My Tank Health Update

**Minh Nguyen** · 04-24-2003, 11:52 PM

Chuck, Your tank have done well with the light set up you have now. This, IMO, would eliminate the posibility that light set up is the problem.
I would do large water change, up to 100%, to eliminate water quality as the problem, then try to get some current into your tank. Increase it to the level you have before. That means thin out your corals.
That would be what I do in your place,
Minh Nguyen

MtnDewMan · 04-25-2003, 12:41 AM

Minh,

I am confident the light didn't cause the problem, I am wondering if the light is keeping the coral from healing or is it so intense that is is just hurting an already stressed out coral. Many of my coral are just fine, others are not ... I definately plan on keeping the water changing ... Have not done anything severe yet, such as ballast changes. Just something I have been thinking about not only now but for a long time actually as when I look at my tank, and others in person with beautiful coral, mine seems much more intense ... just thinking outloud like I said.

**Minh Nguyen** · 04-25-2003, 08:17 AM

Having seen your tank in person, I agree that your corals are extremely colorful. Having seen one of my coral colors up in your tank, I think that the condition in your tank was very optimal for many SPS. I hope it will get there again soon. Your tank was the best SPS tank I have ever seen. Good luck.

Minh

BTW, You did not loose that coral did you? I lost mine because the Alkalinity and Ca dropped down to 200 when I went to Seattle that trip. I was both lucky and unlucky at the same time for loose only that one coral. The Ca demand of my tank was just huge. I have since replace the Ca reactor to another one. It is a home build 4-chambers reactor that can keep up with my tank Ca demand.

organicreefer · 04-25-2003, 09:50 PM

from what ive seen -you usually have a relatively high stocking load with fish.how old is youre tank now?a 75?perhaps its time to change out youre dsb -or better yet eliminate it altogether.in any case all of youre problems kinda sound nutrient related .from youre pics ive seen alot of bubble algea etc..just a thought and jmo-feel free to blow me off

organicreefer · 04-25-2003, 09:52 PM

what are youre phosphates looking like these days?

MtnDewMan · 04-25-2003, 10:04 PM

As I said in my first post, I am positive it is nutrient related ... I had been topping off with nutrient rich topoff water as well as thinking I nuked the sandbed in the process of my screwing around with the tank ... And my goal is to get it back running the way it was .... phosphates read nothing, but that doesn't mean anything, phosphates get used up very quickly ....

So bottom line is, I know it is higher in nutrients than it used to be, hence the reason I am trying to solve those problems. Not blowing you off, but already know that is part of the problem here.

Minh ... so far your purple piece is alive and doing well ... keep those fingers crossed

organicreefer · 04-25-2003, 10:51 PM

above and beyond youre ro filter problem i would still take a good long hard look at the dsb..and the whole philosophy in general.dsbs are nutrient sinks with a shallow bottom .the smaller the tank the higher the load -the quicker youll have problems....once its full itll start to overflow .good luck

you did also mention a reduction in the life in te dsb and a missing cuke etc?

anyway regardles of the amount of life -it just delays the inevitable.....

MtnDewMan · 04-25-2003, 11:17 PM

I guess I will re-iterate .... I KNOW I have dsb problems ... laugh ... but thanks for pounding it into my head once again

organicreefer · 04-25-2003, 11:51 PM

no, i dont think you get it -you dont have dsb problems-the dsb is the problem

thats what im trying to say anyway. good luck with youre problems-though i must admit i have a tough time feeling sorry for you-you still have one of the best looking tanks -even in the worst of times

organicreefer · 04-25-2003, 11:55 PM

see what im saying ?youre tank is what -i think ive read over a few years?with youre stocking in youre size tank-i would expect the dsb would be full of crap by now...regardless of the life in it -there or not ...

MtnDewMan · 04-25-2003, 11:57 PM

Thanks for the compliment ...

and yes, I get and got what you have been saying and I obviously didn't convey that to you well enough. I have read a lot about dsb's lately and how they can create havoc if they crash.

This tank with this particular sand bed is 1.5 years old by the way ... not a few years.

organicreefer · 04-25-2003, 11:59 PM

im in the process of removing my 1.5 year old dsb right now....

