Swamp Water.....

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 5, 2019

Guys -

I am in need of some help before I make a rash discussion and tear my tank down.

I have a 120g reef tank which I started in Nov 2018. The rock was new rock from Marco Reef and decided to go fresh to ensure I had no hitchhikers or undesirables. I just can't seem to get this tank right no matter what I do. I have been keeping reef tanks for 20 years but took a break about 5 years ago so I am not a noob when it comes to reef keeping.

Here is my issue:

I keep getting this algae film / dust on the glass and in the water column regardless of what I do.

So far I have made the following changes over the past couple months.
- Removed the sand bed and go bare bottom because I wanted a SPS tank with high flow.
- Added an additional two MP40's for a total of four.
- I started with two Hydra 26HD's that came new with my Waterbox setup. I decided about two months ago to change to a ATI SunPower 8x54 with two SBReef LED Actinic bars to supplement.

I am using RODI water and getting 0 TDS and checked with three different meters to confirm. I also run a Nyos 160 skimmer and Nyos reactor with activated carbon changed monthly.

My parameters are as follows:
Salinity - 1.026
Temp - 79
Cal - 450 - Hanna
Alk - 9.1 - Hanna
Mag - 1350 - Hanna
PO4 - 15ppb - Hanna ULR (I have been struggling with 0 P04 so I started to dose to get it where it is today)
NO3 - 5 - Hanna & Red Sea

I did a 30g water change this morning, went to brunch, came home and the water looks like a swamp again. It's got a green tint to the water and the class was already covered in a dusty film.

I setup a new tank for my wife using the same dry base rock, water, salt, and equipment and her tank looks like a show piece.

I am extremely frustrated but I don't know what else I can do or what I am doing wrong.

Any thoughts?

scriptmonkey · May 5, 2019

What is your photo period on the lights? Also, I thought the Hanna N03 meter was for freshwater only as the chloride in the salt interferes.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 5, 2019

How long does it take the algae film to grow on glass? it's normal to have it.

Perry · May 5, 2019

Did you use acid, or bleach bath prior to use on rocks? It could be leaching. Sounds like everything you need in place. I would bet on high po4, despite your test, seems to be in water coumn, likely consuming nutrients, evidenced by the algae bloom. Not my tank, but if it was, i would evaluate your CUC in the tank, ensure diversity, and run a blackout. Skim wet during this time, pull gfo and carbon, and maybe wait to go back online with additives and chemicals until you are in the clear. Given you won't feed during this time, nutrients will be lowered, with no light source, you could break this bloom, bet the skimmer will still pull, as it will outcompete algae for nutrients, best to you and your reef!

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 5, 2019

scriptmonkey said:
What is your photo period on the lights? Also, I thought the Hanna N03 meter was for freshwater only as the chloride in the salt interferes.

Sorry the NO3 is Salifert and also Red Sea

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 5, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How long does it take the algae film to grow on glass? it's normal to have it.

Randy - Literally a couple hours. Its almost like dust when wiped away

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 5, 2019

Perry said:
Did you use acid, or bleach bath prior to use on rocks? It could be leaching. Sounds like everything you need in place. I would bet on high po4, despite your test, seems to be in water coumn, likely consuming nutrients, evidenced by the algae bloom. Not my tank, but if it was, i would evaluate your CUC in the tank, ensure diversity, and run a blackout. Skim wet during this time, pull gfo and carbon, and maybe wait to go back online with additives and chemicals until you are in the clear. Given you won't feed during this time, nutrients will be lowered, with no light source, you could break this bloom, bet the skimmer will still pull, as it will outcompete algae for nutrients, best to you and your reef!

Nothing done to the rock other than a rinse in RODI water prior to adding it to the tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 5, 2019

jsbzcmcdaniel said:
Randy - Literally a couple hours. Its almost like dust when wiped away

Are you dosing iron? if so, you might stop.

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 5, 2019

No sir. I started doing Brightwell NeoNitro & NeoPhos for a week then switched to LoudWolf Sodium Phosphate and Nitrate to increase both from 0. The issue was present prior to dosing and the whole reason I started doing PO4 and NO3 was because my nutrients are so low. I only have three fish in the tank and extra feeding didn't help so I began dosing. While it has put them in the correct range it hasn't helped the issue.

Perry · May 5, 2019

jsbzcmcdaniel said:
Nothing done to the rock other than a rinse in RODI water prior to adding it to the tank.

The rock would be my guess, I have heard about this rock needing to be treated thoroughly, prior to use. Of course this could stabilize over time, but may be a process to work through. Hope everything works out!

