Changing Salt Issue

[fijiblue]

Ok, here is the scoop. I have been using Coralife salt for a long time. I recently had a 10gal sps tank in which it was set up and maintained with CL salt. I decided to change to TM and had a dino outbreak from it. Never used it again.

I set up a 30 SPS back in June and have been using CL on it ever since. I just bought a bucket of TM and figured I try it again. Everything was going great until I noticed 4 to 5 dead shells of my snails in one corner. My first thought was a mantis shrimp. When I looked above where they were, low and behold:eek2: ...dinos! I figured it was from all the trace in the new salt, but im not 100% sure.

Has anyone else had a similar situation with changing salts?

 

[Pufferpunk]

What's a dino?

 

[fijiblue]

dinoflagelletes...aka...bad news...especially if it is the toxic form and by looking at my dead snails...I think it could be.

 

[Pufferpunk]

You mean those bubbles?

 

[flapjack1439]

Cat's get groomed?

 

[mako199]

IMO salt switching can be risky......stability is what counts...just my opinion.

 

[G13]

I've changed salt a few times...IO -- red sea salt--marinemix--tropic marine--oceanic--IO and will be changing to (hopefully finally stay with) Tropic Marine Pro

All within 2 and a half yrs, I did notice a small patch of that stuff pictured in my tank and always thought of taking it out. i have about a quarter size patch of it but with no bubbles on it, I thought about trying to syphone it out. I have no change in my tank, no dead snails, shrimp are just fine and so are the corals and fish.

 

[fijiblue]

I sucked it out today, but replaced the water with TM saltwater. I hope I can kick it before it gets out of control. I saw my tang eating over there so if it is dead tomorrow, then I will know for sure.

 

[fijiblue]

pufferpunk- it is a bacteria that looks similar to cyano except it is usually gold in color with bubbles in it. It's not as "tough" in it's texture like cyano would be. Easy fed by trace and light, it is a tough one to kick sometimes.

 

[yznhmr]

i switch back and forth from TM (not pro) and Seachem Reefsalt no prob..for the $$ the Seachem works well

 

[Maryswaterworld]

so what you are saying is the little bubbles are the problem? we have a little patch witch is dark red in color with the tiny bubbles. is it the same thing? or is my prob something different?

 

[fijiblue]

Maryswaterworld

Red with bubbles is most likely cyano bacteria...Dinos are different in color and nature. Both bacterias, though and both can be difficult to get rid of. Usually when you get Cyano outbreaks it is because:

Lights are over due for change
lack of flow
sandbed is dead

 

[yznhmr]

lights out for 48 hours..

 

[mm949]

dino's are typical of low pH/alk.....bring it up w/ buffer and should diminish quickly....hit the bad spot w/ little more flow...

 

[fijiblue]

ph is 8.4 all the time and my alk was 8, down from 9dkh. My flow was a bit on the weaker side, but I put some more direct flow in that corner. Thanks for the advice.

 

[BradL.]

In a tank that size weekly water changes of about 10 gallons would really go along way

 

[fijiblue]

BradL.-

I was doing 5 gallons a week in water changes, but noticed I was just feeding my algae with extra trace and they were growing a bit too fast. I am a big fan of algae in my display because it - in my opinion - allows me to stock heavier and cleans my water. I went a month and tested my water and nitrites were at 3. I might do 5 gallons every 2 weeks.