Help Green Water!!!

[CISavage]

I am new to saltwater. I set up my tank in December. Everything has been going well until now. My water and glass have turned green overnight. I had a huge number of copepods (at least I think that is what they are) show up and then the next day the water was green. I have checked ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph, calcium, phospates, kh. There doesn't seem to be anything out of whack. I have a 60 gallon with about 60 lbs live rock a Remora C Skimmer and a Fluval Canister. I can't really set up a fuge because my power is really unreliable. I swear it goes out once a week and I am terrified of dumping my tank on the floor. Any suggestions?

[CISavage]

Some of the readings are a little difficult since the water is so green but here goes...

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 0-5 really hard to tell with the green water
PH 8.1
Calcium 400
KH 16 I know this seems high

I am religious on my water changes since I don't have sump/fuge. My zoanthids have closed. Not sure if this is because the water or because I have the lights off now. My larger polyps are open. Fish seem to be breathing fine. I wonder if I need more water flow?

[TimH07]

how old is the tank, how often do you water change?

[Doodaa]

Do you have any macroalgae such as caulerpa?

[CISavage]

The tank has been running since Christmas with no problems. I do about 15% water change every week. I just recently (2 weeks ago) added some Chaeto. It was just a small handfull that I got from someone.

[TimH07]

maybe im wrong but perhaps bi-weekly water changes might be better?

[Seige]

Not sure why you can't set up a fuge. Power (or lack of) shouldn't be a major issue.

[CISavage]

Isn't it true that if my power goes out and then comes back on my overflow would have lost suction and my pump will pump all the sump water into my tank? Is there a way to avoid this? It is a little too late to drill my tank.

My water is looking MUCH better today. I cleaned my skimmer set it to skim really heavy. I wonder if it was a skimmer problem. My fish look happy to see me again. I will just have to wait to see if my zoanthids open back up.

[Seige]

Depends on your overflow. Some overflows are built to maintain suction even if the water level drops or power is out.

Also depending how your sumps built the return section should limit the amount of water that can be pumped up to the main tank.

[TimH07]

you should put a float switch in your sump to turn off your return pump if that happens, that way the power will go off on the pump and your suction will have stopped so its just waiting for you to get it going again

[Seige]

Link to some overflows that maintain suction
CPR AQUATIC, INC - CS Overflows

[TimH07]

Link to some overflows that maintain suction
CPR AQUATIC, INC - CS Overflows

his point was if the power goes off, then back on... if you lose power you dont want to maintain siphon unless you want to drain your tank. than with no sipon the pump would drain the sump, the 2 best ideas are have your return chambered in the sump, and have it on a kill switch if no water is present. (float switch is a good idea because it can come back on if water returns to it)

[Seige]

maintaining the syphon doesn't drain the tank. Tank can only go down to the overflow level, at that point it stops draining. The syphon is maintained within the overflow unit but stops syphoning by design. Then when power goes back on the pump starts and the tank starts filling causing water to go into the overflow and syphoning. Nobody has to even be there. It's all automatic.

you have to have the right overflow design though. old designs won't maintain syphon.

[TimH07]

maintaining the syphon doesn't drain the tank. Tank can only go down to the overflow level, at that point it stops draining. The syphon is maintained within the overflow unit but stops syphoning by design. Then when power goes back on the pump starts and the tank starts filling causing water to go into the overflow and syphoning. Nobody has to even be there. It's all automatic.

you have to have the right overflow design though. old designs won't maintain syphon.

dont want to argue on here, but i'd like to point out that once a siphon stops, in your statement thats when it goes below the overflow level, it cannot be restarted other than manualy. an overflow will not automaticly start siphoning the tank after it stops, like in the case of a power outtage.

hence the point of the post, once that siphon stops... how do you avoid the return pump from draining the sump, and i've answered that i believe.

[bschuerman]

Reduce your lighting, do some water changes and just let it keep doing its thing. Also make sure you have a decent amount of current. The green water sounds like the beginnings of an algae bloom. Check your phosphate levels and reduce feeding if possible. You might even turn the lights off on the tank for a day or two and do 20% water changes.

[Doodaa]

I wonder if it was a skimmer problem. My fish look happy to see me again.

Your skimmer will take out organics but not so much chemicals. I'd recommend what Bschuerman suggested and test your phosphates. If they are high, use some GFO (Granular Ferric Oxide) to reduce them.

What is your water source? Are you using tap water? If so, stop it and use De-ionized water. If that's not available to you, use reverse osmosis water which is available at most grocery stores and Walmart as drinking water machines. Tap water is a very good source for not only phosphates and nitrates, but other harmful metals and chemicals.

[metalhead]

dont want to argue on here, but i'd like to point out that once a siphon stops, in your statement thats when it goes below the overflow level, it cannot be restarted other than manualy. an overflow will not automaticly start siphoning the tank after it stops, like in the case of a power outtage.

hence the point of the post, once that siphon stops... how do you avoid the return pump from draining the sump, and i've answered that i believe.

Wrong! Don't know what kind of overflow you're using but mine will hold siphon indefinitely.

[Seige]

dont want to argue on here, but i'd like to point out that once a siphon stops, in your statement thats when it goes below the overflow level, it cannot be restarted other than manualy. an overflow will not automaticly start siphoning the tank after it stops, like in the case of a power outtage.

hence the point of the post, once that siphon stops... how do you avoid the return pump from draining the sump, and i've answered that i believe.

Not arguing. Just trying to clarify misconceptions.

Your not up to date on overflow design. I spent hours reading up on overflow design from the 1st DIY box to current designs. Newer models maintain syphon during a power outage and auto-restart.

Check it out... 1st bullet on the right...
prefilter box, siphon box, overflow box, siphon overflow, Eurobrace, Euro-brace, Euro-tank
AUTO-RESTART when power resumes, always 100%.

[charlie]

Wrong! Don't know what kind of overflow you're using but mine will hold siphon indefinitely.

Must be using a CPR with an Aqua Lifter pump. That is what I use on my 80 and the refugium on my 300, and yes, they will maintain the siphon when the power comes back on. They are a trusty little piece of equipment!!!!

[TimH07]

i stand corrected, ive not seen those that auto restart.