Big water change

[shred5]

You're much better to do a 10% water change 2-3 times per week. If you have a problem, you can do a 10% change twice a day until it clears up. Maybe 3 times a day. It's much better to do smaller changes and make the chemistry changes much more slowly. Plus, with a smaller change, you can change easier, as the water will only lower the level in your sump, so you can more easily just remove water and add the new water to your sump.

I agree far less stressfull especially with the water being brown. Also I think you need to find out what this brown color is because it will come back. Reef water is not normally brown so I beleive something is leeching in your water and at a decent pace if you are running carbon and it doesnt keep up. A water change will just be a waist of time.

 

[kschweer]

I can't for the life of me figure out what is going on. I'm really starting to get frustrated. I have tried everything I can think of. Water changes, carbon, changing carbon, even more carbon, cleaned the plumbing, flocculent. I'm at a loss here. All tests are normal. The last thing I can think of is the egg crate that I am using for the frags. I have heard some stories about it leaching things into the water. I think I am going to remove it after work today. If anyone has any more ideas please let me know I am open to anything at this point.

 

[shred5]

If its brown you have to look towards rust and may need to check your pumps. What pumps or skimmer do you use? Eggcrate can leach phosphate but should not change the water color. What color eggcrate?

 

[kschweer]

I have a mag 5 for my return that's only about 8 months old. And I have a reef octopus skimmer. And a brand new maxijet 1200 for my reactor.

 

[kschweer]

How can I tell if one of these pumps is rusted?

 

[shred5]

How can I tell if one of these pumps is rusted?

Some pumps the backs pop off as did with mine. Sometimes just pull the pump out and let the water drain out of it and see if the water comming out is brown.

 

[kschweer]

So I went through all the pumps and no rust. My last thought is a diatom bloom. What do you guys think? If so what can I do?

 

[UCedumacasion]

is there any wood anywhere close to open water? in a manner that would be able to leach into the water. I had a canopy that wasn't sealed and somehow ended up leaching into the tank and turning the water a light caramel color once upon a time...

BTW I do a 15 gallon water change on my 40r (usually) weekly and my SPS gets crazy happy and the tank looks a lot better every time after. That's over 30%, especially when you count displacement

 

[kschweer]

there is wood but its all sealed and not very close to the water

 

[kschweer]

heres what it looks like. getting a little better but very little.

 

[kschweer]

Anyone have an idea from the pictures?

 

[Giancarlo]

Maybe a pic of your sump might help, so we can see what else is going on in your system.