Mystery Water Problem

saltburns · Aug 30, 2016

A few months ago my coral started looking bad. I tried extra water changes but things worsened. The corals began to die and the water became very cloudy with a clear/whitish scum gathering on the surface of the tank and down in the sump. The scum being thick enough to scoop out with a fish net. Finally took a water sample to my lfs and they tested for everything. Tests were perfect parameters. So we decided maybe it was some plastic breaking down and releasing junk into the water and I replaced everything plastic. No dice. I use RODI water in a food grade garbage can. I also replaced my RODI unit out of desperation. Was no help. The skim I get is different than the usual. The bubbles get large and do not pop easily like normal. 125 gallon standard tank. Can hardly see from one end to the other. Anyone have any ideas for me?

120reefkeeper · Aug 30, 2016

Sounds to me like a contaminant entered your system.

Did you run carbon??

SandJ · Aug 30, 2016

Bacteria bloom?

saltburns · Aug 30, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
Sounds to me like a contaminant entered your system.

Did you run carbon??

Yep, tried that too, carbon mixed with that zeolite stuff for about 3 weeks, no improvement

SandJ said:
Bacteria bloom?

If it is what do I do. 75Percent water change made no difference

120reefkeeper · Aug 30, 2016

Did you scoop it all out?? And it keeps happening??

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 30, 2016

Might well be a pathogenic bacteria killing things, and the dead things (corals) release organics that muck the water and allow bacteria to grow.

An antibiotic treatment (as for cyanobacteria) might help, but without knowing the species (or if this is even the problem), it is hard to pick an appropriate antibiotic.

saltburns · Aug 30, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
Did you scoop it all out?? And it keeps happening??

I keep scooping and the stuff keeps coming back

sil40sx · Aug 30, 2016

Oh wow, a 75% WC didnt helped the water clarity at all ?! That's scary,..

How are the other livestock doing though?

MaddyP · Aug 30, 2016

I've ran into a similar issue and it came down to dog dandruff in the air acting as a carbon source for the bacteria in the tank (small apartment, small tank, large dog). It was hard to trace down but I know the issue was carbon due to seeing the same growth while dosing vinegar at another time. When my dog went back to my parents place the issue went away within the week.

Is it possible you have a carbon source being introduced of which you are unaware?

120reefkeeper · Aug 30, 2016

Sounds like a bacteria.

sil40sx · Aug 30, 2016

Randy, if its indeed some kind of bacteria, would a UV sterilizer helps?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 30, 2016

sil40sx said:
Randy, if its indeed some kind of bacteria, would a UV sterilizer helps?

Maybe in the water column, but not they clumps stuck to stuff.

sil40sx · Aug 30, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Maybe in the water column, but not they clumps stuck to stuff.

Oh I see, thanks. That makes sense.

If this happens to my tank, and there's no ID on whats causing this, I will run a bunch of carbon media, daily big WC, change my felt socks maybe twice a day, and run UV sterilizer.

To the OP, I'm not trying to derail your thread, I'm just trying to help by brainstorming with everyone, and maybe, or hopefully will work on your case. (Just want to be prepared in case it happens to me. Knock on wood) Hehe

saltburns · Aug 30, 2016

MaddyP said:
I've ran into a similar issue and it came down to dog dandruff in the air acting as a carbon source for the bacteria in the tank (small apartment, small tank, large dog). It was hard to trace down but I know the issue was carbon due to seeing the same growth while dosing vinegar at another time. When my dog went back to my parents place the issue went away within the week.

Is it possible you have a carbon source being introduced of which you are unaware?

I have 3 cats but I've had them the entire time I've had the tank which is almost 6years

120reefkeeper · Aug 30, 2016

How about some pictures of the tank and the scum etc.... Pictures of the sump and skimmate produced.

Maybe this will help us get a better grasp on what you have going on. [emoji4]

saltburns · Aug 30, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
How about some pictures of the tank and the scum etc.... Pictures of the sump and skimmate produced.

Maybe this will help us get a better grasp on what you have going on. [emoji4]

Ok will try and post some tomorrow. Thanks everyone

jsker · Aug 30, 2016

Also have you changed anything in the last few months?? Anything

saltburns · Aug 30, 2016

jsker said:
Also have you changed anything in the last few months?? Anything

No I have thought and thought about it. I'm totally stumped. One thought I had was that maybe my homemade live rock could be it but it's been in the tank for over 5 years

jsker · Aug 31, 2016

I think it is time to call in the #reefsquad on this to see if we can get some different thoughts.

saltburns · Aug 31, 2016

Couldn't get a pic of the scum is only a small amount now since I've been skimming heavily. Also wanted to say that when I did the big water change that the water was fairly clear for 2days, got all excited and then third day everything was back to crap. Under the lights it looks like smoke rolling through the water. Anyway here are pics one of course is a before, sorry only have my cheap phone camera