Nick’s 10g

[NY_Caveman]

Yep, I’m just using some standard dry rock. However, the cloudiness came back in my tank that’s filled with only RO/DI water. There’s no rock, sand, or ceramic media present in the tank; there’s only a heater, VorTech, carbon, and a new wad of filter floss.

Well, two years is a while. Probably good to replace them.

Throwing out some other lame ideas...

Check your heater. I have had one leak an oily substance upon first use.

If you have other floss, I guess soak it in something else to see what happens.

I guess it kind of has to be the RO/DI unless it is some bacterial issue (both of which you mentioned). Glad the UV seems to be helping.

 

[nickkohrn]

I came home and the UV filter hasn’t even touched the cloudiness. It’s clearly bacterial because it goes from being clear to being very cloudy within a single day. However, I have NO idea how to get rid of it. I’m going to get new RO/DI filters this week when the LFS opens. If that doesn’t fix it, then I’ll likely take down my system. I’m incredibly frustrated and feeling very defeated.

 

[nickkohrn]

Well, I set up my spare 10g tank for an experiment. I filled it with plain tap water and turned on the pump. I want to see if it grows any bacteria or gets cloudy like my other attempts. Since my cloudy 20g used the same water, just filtered through my RO/DI unit, I should be able to conclude whether it’s my RO/DI unit or not. Both tanks are up and running, and only one has had RO/DI water in it. If the 10g doesn’t get cloudy, then I will get new filters tomorrow after work and flush the system before refilling my 20g... again...

Here’s to hoping that I just need new filter media.

 

[Deiblerj]

Hang in there! If anything make this a learning experience and maybe try cycling without bacteria in a bottle. Trial and error can be your best and worst friend

If it ends up not being your RODI I would try using new salt water Forman LFS something already mixed as your base and get some good live rock. You’re tank will cycle fairly quickly. I have a 40 breeder and used pre mixed salt water, lots of live rock and live sand. My cycle was done in a few weeks. I ran an HOB filter with carbon and media. I got some uglies shortly after on and off but seems to have been holding steady for a little bit now. I also think my skimmer has helped a lot keeping the tank healthy.

I like how your doing some experiments though. Good thinking!

 

[nickkohrn]

Well, I picked up some new RO/DI filter media. I got a new membrane, carbon block, sediment filter, and DI resin. I’m going to clean out the unit this evening.

My concern is what I should do with my rock and MarinePure media. Since the rocks and media are in a tub with a full-on bacterial bloom, what do I need to do to bring that rock over? Should I even consider it? Should I get new rock and restart the cycle? I don’t want to deal with this crap again; it’s been nothing but a nightmare for me.

 

[nickkohrn]

I spent a couple of hours cleaning out my RO/DI unit with hot water, Dawn dish soap, and a mild bleach solution. I also bleached all ten of my buckets used to store reserve RO/DI water, saltwater, and kalkwasser. I’ll start filling them up tomorrow.

In the meantime, my wife and I will be moving apartments this month. We will be moving from a two-bedroom flat to a three-bedroom townhouse. The first floor, where you come in from the front door and garage, has a very nice entry room that will fit my desk, oversized beanbag-like furniture (from Lovesac) and my tank. The second floor has the kitchen, balcony, dining area, half-bath, and living area. The third floor has two bedrooms with their own attached bathrooms. It should give us plenty of room, and it will give me a nice place to enjoy my tank.

With that said, I’m going to be tearing down my system in the coming weeks in preparation for the move. I will likely be purchasing new rock and MarinePure media because I do not want to bring the same bacteria over when I set the system back up in the new apartment. The tub that currently holds my rock and MarinePure is still as cloudy, if not even more so. It must be one heck of a bacteria that my UV filter, admittedly underpowered, hasn’t made a dent in it, and it’s still hanging around after a few weeks and after a few doses of Caribsea’s BioMagnet.

The only concern that I have is that I spent almost $40 on a bottle of Fritz TurboStart 900 the other day that needs to be used by October. Hopefully I can get everything situated, get the new rock in, and then dose the Fritz to get another cycle started.

 

[Butuz]

Good luck, Nick!

 

[nickkohrn]

I set up a 10g quarantine last. Kent with saltwater from a local shop, and everything seemed fine until I woke up to a cloudy quarantine system. I’m at a complete loss and have no idea what to do. It’s so discouraging, and I honestly want to cut my losses and give up because I just can’t get away from it. It’s disheartening and I feel absolutely defeated.

 

[Deiblerj]

I set up a 10g quarantine last. Kent with saltwater from a local shop, and everything seemed fine until I woke up to a cloudy quarantine system. I’m at a complete loss and have no idea what to do. It’s so discouraging, and I honestly want to cut my losses and give up because I just can’t get away from it. It’s disheartening and I feel absolutely defeated.

What all do you have running the QT? Any filters, media, heaters?

 

[nickkohrn]

What all do you have running the QT? Any filters, media, heaters?

