bleeching after adding much larger sump...

[paulchiasson]

I just switched from a 40 gal sump to a 100 gal for my 180 gal tank. I'm guessing adding 100 gals of new water is causing my bleeching problems. Currently my gold acro and almost all of my blue mushrooms are loosing color. Anyone have the same problem? thanks for the help.

[Minh Nguyen]

paulchiasson,
It is not because of the new water volume. I have change 50% of the water without problem. What you did was similar to a 40 % water change. It is something else.
Did you match the temperature, salinity?
Was the new sump clean? Possible contamination?
Was there DSB in the sump/refugium and there was disturbance of this sand bed?
Was the circulation lost for a long duration of time when you remove and replace the sump with the larger, newer one?
There are other cause of the stress to the coral, and it is not because the new water volume.
Minh

[Ninong]

I just switched from a 40 gal sump to a 100 gal for my 180 gal tank. I'm guessing adding 100 gals of new water is causing my bleeching problems. Currently my gold acro and almost all of my blue mushrooms are loosing color. Anyone have the same problem? thanks for the help.

What brand of salt mix did you use and how long did you wait after mixing it before you added it?

[paulchiasson]

What brand of salt mix did you use and how long did you wait after mixing it before you added it?

Thanks for the replies, As far as the salinity and temp go they were very close to the tank. The sand bed was removed from a 15 gal refugium and then re-added to a new 40 gal refugium and the internal pumps were left on during the process.

I used Crystal Sea marine mix and waited around 12 hours. I never used this brand before but my local guy said it was the best. Not sure I agree now.

The strange thing is that its only one acro and blue mushrooms? I'm wondering if the color will eventually return (especially to my very large and once beautiful acro!!)

Thanks. Great site BTW.

[Ninong]

Thanks for the replies, As far as the salinity and temp go they were very close to the tank. The sand bed was removed from a 15 gal refugium and then re-added to a new 40 gal refugium and the internal pumps were left on during the process.

I used Crystal Sea marine mix and waited around 12 hours. I never used this brand before but my local guy said it was the best. Not sure I agree now.

The strange thing is that its only one acro and blue mushrooms? I'm wondering if the color will eventually return (especially to my very large and once beautiful acro!!)

Thanks. Great site BTW.

I use Crystal Sea Marinemix Bioassay Formula but I always wait at least three days before using it. My next question is "Were you using another brand of salt mix prior to using Crystal Sea?" The reason I ask is because there is an EXTREMELY lengthy thread on another board right now that recounts problems that several hobbyists experienced when SWITCHING from another brand of salt mix to Crystal Sea.

So now the question is exactly what brand of salt mix did you use before you switched to Crystal Sea?

[Minh Nguyen]

Thanks for the replies, As far as the salinity and temp go they were very close to the tank. The sand bed was removed from a 15 gal refugium and then re-added to a new 40 gal refugium and the internal pumps were left on during the process.

I used Crystal Sea marine mix and waited around 12 hours. I never used this brand before but my local guy said it was the best. Not sure I agree now.

The strange thing is that its only one acro and blue mushrooms? I'm wondering if the color will eventually return (especially to my very large and once beautiful acro!!)

Thanks. Great site BTW.

It is possible that removing and re-adding the sand bed in your system is the stressor to your system. Wholesale disturbances of a DSB can be disastrous to a tank. I never recommend adding a significant amount of live sand to a functioning tank. It can stress or kill corals. From what you told us, I think this is the most likely cause.
Bleached corals and mushrooms will regain their color unless they die of starvation first. You can try to feed them because they will not have the energy from the zooxanthellae like normal. If only two animals bleached, your stressor is relatively minor. They should be fine and will recover within several days to a few weeks. Good luck.
Minh

[paulchiasson]

It is possible that removing and re-adding the sand bed in your system is the stressor to your system. Wholesale disturbances of a DSB can be disastrous to a tank. I never recommend adding a significant amount of live sand to a functioning tank. It can stress or kill corals. From what you told us, I think this is the most likely cause.
Bleached corals and mushrooms will regain their color unless they die of starvation first. You can try to feed them because they will not have the energy from the zooxanthellae like normal. If only two animals bleached, your stressor is relatively minor. They should be fine and will recover within several days to a few weeks. Good luck.
Minh

I used Insant Ocean prior to this change. I guess I was more worried about it happening to the entire tank, but over the last few days it doesn't seem to be getting worse. I also resently switched all my bulbs which probably didn't help matters.

I'm very interested in what brands of salt you guys use?

While I'm picking your brains... I'm in the market for a new skimmer that can handle roughly 300 gals. There is alot of opinions on this site on which is best!!
Thanks again.

[Ninong]

I use Crystal Sea Marinemix Bioassay Formula salt mix and that is the only salt mix I have used in my tank. HOWEVER, you should be AWARE that several people have reported bleaching problems when SWITCHING from Instant Ocean to Crystal Sea. This has been a very hot topic on Reef Central for the past couple of months now. It is still a complete mystery why these people experienced problems and others did not.

[paulchiasson]

I use Crystal Sea Marinemix Bioassay Formula salt mix and that is the only salt mix I have used in my tank. HOWEVER, you should be AWARE that several people have reported bleaching problems when SWITCHING from Instant Ocean to Crystal Sea. This has been a very hot topic on Reef Central for the past couple of months now. It is still a complete mystery why these people experienced problems and others did not.

Sounds like that might be the problem!! I guess that's why these sites are so important to the hobby.

[Minh Nguyen]

....
I'm very interested in what brands of salt you guys use?

I use Instant Ocean.

I'm in the market for a new skimmer that can handle roughly 300 gals. There is alot of opinions on this site on which is best!!
Thanks again.

There are so amny good skimmer in the market. I use a Bullet XL2 from Precision Marine. It works great but not the cheapest one around. The workmanship is second to none.
Minh

[o2manyfish]

I have been using Coralife Sea Salt for years -- Cause it's much more convenient to carry the buckets. I have also used Tropic Marin without any ill effects.

As for the skimmer. Depends on your taste and system. I use a very small skimmer on my system, but with all the live rock in my system, and the age of everything, I have skimmed very very little for the last several years.

Dave B

[Skripo]

I recently researched skimmers and after reading many professional reviews I have objectively concluded that the Aerofoamer is simply the best. The only problem is that it cost $600.00.

I recently saw a clone of the skimmer that had some nice improvements. The main improvement was the replacement of the flanging system wit a 1'4 turn system. Not only was it more attractive, it had a bigger cup that extended all the way down.

The price was also a nice surprise, only $400.00. I will try and post some pictures when I get mine.