Tank has been overrun

jenreefer · Jan 8, 2017

With the overgrowth in your tank, I do not believe either will get it under control. Manual removal will be best to start, then you can use some cleanup crew to finish the job.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 8, 2017

jenreefer said:
With the overgrowth in your tank, I do not believe either will get it under control. Manual removal will be best to start, then you can use some cleanup crew to finish the job.

this. Itll preserve the animals in the tank if there are any. Prob take 15gal of water ,a pot scrubber and two hours.

Salty1962 · Jan 8, 2017

Caulerpa is very difficult to get rid of. It there's just one root it will start up again. I don't know of any livestock that will eat it, it has a chemical defense mechanism. I would clean it out, nuke the LR and start over if it's your DT. JMO

INeedAName · Jan 8, 2017

Salty1962 said:
Caulerpa is very difficult to get rid of. It there's just one root it will start up again. I don't know of any livestock that will eat it, it has a chemical defense mechanism. I would clean it out, nuke the LR and start over if it's your DT. JMO

could I make this a refugium to a display tank or will it eventually just spread to it?

reefguyty · Jan 8, 2017

d-man said:
Easy fix....
1. Drain tank
2. Pull all rock out and Muriatic acid bath it
3. Get all new sand
4. Vinegar/water clean the tank
5. Put all back together

Will take a few hours total.

I second d-man's idea. Maybe even start with new rocks!

Elementalj · Jan 8, 2017

What the heck with that nickname!?!? I just literally coughed!

Paul87 · Jan 8, 2017

This would be a true test for Vibrant @UWC!

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 8, 2017

Paul87 said:
This would be a true test for Vibrant @UWC!

or just clean it.

Valkyrie · Jan 8, 2017

Personally, I would start picking that stuff out right now. Clear it as much as you can, find all the critters that you say are in there and if they're worth keeping put them in another tank temporarily until you get everything pristine.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 8, 2017

Hey, this is crazy but look at the pic again. It would be a pretty cool macro tank with some sculpting. You have to choose invert and livestock keeping the habitat in mind.
NUdis gorgs sponges shrimps Sea stars. Low maintenance stuff.

Two 100% WC over the next two months and a hair cut now ,it could be cool. Def unique

Paul87 · Jan 8, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Hey, this is crazy but look at the pic again. It would be a pretty cool macro tank with some sculpting. You have to choose invert and livestock keeping the habitat in mind.
NUdis gorgs sponges shrimps Sea stars. Low maintenance stuff.

Two 100% WC over the next two months and a hair cut now ,it could be cool. Def unique

I actually thought that as well.

burtbollinger · Jan 8, 2017

I'd contact Vibrant to see if they'd sponsor your cleaning.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 8, 2017

Paul87 said:
I actually thought that as well.

Great minds an all.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 8, 2017

Salty1962 said:
Caulerpa is very difficult to get rid of. It there's just one root it will start up again. I don't know of any livestock that will eat it, it has a chemical defense mechanism. I would clean it out, nuke the LR and start over if it's your DT. JMO

Do you haven to know what that defense is? I've wondered but not known the real science.

James Jordan · Jan 8, 2017

Never has a thread been so accurately named. Wow

Valkyrie · Jan 8, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Do you haven to know what that defense is? I've wondered but not known the real science.

From an abstract on http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166445X9800054X

"Caulerpenyne (Cyn) is the major secondary metabolite involved in the chemical defence of Caulerpa taxifolia."

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 8, 2017

Valkyrie said:
From an abstract on http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166445X9800054X

"Caulerpenyne (Cyn) is the major secondary metabolite involved in the chemical defence of Caulerpa taxifolia."

Totally cool. Thank you!

Salty1962 · Jan 9, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Do you haven to know what that defense is? I've wondered but not known the real science.

It's some kind of toxic compound it gives off when something is feeding on it or when disturbed. I don't know what compound it is but fish in the wild won't feed on it, at least that I know of.

INeedAName · Jan 9, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Hey, this is crazy but look at the pic again. It would be a pretty cool macro tank with some sculpting. You have to choose invert and livestock keeping the habitat in mind.
NUdis gorgs sponges shrimps Sea stars. Low maintenance stuff.

Two 100% WC over the next two months and a hair cut now ,it could be cool. Def unique

you have given hope where there was none!

Slarti · Jan 9, 2017

Righto and I thought I had algae problems! My tank suddenly looks sparkling...

Anyway, depending on your time frame I will think about 'cooking' those rocks. Will take a couple of months but the rock comes out sparkling and it will also take out some of the residual stuff deep inside the rock. I had some severe HA (ok I thought severe until I saw the photo) and dropped my rock into the black drum, two and a bit months on and they really look nice and clean now, overall more porous and not a hint of green. Going back into the tank in the next week or so and the test will obviously be if it stays clean.

As for critters, found a previously unknown carpet anemone after a couple of weeks which is now happily living in the main tank and my pistol shrimp that came with the live rock is still going strong in the bucket.