housed alot of different types of critters, sand, rock, macro.
one must use caution though, you have to really look at what you have as it could cause some unwanted problems.
Pauls thread is pretty cool indeed.