I think my tank is crashing after 20 months!!!!!

bluephi115

bluephi115

Member
I have been gone for almost two weeks on business so my wife has been taking care of my aquarium, feeding only every other days, running lights from 8 am to 10 pm. I have been asking her how everything looks and she said great. I get home last night and I was shocked to see it looks NOTHING like it did when I left. There has been an amazing amount of greenish think algae EVERYWHERE. One blenny has fin rot very bad, three small yellow tail damsles look ok, bi-color blenny is no where to be found and my small kole tank has white spots (not ick) and looks like a slight film on him. Everything else is acting normal, a couple starfish, crabs, hermits, snails etc...
I checked water last night and everythign is perfect. I have a 75 gallon with about 80 lbs of algae covered live rock.
What would be causing the insane amount of the algae bloom???
What can I do to get rid of it....nothing is eating it? Can I wash it off???
I only have one high output strip light, no uv, is that the problem?
What could have caused these white spot, film and fin rot?
I dont know what to do. Ive never been happy with my aqaurium due to these kinds of thigns happening and I think if everything doesnt recover I am selling it ALL! $3000 down the drain!
 
tigger7652

tigger7652

New Member
Did she do a water change during the time you were away? I have been through issues with my tanks and thought about dumping them but I dig around and get help with what to try next and the tank clears up and looks good again. Did you wife overfeed? (not intentionaly of course) Did your fish just miss you? Hope to hear what others have to say.
 
hatessushi

hatessushi

Active Member
I would hardly assume that the tank is crashing because of an algea outbreak. Was the topoff water used while you were gone from the tap?
 
tigger7652

tigger7652

New Member
Did she do a water change during the time you were away? I have been through issues with my tanks and thought about dumping them but I dig around and get help with what to try next and the tank clears up and looks good again. Did you wife overfeed? (not intentionaly of course) Did your fish just miss you? Hope to hear what others have to say.
 
bluephi115

bluephi115

Member
let me exaplin this ONE more time...NO my wife did NOTHING while I was gone except feed every other day.........................
 
michaeltx

michaeltx

Moderator
what were your test results once you got back I do agree however that its not crashing but there is probably an imbalance there for some reason.
you said that she didnt do anything but do you have an auto-topoff system or was there a swing in the salinity while you were gone due to evaporation?
mike
 
barchtruong

barchtruong

Member
So.....you mean your tank never had anything go wrong (or seriously wrong like now) up until you were gone for 2 weeks and it happened?
If your tank don't look right, then your tank paremeter is not "all perfect".
A tank didn't get clean every other day for to weeks on glass surface will look really crappy.
I suggest you to go back and carefully track down every single test.
Did your skimmer work during those 2 weeks?
 
snookedsteve

snookedsteve

Member
I feel your frustration. I have been through the same thing. Algae is caused only by a few things. High nitrates, poor flow, too much light, over feeding, Phosphates. What were your parameters when you tested them? There is quite a learning curve with this hobby. I have wasted wuite a bit of money but I love my tank so I haven't given up. I have though about it MANY times. The last time I had a severe outbreak I had to remove my LR and scrubed the algae off with a new brush. I did about a 30% water change and then bought a good cleaning crew. I have not had any problems since. How often do you do water changes?
 
wwfstyle

wwfstyle

Member
How much food was your wife feeding them? Does she feed them when you are home? Maybe an overdose of food? Algae is grown from phos. right? If it is that bad it has to be from the food I would think. Also is your tank lights on a timer? If not maybe she left them on a few nights not thinking about it.
 
wwfstyle

wwfstyle

Member
I was also thinking did you purchase new lights before you left? What kind of lights do you have? My lights are on a much shorter schedule then yours. My VHO on 12 hrs and my MH on for about 8 hrs. Plus I only feed my tank every 4 to 5 days. Something you may want to consider as well.
 
barchtruong

barchtruong

Member
WWFstyle>>>>>>>>>>8hrs on MH is already way too much.
Quote, "Metal halide lights do all they are meant to do within 4-6hours, longer periods adding mostly heat; to provide additional hours of lights, use supplemental standard, VHO, or HO fluorescent fixtures." from Marine Reef Aquariums Handbook
I set my MH for only 4hrs with 12hrs on C.Fluores. and all my corals are happy.
 
wwfstyle

wwfstyle

Member
learning something new every day thats why I love this hobby, even tho it does cost a bit so try not to mess up lol.
 
bluephi115

bluephi115

Member
thanks everyone. i dont have an auto topper and have never in almost two years topped off the aquarium unless i am changing out water every 2-3 weeks.
i have a feeling my wife left the lights on a few extra hours.
sorry there is NO way for me to get water unless I mix it myself...i live 100 miles away from the closest place that sells ro/di water. i assume that is why they sale chemicals and instant ocean.
i honestly hate this hobby. i thought it would be so amazing and had no clue what a money pit it would turn into.
my skimmer was pretty filled when i got back and the sponge/filter was disgusting. ive never checked phosphates???
 
barola87

barola87

Member
maybe your wife just tryed to kill your fish cause you waste to much money on them and not her so she took advantage while you were gone.sorry but my wife did the same at one time so u know women think alike..
 
wwfstyle

wwfstyle

Member
My wife did some damage one time but not one purpuse. So I showed her how hard it is to keep a tank going and then I took her to the oregon coast aquarium and showed her what I whould like to accomplish. Now I think we are on the same track now I just have to have her stop buying things before researching them first LOL. I think we just have to show our significant (sp?) others on what we are trying to do and bring to our homes.
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
If you hate this hobby then you just need to sell all your stuff and walk away. Life's to short to make yourself that frustrated. When you love something, even though it takes a lot of work, it never really seams like work, at least not the way you are describing it. So sorry you had such a bad experience.
I do have one question. When was the last time you checked your salinity? If you have never topped off with freshwater, I'm curious to know what it is. Just a thought.
 
gmidd

gmidd

Member
If you love fish... considering your location, maybe you can get into freshwater, no need to stress over something. Otherwise make a trip and stock up on a shight load of RO water.
 
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