Help! Tank crashing!!

[mayday0237]

This is my sump all that nasty looking stuff is using ammonia and nitrates. It's also housing copepods...you can't take all of the nasties out at the same time...it crashes the ecosystem. Another thing I have used in a pinch is seachem purigen

 

[mayday0237]

I have that. Use as directed?

Yep

 

[mayday0237]

Do you have a local fish store that u can get some Chaeto from?

 

[mayday0237]

I have that. Use as directed?

Yes.

 

[mayday0237]

This is my sump all that nasty looking stuff is using ammonia and nitrates. It's also housing copepods...you can't take all of the nasties out at the same time...it crashes the ecosystem. Another thing I have used in a pinch is seachem purigen
Get more than it says you need or get the granules put in a media bag rinse them in ro water and stick in canister

Seachem Purigen Review

So, does it live up to the hype? I'm not sure if it is as great as some reviews made it out to be, but clarity is certainly improved with the Purigen.

spec-tanks.com

 

[Mena]

This is my sump all that nasty looking stuff is using ammonia and nitrates. It's also housing copepods...you can't take all of the nasties out at the same time...it crashes the ecosystem. Another thing I have used in a pinch is seachem purigen

That is definitely what I did wrong. any ideas, other than wait, to help fix it?

 

[mayday0237]

That is definitely what I did wrong. any ideas, other than wait, to help fix it?

Are u using carbon in the filter?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Steady at 1.025/1.024

Bump to 1.025-1.026. I would recommend a second opinion on salinity as a False reading will haunt your tank

 

[lilgrounchuck]

if Your remaining fish and corals are ok and happy I’d stop doing anything at all. Let it ride. I’m a tinkerer myself and this hobby is a serious test to restraint and patience for me. If you have fish and corals doing fine right now don’t do anything.

 

[Krillin it]

Would definitely make sure the carbon is fresh could even be some kind of coral warfare going on

 

[Mena]

if Your remaining fish and corals are ok and happy I’d stop doing anything at all. Let it ride. I’m a tinkerer myself and this hobby is a serious test to restraint and patience for me. If you have fish and corals doing fine right now don’t do anything.

Thank you. I will have to see how the corals are doing g tomorrow. They do t like being awake past 9pm much at all. They like their routine.

 

[Mena]

Would definitely make sure the carbon is fresh could even be some kind of coral warfare going on

It was fresh as of the 26th. I used 2 cups on a media bag and put it in the top of my canister.

 

[Krillin it]

How much nopox are you using ? Are u running GFO at the same time? That looks like a lot of cayno bacteria in that pic

 

[Mena]

Bump to 1.025-1.026. I would recommend a second opinion on salinity as a False reading will haunt your tank

Ok. Thank you. I Will check that in the morning after I recalibrate my refractometer.

 

[Mena]

How much nopox are you using ? Are u running GFO at the same time? That looks like a lot of cayno bacteria in that pic

I was dosing 4ml per day until the 24th. The algea had started to turn brownish so I didn't think I needed any more. No gfo at all. If you are talking about the pink on the tank and glass its coraline algea, the rocks as well since I just messed up and scrubbed them all..

 

[Krillin it]

When you use nopox have to have a good skimmer. In the pic it looked like red slime on grape caulerpa.

 

[Krillin it]

Nopox can create bacterial imbalances that’s why I stopped using it.

 

[huckjai]

I also think that by removing your old filter, you removed some beneficial bacteria with it, which caused a ph drop. Try dosing some bacteria, and just let the system balance out again is what I would do if all livestock looks good.

I think 1.024/1.025 is fine as long as it stays consistent. Keeping it under 1.026 may be better in case you get salinity swings. If salinity spikes, you have more buffer room. If it drops, I think it's not as bad as a spike. Not 100% sure on this as I'm still new to reefing. I originally was keeping it at 1.026, but my lfs suggest I try to keep it at 1.025 in case of a spike.

 

[mcdrichj]

I’m wondering if by changing out the filters you lost all the beneficial bacteria in the filter foam etc and now the new filter is trying to build it up. But just accumulating all the gunk causing build up in ammonia

This is why I have 2 canister filters on my freshwater tank.

 

[Mena]

This is why I have 2 canister filters on my freshwater tank.

Freshwater tanks has never been a problem for me. I love mine. I have a 75g commun6tank that has thrived for 10 years and various smaller tanks as well. My lfs said I have great water is why, because i never have to do anything besides water changes.