Please help- sorry, long post.

[javajoe]

Tank is not doing so hot all of a sudden. All my levels have been fine, except phosphates a little high (between .1 and .2). I have had LOT of algae on my rocks, and at the recomendation of my LFS used a toothbrush to brush a lot of it off, (it was covering the coraline algae). I also did a 5 gallon water change last night (ammonia test showed a trace- was not completely yellow a tiny hint of green), and added some kent phosphate sponge in order to lower the phosphate level. This was left in for 12 hrs, and the phosphate went UP to between .2 and .3! (i tested this on lunch- did not have time to do any other tests). Also- my emerald crab was found dead at lunch as well- not sure if he was dead last night or not- have not seen him in a few days.
When i get home tonight (will not be untill 10pm or so) i am going to do more testing and post the results, but just wanting to ask for advice.
THis all started with us trying to get rid of aglae--- is brushing it off a bad idea? I was a little concered about it all floating in the tank, and almost scrapped it outside the tank. would that have been better?
Our tank is looking really bad- the cycel had completed, but i am worried that it is cycling again. what should i do?
(i will post complete test results later tonight)
55 gallon Tank consists of:
DSB 5 inches
55 pounds LR
15 turbo and astria snails
2 brittle stars
5 scarlet hermits
1 sally lightfoot
1 blue leg hermit
2 Percula clowns
1 Royal gramma
1 Scooter blenny
1 Lawn mower blenny (just bought him 3 days ago)
1 single mushroom on a piece of LR.
(and of course the emerald crab that died - he was BIG about 2 inches across)
Lighting--- 2 x 40 watt NO (actinic and 20,000k daylight)
JUST added 2 x 110 Watt VHO actinic and daylight (UFI? bulbs- going from memory here- the ones with the internal reflectors)
Temp at 79 degrees
Salinity mantained at 1.022-1.024

 

[kelly]

JavaJoe,
I personally would not have scrubbed the rock in the tank. Have you checked your water for phosphates before adding the salt? Something may have changed there. First you need to find out what is causing the rise in phosphates... I do not think your tank is cycling again, unless the ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites are on the rise.
I wish you the best of luck, and hope you find out what is going on, and get it under control.

 

[javajoe]

I have not chekced phosphate level before adding water-- using DI water and distilled... i am using coralife salt.

 

[kris walker]

From what I understand, it is best to remove the algae once it is scraped or rubbed off. As I understand it, phosphates are stored in the algae material. So when algae dies after it is rubbed off, the phosphate that it used to grow returns to the water column. This is where a box filter comes in handy, collecting the tiny bits of rubbed-off algae that are impossible to collect by hand. Of course, you need to clean the filter pads right after a severe algae rubbin. That's the downside. Good luck JavaJoe!
sam

 

[broomer5]

How long has your tank been set up ?
The emerald crab could have died a few days ago and may be the source of ammonia.
The new lights are most likely adding to your increase in algae.
By brushing off the green algae on the rock "inside" your tank, you basically just released it back into your system - could be reason a rise in phosphates.
It sounds as if you have a recently set up tank. Is this so ?
If so - you sure have a lot of animals there.
Wish you luck

 

[q]

I would check to see if something is dead or there is another problem in the tank.
The phosphates could have gone up because the algea was no longer there to consume it.
The emerald might have died because of the poop water quality which is my guess.
You can get an algea bloom from upgrading lights as photosynthesis is increased. Especially by 4X.
Have you added anything else lately?
Try cutting back your lights and reducing feeding until things get back under control.

 

[von_rahvin]

how long has the tank been set up?? from what you typed it sounded like the tank has only been up for a small bit of time. Are you using a skimmer to remove stuff out of the water? What kind of filtration are you using on it??
Did you switch brands of salt? My father's tank just went through a catastrophic loss. He was force to switch brands of salt. when he did his water change he lost just about everything in the tank. his tank has been setup and running for 5 years and it went into meltdown. All the readings went off the page in a matter of hours.

 

[ky]

I got into a discussion with someone last week about this, but serious research has led me to believe that this is the best way to prevent your problem. There are millions of algae spores cycling through your tank. A UV steralizer kills greater then 99% of them. This prevents any spread of the algae. Also, a sump (I use an ecosystem) with macro algae competes for the nutrients needed by the nuisance algae. I have three reef tanks, the biggest being 120 gallons. On that one, I change 10 gallons every other week, my nitrates are less then 1, and my phosphates are 0. My inverts grow usually to the point of needing to trim them back. I have over $15,000.00 invested in my three tanks and have never had anything die and have never been over-run by algae. I have found that the important things are: Maintain a proper Ca and Ka, add the proper nutrients and food (I only use DT's phytoplankton), have a good sump (I use ecosystem on each tank), use RO water, use a UV steralizer, don't over-feed, use a Calcium supplement that is easily bio-available, use the proper lighting for the proper amount of time, and most importantly, rely on reliable research, not something that your next door neighbors brother told you. So, if I was in your shoes, I would add a UV steralizer ($125.00) and a good sump ($100.00 - $400.00).

 

[javajoe]

Ok- got home, tested the water and things seem better. I did forget to mention that yes, I am using a skimmer to get all the junk after i srcubbed the alge off the rocks- had to dump it out about 4 times over the last 2 days. (using the Red sea prizm hangon skimmer).
Anyway- here are the test results:
Ph- 8.4
Alk 3.2
Nitrate- 0
Nitrite- 0
Ammonia- 0
Calcium 500 ppm
phosphates- .05
Salinity 1.023
Temp 79 degree f.
So- all seems ok, but still a lot of algae... LFS suggested more snails, maybe some more hermits, and just reduce lighting for while by a few hours a day.
Tank has been set up since november- cycled very quickly as i used DI water and LS/LR. all levels have been fine since. The phosphate sponge does seem to have taken care of the phosphate problem.
As for the algae- it isn't quite so bad, i am just hoping it goes away soon! Probably will add some more snails.
One other problem-- i cannot find my Scooter blenny ANYWHERE! I did not see him today at all, and just spent the last 1/2 hr moveing rocks trying to locate him. He was only about an inch long- could he have died and been eaten allready? seems like i would at least be able to find his body if he was dead.... if he is dead, i want to make sure to remove him ASAP to avoid my ammonia going up.....
Anyway- thanks all for the help....

 

[javajoe]

Good news--- I found my scooter blenny.... i ave NO idea where he weas hiding, but he is swimming all over this morning, working at the sand.... he ust have gone into hiding during the "storm"