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 5, 2019

I took my fixture down to remount some ceiling support braces and left the house for a couple hours. During this time the lights were off and when I returned home the water was crystal clear. The algae has to be feeding off the lights??

dantimdad · May 5, 2019

My suggestion is to not do anything too drastic. I would, however, try a UV sterilizer.

They will help with algae in the water column.

Also, I highly doubt the rock is to blame, but, I could be wrong.

There are so many variables here.

capt.dave · May 6, 2019

It sounds to me like a very common first year tank. Your tank is only 5 months old. Algae and cyano and various other pests are normal in the first year as all the life competes for space and nutrients. Eventually, coraline algae and coral and good bacteria win out but there will be a fight first. You actually want that so you get a good biosphere running over time to support a heavier load later.

According to the guys at Bulk Reef Supply (BRS TV on You Tube), in their series on WWC/BRS Hybrid Method, bare bottom is very difficult the first year but then much easier after that. What you are experiencing is what most of us experience in the first year,.and that includes the pros. You should watch that series if you haven't already.

Your original post said PO4 was15 ppb. Is that right? Even if it's 0.15 ppb, there's your algae problem. You want it below 0.02. Especially in the first couple years when there's only algae to use those nutrients. I would stop dosing PO4, do a couple large water changes, and run GFO until PO4 is undetectable. Prolonged blackout would also be helpful. If you don't have coral yet you might even consider going several weeks with the lights off to give the good bacteria time to catch up to your bio load. Fish don't need the lights. Obviously, if you do have coral, don't do that. Also manual removal of any hair algae is important to keep the PO4 from getting back into the water when the algae dies.

After all that, just take it slow and be patient. Remember, only bad things happen fast in a reef tank.

DuckSlayer627 · May 6, 2019

UV sterilizer should work. Sounds like some type of free floating algae in the water column. If the same rocks are in your wife's tank, it shouldn't be the rocks causing it.

TMC1313 · May 6, 2019

This quick growing film on the glass has always happened to me in the beginning (first year). I've dodged other issues completely ie....cyano and different types of algae, but this issue I have always had. I just stopped fighting it and in time it goes away. I know it's unsightly and if you're a clean freak like me it can drive you crazy, but I can promise you it's just temporary. What I do is just let it build on the glass (and it will). After a few days it seems to reach it's peak and you will start to see areas where it has diminished. Once you see this, I will then clean the glass. It may take a few times of doing this, but you should then notice it doesn't come back as fast (within hours), but it might come back the next day. The quickness with it appearing will start diminish and then you should start to get to normal glass maintenance (once or twice a week). It's really not a big deal, but yes it looks unsightly and as if you are not a good reef keeper, but like I said, it's only a temporary issue usually lasting for me 1-2 months.

BadFish619 · May 6, 2019

+1 on a UV sterilizer. Plenty of cases where algae blooms in the water are cleared up in a matter of days using one. Before you go tearing your tank down I'd spend a few bucks and try that option

Bleigh · May 6, 2019

Also, is there a big difference in the placements of your tank and your wife's? Perhaps your tank is getting an additional light source that you're not taking into account.

I agree about getting a UV sterilizer.

What is your CUC like? I try to do as little manual cleaning on mine and adjust with critters as possible. You may consider getting a microscope to idnetify the particular organism and do some research as to what like to eat it.

I started my tank in January, and it's definitely had some ugly stages, but adjusting CUC and adding copepods and so forth seems to have helped with a lot of my issues. I also have a UV sterilizer.

BeejReef · May 6, 2019

+1 to copepods and turbo snails.

Sounds like you know a lot more about reefing than I, but I'd guess you've extended your unstable/ugly period by transitioning to bare bottom mid-stream. Don't give up on it now! They're supposed to be a breeze to maintain, by comparison, once you're through the eye of the storm.

jsbzcmcdaniel · May 9, 2019

Well...kind of an update. Not sure if this is coincidence or just luck. I have been storing my RO and Salt Mix in Brute Garbage cans. I have done this with past systems without issue. Over the weekend I purchased a water storage container for my saltwater mixing station. In addition, as I stated in my original post I am in the beginning stages of going BB and following the BRS/WWC hybrid system. I changed my salt from Instant Ocean to Brightwell NeoMarine. I did a 30g water change with the new salt and from the new mixing station. Its only been 6 days but the water is crystal clear and looks amazing. I have been checking my PO4 levels every day and they have been holding steady at 15ppm on the Hanna Phosphorus tester.