I had a sponge filter from the other system that I soaked in vinegar water, rinsed, and dried in the dryer, which I thought would have killed any of the bacteria that was in it. Other than that, I had new filter floss, a heater, an ATO float switch, and my Apex probes.

I assume the filter wasn’t fully rid of bacteria. I just can’t believe that it clouded up this badly overnight. I finished setting up the tank last night around midnight, and I woke to the cloudiness at 8:00AM today.

I took the sponge and filter floss out. I’m going to let it run without any media for a few days to see if the cloudiness dissipates. I haven’t added any ammonia or anything to the system, so I have no idea how the bacteria could be thriving.

 

[Deiblerj]

Try running carbon and see if that helps clear up the tank. I agree that the sponge should have been very clean but who knows.

Hold off on adding any ammonia until you can get the water less cloudy. One issue at a time haha.

What type of filter are you using? HOB?

 

[nickkohrn]

Try running carbon and see if that helps clear up the tank. I agree that the sponge should have been very clean but who knows.

Hold off on adding any ammonia until you can get the water less cloudy. One issue at a time haha.

What type of filter are you using? HOB?

I ran carbon in the other two attempts to clear up the cloudiness, but that resulted in two tear-downs because it never helped. I don’t know if the bacteria sticks to the media bag, but it didn’t even put a dent in it. What’s strange is that last week I ran the QT for an couple of days without salt or anything (just cold tap water), and it never got cloudy.

I don’t want to add ammonia or anything until this bacteria is dead. I’m so sick of looking at it. I may do a large water-change tonight or tomorrow to see if it helps since I removed all filter media that it may have been living in.

 

[Deiblerj]

Yeah something strange is going on for you to have cloudy water in that many instances.

Hopefully someone who is more familiar with bacteria can chime in. I’m out of ideas. Sorry man, hang in there though. Once things get going you’ll be glad you did.

Good luck with the move as well!

 

[nickkohrn]

So, today has been great. My wife agreed to the idea of upgrading to a Waterbox 100.3 next month since we will have the perfect space for one in our new apartment. I’ll be running a single EcoTech Radion XR15w G3 Pro one one side of the overflow box until I save enough to purchase a second for the other side of the overflow box. Since I can’t stand coralline on the glass, I’ll be so happy to have an all-glass overflow box that I can scrape with a blade while scraping the other panes of glass.

Keep an eye out for the fun!

 

[DerekDun]

So, today has been great. My wife agreed to the idea of upgrading to a Waterbox 100.3 next month since we will have the perfect space for one in our new apartment. I’ll be running a single EcoTech Radion XR15w G3 Pro one one side of the overflow box until I save enough to purchase a second for the other side of the overflow box. Since I can’t stand coralline on the glass, I’ll be so happy to have an all-glass overflow box that I can scrape with a blade while scraping the other panes of glass.

Keep an eye out for the fun!

Congrats! Selling any of your cube stuff? If so.How much ya want for your lid for the cube? Lol

 

[nickkohrn]

Congrats! Selling any of your cube stuff? If so.How much ya want for your lid for the cube? Lol

Thanks! I’m excited!

I will likely be selling the 20g and keeping the 10g that is set up as a quarantine tank. I didn’t end up getting the lid for the 20g Waterbox.

 

[Deiblerj]

Thanks! I’m excited!

I will likely be selling the 20g and keeping the 10g that is set up as a quarantine tank. I didn’t end up getting the lid for the 20g Waterbox.

Noooo keep it going buddy! Dont give up!

Been following your build since you started. You can get through this man!

 

[nickkohrn]

This has been a great weekend. I placed a few orders today, and I have some nice equipment coming. That list follows:

- 1 Waterbox 100.3 aquarium with stand and sump
- 1 EcoTech Marine Radion XR15w G3 Pro with RMS (adding to current light and mount for a total of two)
- 2 Eheim Jager 200w heaters
- 1 spare mesh filter sock
- 1 spare felt filter sock
- 1 4x4x8 MarinePure plate
- 1 Reef Octopus eSsence S-130 Internal Protein Skimmer
- 1 Neptune Systems COR-15

I can’t wait to move into our new apartment and get everything set up!

The only thing to do now is upgrade my EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10wQDs to MP40s, but after this weekend, that will be quite some time from now. I’ll just have to keep them at full power to move the water effectively.

 

[4FordFamily]

Nice tank, friend! Keep us posted with lots more photos!

 

[nickkohrn]

Nice tank, friend! Keep us posted with lots more photos!

I’m so excited! This thread will be coming alive in the near future.

I will be ordering a Naked Ocellaris pair from LiveAquaria when the time comes to start stocking it. Other than those two, I’m not sure what else I want. The skimmer is rated at 75g for a heavy bioload, 120g for a medium bioload, and 160g for a light bioload. I love minimal aquascapes, so I don’t plan on a bunch of rock in the display; I’ll use MarinePure in the sump to carry the weight. I’m also heavily considering a bare-bottom setup because I love the ability to easily clean the tank and not worry about detritus buildup. I will miss the look of sand, but maintenance and stability are my priorities.