04-24-2003, 11:52 PM	#21
Minh Nguyen Contributing Member/Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 675	Chuck, Your tank have done well with the light set up you have now. This, IMO, would eliminate the posibility that light set up is the problem. I would do large water change, up to 100%, to eliminate water quality as the problem, then try to get some current into your tank. Increase it to the level you have before. That means thin out your corals. That would be what I do in your place, Minh Nguyen __________________ Minh Visit my tank at: http://berlinmethod.com/minhn/ http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2/aquarium.htm

04-25-2003, 12:41 AM	#22
MtnDewMan Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Mukilteo, WA Posts: 748	Minh, I am confident the light didn't cause the problem, I am wondering if the light is keeping the coral from healing or is it so intense that is is just hurting an already stressed out coral. Many of my coral are just fine, others are not ... I definately plan on keeping the water changing ... Have not done anything severe yet, such as ballast changes. Just something I have been thinking about not only now but for a long time actually as when I look at my tank, and others in person with beautiful coral, mine seems much more intense ... just thinking outloud like I said. __________________ MDM My Reef Tank Reef Frontiers

04-25-2003, 08:17 AM	#23
Minh Nguyen Contributing Member/Moderator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 675	Having seen your tank in person, I agree that your corals are extremely colorful. Having seen one of my coral colors up in your tank, I think that the condition in your tank was very optimal for many SPS. I hope it will get there again soon. Your tank was the best SPS tank I have ever seen. Good luck. Minh BTW, You did not loose that coral did you? I lost mine because the Alkalinity and Ca dropped down to 200 when I went to Seattle that trip. I was both lucky and unlucky at the same time for loose only that one coral. The Ca demand of my tank was just huge. I have since replace the Ca reactor to another one. It is a home build 4-chambers reactor that can keep up with my tank Ca demand. __________________ Minh Visit my tank at: http://berlinmethod.com/minhn/ http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...2/aquarium.htm

04-25-2003, 10:04 PM	#26
MtnDewMan Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Mukilteo, WA Posts: 748	As I said in my first post, I am positive it is nutrient related ... I had been topping off with nutrient rich topoff water as well as thinking I nuked the sandbed in the process of my screwing around with the tank ... And my goal is to get it back running the way it was .... phosphates read nothing, but that doesn't mean anything, phosphates get used up very quickly .... So bottom line is, I know it is higher in nutrients than it used to be, hence the reason I am trying to solve those problems. Not blowing you off, but already know that is part of the problem here. Minh ... so far your purple piece is alive and doing well ... keep those fingers crossed __________________ MDM My Reef Tank Reef Frontiers

04-25-2003, 10:51 PM	#27
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	above and beyond youre ro filter problem i would still take a good long hard look at the dsb..and the whole philosophy in general.dsbs are nutrient sinks with a shallow bottom .the smaller the tank the higher the load -the quicker youll have problems....once its full itll start to overflow .good luck you did also mention a reduction in the life in te dsb and a missing cuke etc? anyway regardles of the amount of life -it just delays the inevitable..... Last edited by organicreefer; 04-25-2003 at 10:54 PM.

04-25-2003, 09:50 PM	#24
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	from what ive seen -you usually have a relatively high stocking load with fish.how old is youre tank now?a 75?perhaps its time to change out youre dsb -or better yet eliminate it altogether.in any case all of youre problems kinda sound nutrient related .from youre pics ive seen alot of bubble algea etc..just a thought and jmo-feel free to blow me off

04-25-2003, 09:52 PM	#25
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	what are youre phosphates looking like these days?

04-25-2003, 11:17 PM	#28
MtnDewMan Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Mukilteo, WA Posts: 748	I guess I will re-iterate .... I KNOW I have dsb problems ... laugh ... but thanks for pounding it into my head once again __________________ MDM My Reef Tank Reef Frontiers

04-25-2003, 11:51 PM	#29
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	no, i dont think you get it -you dont have dsb problems-the dsb is the problem thats what im trying to say anyway. good luck with youre problems-though i must admit i have a tough time feeling sorry for you-you still have one of the best looking tanks -even in the worst of times

04-25-2003, 11:55 PM	#30
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	see what im saying ?youre tank is what -i think ive read over a few years?with youre stocking in youre size tank-i would expect the dsb would be full of crap by now...regardless of the life in it -there or not ...

04-25-2003, 11:57 PM	#31
MtnDewMan Mayor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Mukilteo, WA Posts: 748	Thanks for the compliment ... and yes, I get and got what you have been saying and I obviously didn't convey that to you well enough. I have read a lot about dsb's lately and how they can create havoc if they crash. This tank with this particular sand bed is 1.5 years old by the way ... not a few years. __________________ MDM My Reef Tank Reef Frontiers

04-25-2003, 11:59 PM	#32
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	im in the process of removing my 1.5 year old dsb right now....

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