HELP!!!!!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946552

 

I second the algae scrubber
I had a similar issue to yours about 4 months ago. I built an algae scrubber and it eliminated all the hair algae in abou 3 weeks, cyano took a bit longer. Manual removal of the dieing algae is key in my opinion, it seemed in my case the dieing algae in the display tank was providing fuel for cyano.

 

When did your corals take a turn for the worse? Can you tie it to a specific time frame such as when you started having algae off and on, started using RO/DI, something else?

It seems like there is a lot of focus on algae as the cause. When I read your OP, I got the sense that you had algae off and on and that led you to begin using RO/DI instead of tap water. At some point your corals started retracting/dying, but it's not clear when.

Don't do this now...but, when you did your first large water change with RO/DI, did you happen to check water chemistry on both the old tank water and the new mix you were adding? If so, were there any differences? Alkalinity?

 

has your ph levels changed since switching water sources?

 

In their initial post it was stated that after they started a new batch of phosguard that the corals took a turn for the worst. I mentioned that maybe removing the phosguard would be a good start especially if that was the last thing done before the corals went ape s&;$;$.. I dunno

 

First I would like too see the actual numbers from the tests. too say your water is pristine is cool but too see the actual numbers may sow something completely different. Also you have to be careful when using a gfo as it will drop your alk. I am going to go out on a limb and say your troubles are most likely from using the tap water to begin with. It has been my experience that using a water that is high in tds will wipe out a tank quickly. You also mentioned you are feeding phyto for your sps. I would stop that as phyto is more for feeding your pods and other inverts not sps. After you get your tank turned around try oyster feast for that
I would also stop spot feeding. Most corals do not need it and if you are new to it can lead to over feeding
Oh also are you rinsing your Mysis? it is high in po4 if you do not and one of the many reasons I only use foods like Rods Food as it is PO4 free.

 

If they had been using GFO the entire life of the tank, and simply changed the media. Assuming they are using the correct amount, then I feel that it was simply a coincidence that corresponded with the blow up happening right now. Not saying its not a concern, we just need some more info to put the whole picture together

 

Keep us updated Stacey.

 

I had the same issue 4 months ago. For my first 3 years all I used was tap water but I do live in the country so I guess it was better than city. Everything was checking out ok so I tried the phosguard and put it in a sock in my sump. I feel the issue might be in the rock. Try a turkey baster and clean out the rock. While the water might test ok stuff can get trapped in the rock. I also removed some by hand. After a week of doing this I noticed a big change.