Continuing Battle With Stagnation

[Clownfish_Boy]

Well, I am at a loss as to what is causing the water to stagnate in my fish-only tank. I have a 400 GPH Marineland HOB filter and two 400 GPH powerheads; still the water becomes stagnant..... shouldn't be any dead spots in the tank; the substrate (crushed coral is only like and inch deep or less.... Now making several 25% water changes to try and combat the stagnation; and adding a 300 GPH HOB filter.

 

[Aqua Man]

What do you mean by stagnant?

Are the power heads placed towards the top for surface agitation?

 

[redeyejedi]

How can the water be stagnant with water flow in the tank?

 

[homer1475]

How are you determining the water is stagnant? With surface agitation, and an intank PH, I don't think it's possible.

Low tide smell, sure. Just run some carbon to clear up the smell.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

to me stagnate water means its not moving, like no-flow area's. In that case you need more powerheads, not HOB's, and one of them should be pointed to the top to agitate the water surface.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

How are you determining the water is stagnant? With surface agitation, and an intank PH, I don't think it's possible.

Low tide smell, sure. Just run some carbon to clear up the smell.

It's not a low tide smell, it is a rotten egg smell from hydrogen sulfide. And it killed a Maroon Clownfish and a Coral Beauty Angelfish. I just don't understand it with all the flow i have and the good surface agitation....

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

to me stagnate water means its not moving, like no-flow area's. In that case you need more powerheads, not HOB's, and one of them should be pointed to the top to agitate the water surface.

Maybe I need to lower my powerheads to get more flow down deep.

 

[saltybees]

What water are you using for water changes? did you try carbon like mentioned on your other thread about the “stagnation”? carbon will help remove any toxic smells, and some contaminants, throw a couple tablespoons of it in a baggy in your HOBs and see if that helps with the smell. Can you post your basic parameters? Ei ammonia nitrites nitrates? You can lower one of the power heads to get more flow over the rocks and see if that helps also.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

How can the water be stagnant with water flow in the tank?

That is what has me stymied ! Could it be anaerobic bacteria beneath the rock ? My substrate layer is very thin, though.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

What water are you using for water changes? did you try carbon like mentioned on your other thread about the “stagnation”? carbon will help remove any toxic smells, and some contaminants, throw a couple tablespoons of it in a baggy in your HOBs and see if that helps with the smell. Can you post your basic parameters? Ei ammonia nitrites nitrates? You can lower one of the power heads to get more flow over the rocks and see if that helps also.

Oh, my ammonia is O, Nitrite O, Salinity (SG) 1.024, PH 8.0. I have carbon in the motor filters. I have been using RODI water for 25% bi-weekly water changes, but in this emergency I am using treated tap water until I've made about 5 consecutive changes.

 

[BeltedCoyote]

How recently have you changed the cartridges and membrane on your RoDI?

 

[saltybees]

Oh, my ammonia is O, Nitrite O, Salinity (SG) 1.024, PH 8.0. I have carbon in the motor filters. I have been using RODI water for 25% bi-weekly water changes, but in this emergency I am using treated tap water until I've made about 5 consecutive changes.

Rodi filters all good? Do you use any filter floss in the HOBs? Is the surface of the water looking like an oil slick? How old is the tank? Where’s the rock from? Was it “live” when you bought it?

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

Rodi filters all good? Do you use any filter floss in the HOBs? Is the surface of the water looking like an oil slick? How old is the tank? Where’s the rock from? Was it “live” when you bought it?

Yep, the RODI unit is only four months old. I do not use floss; I use the filter pads that are designed for those HOB filters. My rock was not live; it was dry rock purchased from saltwateraquarium.com. Might be live by now. The tank has been running since last October. Here is an old picture:

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

The only other think I could think of is maybe that I had not been cleaning & replacing the filter pads as i should, and thus the filters were getting clogged.....

 

[saltybees]

The only other think I could think of is maybe that I had not been cleaning & replacing the filter pads as i should, and thus the filters were getting clogged.....

Possible, would start to stink also. I change my floss at least once a week. It stinks if I don’t.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

Now, after replacing filter media and making several consecutive water changes, the odor is gone and the yellow tinge has gone away. Looks like the crisis is over for the time being. At any rate, it looks as though a bacterial bloom and a clogged filter must have combined to severely deplete the oxygen in the tank. Will have to get the excess bacteria down and frequently clean the filters henceforth.

 

[TheDragonsReef]

You want a surface skimmer. A reef octopus hob skimmer is a great choice for that

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

You want a surface skimmer. A reef octopus hob skimmer is a great choice for that

Actually, the cover did not leave enough room for the Reef Octopus, so I have a Aquamaxx HOB filter/skimmer combine. I had temporarily taken it off the tank and put a second (300 GPH) HOB motor filter in an effort to increase the circulation and aeration in the tank.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I will now wait until the bacteria bloom has subsided to put the Aquamaxx HOB filter/skimmer back into service....

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Toss the combo filter and get a good hang on back skimmer.
Any parameters? Recent pics? Toss your powerheads. Get bigger 1s. Lol
Look for dead snails. Your deff know they are dead when you.pull them out and smell the smell.
My advice.
D