Corals not opening, excessive growth on glass

[MUTiger]

Tank: Red Sea Reefer 250 set up February 2021
pH 8.38
salinity 1.024
Nitrate 0.5
Phosphate 0
alkalinity 7
calcium 470
Mag 1320

All tests performed with Red Sea test kits.

My tank was doing great. Mixed reefs with zooanthids, acans, blastos, ricordia, star polyps, SPS, rock and bubble tip anemones. About 5 days ago the corals all stopped opening. At the same time the growth on the glass occurred much faster. Whereas before I would scrape the glass every 2-3 days, now I have to do it daily. There is also increased growth of a dark golden to brown “algae?”on the substrate along the glass. Something has drastically changed. I have done a 15 gallon and then a 10 gallon water change in the past 4 days. I have my own RO unit and mix my own salt water ( Red Sea salt). All the fish are doing great ( a pair of clowns, a yellow tang, a six line wrasse, and a goby). Help……

 

[kittenbritches]

Tank: Red Sea Reefer 250 set up February 2021
pH 8.38
salinity 1.024
Nitrate 0.5
Phosphate 0
alkalinity 7
calcium 470
Mag 1320

All tests performed with Red Sea test kits.

My tank was doing great. Mixed reefs with zooanthids, acans, blastos, ricordia, star polyps, SPS, rock and bubble tip anemones. About 5 days ago the corals all stopped opening. At the same time the growth on the glass occurred much faster. Whereas before I would scrape the glass every 2-3 days, now I have to do it daily. There is also increased growth of a dark golden to brown “algae?”on the substrate along the glass. Something has drastically changed. I have done a 15 gallon and then a 10 gallon water change in the past 4 days. I have my own RO unit and mix my own salt water ( Red Sea salt). All the fish are doing great ( a pair of clowns, a yellow tang, a six line wrasse, and a goby). Help……

Have you tested the TDS of your RO water lately and/or changed cartridges?

 

[mdb_talon]

Pictures would help but sounds like a diatom issue.

 

[MUTiger]

Have you tested the TDS of your RO water lately and/or changed cartridges?

TDS 14

 

[mdb_talon]

TDS 14

That is quite high for rodi and is very possible it is related to fueling a diatom bloom. I would stop the water changes for now.

 

[MUTiger]

That is quite high for rodi and is very possible it is related to fueling a diatom bloom. I would stop the water changes for now.

 

[MUTiger]

Pictures above with LEDs on 100% white.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reduce white light intensity and siphon up what looks like cyano likely from the high TDS of the water

 

[kittenbritches]

Looks like a diatom bloom on the sand bed. I'd definitely recommend swapping out your RO cartridges. You should be at or near 0 TDS. Reducing white and red channels will help inhibit growth.

 

[MUTiger]

My RO unit is fairly old, but with relatively new cartridges. I am thinking of getting a new unit. Any suggestions?

 

[mdb_talon]

My RO unit is fairly old, but with relatively new cartridges. I am thinking of getting a new unit. Any suggestions?

Is it just RO or RO/DI? If you are saying the RO membrane is fairly new you should not be seeing 14 TDS. If you also have DI stage there is no way 14 is reasonable unless the high tds already burned through it.

 

[MUTiger]

Is it just RO or RO/DI? If you are saying the RO membrane is fairly new you should not be seeing 14 TDS. If you also have DI stage there is no way 14 is reasonable unless the high tds already burned through it.

I believe just RO. A micron filter cartridge , carbon cartridge , 75 gpd RO membrane cartridge, and a second carbon cartridge

 

[shadow_k]

My RO unit is fairly old, but with relatively new cartridges. I am thinking of getting a new unit. Any suggestions?

I use this I get 5 gallons every few hours it’s good for the price then again your tank is 55 Gallons so you may want a bigger one

 

[kittenbritches]

My RO unit is fairly old, but with relatively new cartridges. I am thinking of getting a new unit. Any suggestions?

I got the AQUATICLIFE Aquatic Life RO Buddie Plus DI Four Stage Reverse Osmosis Deionization Unit 50 GPD

 

[mdb_talon]

I believe just RO. A micron filter cartridge , carbon cartridge , 75 gpd RO membrane cartridge, and a second carbon cartridge

If they are in that order then the last one("second carbon cartridge") should be DI. I ask because if your unit uses the standard canisters there is no reason to buy a new unit and we can help make sure yours us setup correctly with just the cost of maybe some new filters. Other than bells and whistles you can addon(booster pump/tds meters/etc) there is very little difference between the majority of rodi units that use the standard canisters.

 

[shadow_k]

I got the AQUATICLIFE Aquatic Life RO Buddie Plus DI Four Stage Reverse Osmosis Deionization Unit 50 GPD

I’m glad I’m not the only one recommending this it’s a good unit and to replace all cartridges is 30$

 

[kittenbritches]

I’m glad I’m not the only one recommending this it’s a good unit and to replace all cartridges is 30$

It's worked great for me.

 

[MUTiger]

How about the Bulk Reef Supply 4 Stage RO/DI Plus?

 

[mdb_talon]

How about the Bulk Reef Supply 4 Stage RO/DI Plus?

It would work just fine. Personally i think way overpriced though. I would go for something like this.

Max Water 6 Stage Aquarium Reverse Osmosis System/Reverse Osmosis System/RO Water Filtration System with Deionization Filter RO Water Purifier 100 GPD Hydroponics RODI System

 

[MUTiger]

It would work just fine. Personally i think way overpriced though. I would go for something like this.

Max Water 6 Stage Aquarium Reverse Osmosis System/Reverse Osmosis System/RO Water Filtration System with Deionization Filter RO Water Purifier 100 GPD Hydroponics RODI System

This unit claims 92-98% TDS removal, but does not claim 0 TDS RO water. Is that an issue?