Lights out in an SPS tank, how long?

[TucanSam007]

I'm battling some dinos and as a last resort, I am going to do a lights out period of 1-3 days while I heavy skim and do a water change. Does that period sound like a good range without stressing out my sps for to long? I was able to confirm that it is indeed dinos under the microscope at work. Just not sure of the species. What ever they are, they don't seem to be overly toxic as my snails have been eating them for a few weeks and I have no deaths. It's a 3month old tank with dry rock and dry sand and seeded with some live rock from my old established tank which never had problems. Wish me luck!

 

[sweet ride]

When ever I do a lights out nthe system I do it for 3 days. I don't notice any stress in the SPS. Good luck!

 

[TucanSam007]

Thanks sweet ride! It's odd how these dinos (brown/stringy) only grow on the glass but not on my rock work. Either way, my glass looks horrible 24hours after I clean it, hope this works!

 

[allsps40]

Are you using RODI water? I ask because I lived in Suffolk and the tap water in not that great. Wish I was in Port Jefferson eating seafood at the Steam Room, so nice there this time of year.

 

[TucanSam007]

Yes its all RO/DI water. Like I said this is a last resort as I have been really keeping my parameters as close to ideal as possible for a new tank. The reason it's a last resort, as to all my efforts these dinos keep popping up all over my glass within 24 ours, I mean mean my glass completely covered. None of my rock work just glass (snotty/brown/stringy). It's odd and doesn't fit the typical description of dinos but after observing them under the scope its the only thing i can really pin point. My tap usually 42tds. Hopefully this is a solution as every other method i've tried as no effect.

 

[coralreefdoc]

Test your "soluble" silica levels with a quality/trusted test ...

I have an inclination your SiO2s are well above natural levels given a few variables, one of them being that this is a new/immature reef. In mature reefs silica is an important, often overlooked mineral which is notably depleted in most older systems.

Dependent upon your controlled test results, a small, dedicated cryptic zone/tank, with additions of spongia species could help rapidly cure your aforementioned problem.

If, however, a scheduled period of darkness isnt of much concern then that would be a less involved temporary solution.

 

[allsps40]

The big issue is the tank is young. All new tanks go threw algae cycles. Keep no3 and po4 really low, run carbon, GFO and do weekly water changes removing as much algae as you can with each water change. Then just give it some time and I promise they will go away. A fuge is always a good idea as well.

 

[coralreefdoc]

Is this the new to the hobby section

 

[hkgar]

I am glad that there are several people on this forum that are happy to help out some one who is trying to to the right thing for his SPS.

Others might think this forum only for truly experienced SPS keepers.. Everyone else go some place else

 

[coralreefdoc]

Deleted.