sterilizers need to be tuned to–meaning that the water and the wattage need to work together in the water flow past the bulb. too much water, no kills, too slow, uv kills everything.
lid’s been off for a while now. I didn’t realize all the issues having a lid can cause, like the fluctuations in pH and stuff, so I did away with it. I’m not sure what K the lights are. I’m actually on travel this week, but I have a feeling that had something to do with the start of the issue. Only thing is, if that were the case, wouldn’t the fact that I’ve had the lights off for two weeks now have solved the issue? Then again, I still have that small light on the fuge but I didn’t turn that on until after I had the main lights off for a week. I had the same lighting set up for over six months without issue when this happened.
as for the UV sterilizer, mine has no way of adjusting flow, but I was under the impression that only about 1% of helpful bacteria and micro organisms is in the water column and all the rest is in the sand and live rock, in which case I rather have too much flow than not enough. I don’t know if this is true though.
It needs light to grow, so even though you had the lights off it’s getting enough ambient light to grow and that may be your issue, do you have a floor lamp or table lamp close to the tank ?
We have to be missing something here. I have crazy sun on my tank. I think theres another issue causing the dirty water. I would think skimming and carbon should clear this up. Changing the carbon weekly. While decreasing light helps. What happens if keeping it dark clears it up then you turn the light back on? I would make sure there is good flow use carbon efficiently (not a bag in the sump). And water changes.
Yea Dunk, strange isnt it? theres not enough of anything to support an algae bloom like he is having, u/v running, no light, makes one think its not algae. Unless there is high organics breaking down and the algae is consuming it as fast as its made but after running thru a bucket of salt one has to wonder.
I think his wife doesnt like the tank and has been putting food coloring into it while hes away lol…
carbon should take care of that though…if it is just color.
Yeah it’s weird. This problem seems easy to fix. But obviously isn’t. What area are you in?
Im in Stanton, not sure where alex is from, yea someone needs to go take a look first hand and see what the heck.
It’s possible that since you were running your system for 6 months already, perhaps your bulbs went bad. They fade into undesired spectrums over time, maybe you just have some bad bulbs.
I would suggest you take a sample of your water to a local university’s biological department, maybe they’ll be able to determine what type of algae you are dealing with. Knowing exactly what you are battling may help you solving your problem . . .
I used a “grow” lamp over my 'fuge at first, but noticed minimal macroalgae growth and higher growth in microalgae. I switched to a small powercompact lighting system with a spectrum close to that of my DT. The results in changing the lighting were noticeable, even on a 10gal fuge. Small refugiums have minimal impact on small systems (both from what I’ve been reading on the forums, and from first hand experience). In order for the 'fuge to be truely effective it has to be a pretty substantial setup with the proper flow, critters, macroalgae, lighting, and substrate.
I’m located in south philly. It’s definitely possible that the woman is sabotaging the tank. sometimes i think she enjoys seeing me suffer.
I didn’t think of the bulbs fading. That makes sense also. I did buy more live sand too. I’ve been told both sides that I should and shouldn’t have substrate in the fuge. Should I add some? I’m also hoping that when I do finally find someone that’ll sell me about 30 lbs of rock that’ll help with the filtration.
Unfortunately there are 2 very opposing view on how to handle substrate in the refugium. I can only tell you that I have a plenum in my 10 gallon, w/ a full CUC and power compact lighting. I did this to gain the slight advantage of the plenum, without endangering my tank in case the plenum goes sour and starts producing H2S (I can simply disconnect the refugium if this happens and address the issue without affecting the DT). It’s lit opposing my DT’s lighting. I pump water into the 'fuge from my sump, and it returns to the sump via a drilled overflow. Separating my 'fuge from the sump in this manner enables me to have a relatively high flow rate through the sump, while maintaining a necessary slower flow rate through my 'fuge (for the type of macro I’m using).
I might mention, I have a 20gal sump under my DT, and I have my 10gal refugium on a table next to my DT. I think they both look pretty. lol
You should design your refugium in such a manner that pleases you, and in a way that you feel will be beneficial to your tank. There is plenty of reading material available to aid in your decision, it really comes down to what will make you happy. That’s what this is all about, right? Hobby first, PITA second . . . lol
BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ya know, I had three or four very successful freshwater tanks for about thirteen years before i made the switch and all i can say is this…
DAMN YOU SALTWATER FOR BEING SO MUCH MORE AWESOME AND INTERESTING!!!
:-("
[quote=“alexzobi, post:51, topic:4800”]
BAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Ya know, I had three or four very successful freshwater tanks for about thirteen years before i made the switch and all i can say is this…
DAMN YOU SALTWATER FOR BEING SO MUCH MORE AWESOME AND INTERESTING!!!
:-("[/quote]
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Exciting news everyone. The tank finally has clear water again! PBJ!
There are two real reasons I believe this happened. I noticed the other day as the water had been slowly clearing up that there was something dark and mysterious lurking in my tank. At the same time I got that live rock, my former significant other’s (the “former” part being totally unrelated i swear) little brother decided to house a hermit crab from the sea in the tank. I didn’t think it would cause any real issues, as there are only three fish in there. Well, turns out he thought the tank also needed more decoration cus he tossed a small, flat piece of driftwood in. roughly 1" x 4" x 1/8". As soon as I spotted this, I pulled it out. Three days later, clean tank.
let it also be known that I put in 100 micron filter before the pump which has collected a lot of the algae, but from the appearance, removing the piece of driftwood definitely accelerated the process. Never ended up needing the UV sterilizer.
Moral of the story: Pay more attention when an 8 year old is around an uncovered tank. Lesson learned.
verdict_in
We need an “eye pinch” emoticon.
Congrats on cleaning up the tank, it was rattling alot of our brains.
YahoO
I’m glad you got it YahoO
just put this picture up when kids visit…
Yep, you have to treat bogwood/driftwood before you can use it in any aquarium. Take a look at the bogwood decor at DPA and it says how it is treated… I think… I looked it up years ago when I was going to do a huge driftwood center piece in a freshwater tank.
[quote=“saltcreep, post:55, topic:4800”]
just put this picture up when kids visit…[/quote]
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Kids and fish tanks are just a bad combination. Every kid that comes in my house gets the “Keep your filthy, dirty, disgusting hands out of my fish tank because there’s stuff in there that will KILL you” speech.
I had one come up not 15 minutes after getting to my house and getting the speech, shirt soaking wet, in tears, balling his eyes out, anemone tenticle marks on his forearm SWEARINIG he didn’t have his arm in the tank.
omg!
haha i wouldn’t have even felt bad. I would have been like, “tried to warn ya. they’re probably going to have to amputate now. hope you’re not a righty.” does that make me a jerk?