equipment change? expect the unexpected

[Gary Majchrzak]

any change in equipment is going to affect results- especially if you've lived with the same aquarium, fishes and corals for many years.
Case in point this particular instance: my skimmer pump crapped the bed and I replaced it with another (better) one. The new pump is more powerful. (Love it!) But it was skimming wetter than I had realized for several months. When I finally discovered what was going on I had to compensate for the wetter skimming by running the skimmer discharge gate fully open to drop water level in the neck.
There is a result of this new change in skimming. Certain corals loved it and certain corals didn't. Additionally, the salinity in my aquarium dropped because I hadn't noticed the skimmer was constantly wet skimming the aquarium. Combined with my new BRS auto top off pump (love it!) I inadvertently let SG creep to low and certain corals didn't look so hot.. plus I lost my rainbow Stylophoro.
That sucks. (Now I need rainbow AND green, Brandon!)
But the learning experience is important.
Anyways, the overall aquarium looks great. I've adjusted the skimmer and know I now what to watch for and so do you. End of story.
(This is what happens when the coffee is good and you get too much sleep!)

 

[cardiffgiant]

I've noticed it with what I thought were minor changes. I switched hard 1.5" PVC for 1.5" flex PVC and got a cyano outbreak. Maybe it was coincidence with something else that was going on, or maybe removing several feet of plumbing that had some kind of bacteria culture in favor of something brand new.

 

[Jstn]

Granted losing pieces is never fun; the hobby constantly brings new challenges and oppositions, which to me keeps it interesting.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

even a GAC and GFO changeout affects things.......

 

[Jstn]

That is why I apply rules of science, change only one variable at a time to see its affect.