Indoor pollutants causing tank irritation.

Empti · Jan 3, 2023

So I live in a 1 bedroom apartment with poor air exchange to the outside, I've recently run an airline from my protein skimmer outside which has fixed my PH when the door is closed however I'm concerned that theres some kind of airborne pollutant coming into my tank which is causing irritation to my LPS corals (cleaning products/rarely candles). It isn't major and there is no flesh recession/deaths however I'm noticing lower polyp extension. The reason why I think it may be some random airborne irritant is because I get such strong improvements in polyp extension post water change and a slight improvement when leaving door open all day. Other then the obvious of eliminating contamination in the first place what can I do other then running a carbon reactor ($$$) to strip them from the water?

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

Empti said:
So I live in a 1 bedroom apartment with poor air exchange to the outside, I've recently run an airline from my protein skimmer outside which has fixed my PH when the door is closed however I'm concerned that theres some kind of airborne pollutant coming into my tank which is causing irritation to my LPS corals (cleaning products/rarely candles). It isn't major and there is no flesh recession/deaths however I'm noticing lower polyp extension. The reason why I think it may be some random airborne irritant is because I get such strong improvements in polyp extension post water change and a slight improvement when leaving door open all day. Other then the obvious of eliminating contamination in the first place what can I do other then running a carbon reactor ($$$) to strip them from the water?

I feel it is unlikely in your situation that air quality is the problem. I would look elsewhere. Water quality perimeters etc.

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

The only exception would be if you're excessively smoking in the apartment for example.

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

Are you on the bottom floor? The reason I ask is because it is possible to take aerosol chemicals from maintenance from the apartment maintenance crew. However I feel that is still fairly unlikely. If you are really concerned run carbon.

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

However candles and any other aerosol are not a good idea.

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

If you can't avoid these things. You should run activated carbon full time.

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

Having said that. I have had cichlid tanks for years with great success. And the fish were breeding successfully on a regular basis. Even with heavy smoking in the house. But I suspect a marine environment is more sensitive than that.

TangerineSpeedo · Jan 3, 2023

It could be so many things, in fact, it could be chemical warfare from inside your tank. You don't have to spend big bucks on a reactor. A bag of carbon in the flow or sump will do just fine. Use a high quality carbon such as rox.08 and see if that helps.

Ohmegg · Jan 3, 2023

Interesting.

Empti · Jan 3, 2023

pshootr said:
If you can't avoid these things. You should run activated carbon full time.

TangerineSpeedo said:
It could be so many things, in fact, it could be chemical warfare from inside your tank. You don't have to spend big bucks on a reactor. A bag of carbon in the flow or sump will do just fine. Use a high quality carbon such as rox.08 and see if that helps.

Chemical warfare was another suspect, had a duncan next to big toadstool shroom that got super unhappy when he shed. Will increase the amount of carbon I run in a bag, a carbon reactor would probably be worth it in that case right?

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

Well the size of your tank might be in question for the best advice. But I would say that carbon is your best defense against both of these things anyways.

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

If carbon does not help after say 6 weeks then I would look elsewhere

Empti · Jan 3, 2023

pshootr said:
Well the size of your tank might be in question for the best advice. But I would say that carbon is your best defense against both of these things anyways.

~40 gal (30 tank 10 sump), low fish bioload but corals pretty packed

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

I think you are going to still need help with this. But the first thing I would do is run carbon

pshootr · Jan 3, 2023

If you use a power filter or if you're on an all-in-one just put a filter bag in there if you have an all in one then just put a carbon bag in your sock

Empti · Jan 3, 2023

thank you

TangerineSpeedo · Jan 3, 2023

Empti said:
Chemical warfare was another suspect, had a duncan next to big toadstool shroom that got super unhappy when he shed. Will increase the amount of carbon I run in a bag, a carbon reactor would probably be worth it in that case right?

I feel. If you have a higher flow area in your sump, a bag of carbon is just fine. The absorption rate of carbon max's out after a few days to a couple weeks. In a reactor it is definitely a few days, so you will be changing it all the time. But you could always do something like this.