Macro refresher course

[billy72]

Short story of my bad husbandry- (3) months ago.

Culled heavily(50%) my macroalgea in my 40 gallon refuge when I shouldn't have. I really needed to change the bulbs to the 110 pc directly over a glass top. The bulbs were 12 months old and I usually "need" to change every 6-7 months.

At the same time my wife and daughter talked me to make an impulse purchase at the local fish store. My tank was already stocked with 11 fish. I purchased (2) very small fish of 3/4" and within (1) week I lost all of my fish but two totaling 5" in lenght. I was a wreck, gone are all of my favorite fish.

I feed once a day maybe twice on weekends.

I purchased new macro of varing variety and changed bulbs (12) weeks ago. Had green grass mostly with grape caul.mixed in.

My display in the 180 is showing signs of refuge failure I can't seem to slow down.

This morning I unplugged the euro skimmer thinking the plants aren't getting enough nutrients.

Should I feed the refuge with something. I still see some bristle worms left. I lost all/thousands of my mysis and pods due to dropping my salinity severly to maybe help counter total loss.

Salinity at 1.185, PH moniter at 8.35, Salifert Alk at 4.0
Nitrate/rite at 0, Phosphate at its highest of 1 typically at .5
Temp at 77.5, Ca at 250 or less.

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[PatMayo]

I think dropping your salinity was a mistake and that may be your problem. Normal seawater is 1.026 you state yours is 1.185. Isn't that higher not lower salinty? I don't quite understand the sequence of events but I don't think any of what I read warrants dropping your salinity. I'm assuming your number is incorrect.

"My display in the 180 is showing signs of refuge failure I can't seem to slow down."

What does that statment mean? What are you seeing? I would keep the skimmer turned on not off.

Ouch barebottom tank, I'm really not sure now. However I do think lowering the salinty is not gong to help.

Maybe someone else can chime in to give you some direction.

Regards,

Pat

 

[billy72]

Yes typo

Salinity up to 1.018, I had dropped it to 1.014.

Purchased macro from LFS who had it in 1.018 water.

My display never had very, very little to zero algea or cynao growth on the live rock. I cleaned my glass once per 10 days.

Now live rock appears to be getting cynao. Glass cleaning 3-4 days. Macro not growing but receding/ dieing.

Inhabitants 3" y.tang and 2-3" flame hawk.

 

[ACBlinky]

Sounds like the change in salinity has caused die-off (losing pods etc.) so the last thing I'd do is turn off the skimmer - you want to pull as much gunk as you can out of the water right now.

I'd slowly return all the levels to that of NSW, keep the parameters stable and let the tank adjust. It will probably take a while (weeks) for things to restabilize and during that time I'd just leave things be - don't add any new fish or inverts, do water changes and other maintenance as usual.

 

[billy72]

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that the salinity had been brought up to 1.018 when I placed the store brought macro whose salinity was at 1.018 *** well.

Its been a solid 25 days since its been in the refuge. I see no new proprogation, rooting or any kind of growth. If fact its kind of withering away slowly and I'm not getting proper filtration due to this new die off.

Its obviously getting plenty of light at 24/7.

Perhaps if anyone could steer me to a thread in which this subject has been discussed.

 

[Swanwillow]

I think what your asking is 'why is my macro dieing' not 'why did my tank crash' right?

well, one thing: macro lives in full seawater, and right now your conditions are more like a brackish water system. I'd go with the advise of bringing the salinity up, which may hold of the death. Stores will keep thier salinity lower to kill of inverts, and other nasties. Specially if they don't want to pay for the cost of salt: its costs more to have salinity high. Macros will live at that level, but not THRIVE which is what you want.

I think that everyones agreeing that the dieoff in the tank AND the refugium is from the salinity: raise it back up, and you'll get growth and life.. but I'm faster than every one else. I'd start TONIGHT RIGHT NOW with a good ole fasioned 50% water change at 1.025 salinity. that would pop you up to around 1.020

 

[Swanwillow]

ok, your tanks too big for a 50% change, huh,.,,, well, do as large of one as possible, with a high salt content to bring it up to semi-normalcy

 

[billy72]

Yes, thank you

Prior to my widlife dieing I was able to keep my tank between 1.020-1.021 with tremendous macro growth. Needing to cull every 5-6 weeks.

I stopped my salinity rise at 1.018 to acclimate the LFS macro which looked very healthy.

So im not 100% convinced its only the salinity. I'll start raising again but there is something else im missing.

 

[piranhaking]

if you want to raise the sg quickly you could add a smaller ammount of salt saturated water (disolve as much as you can in it then add it). Only add a small ammount at a time and check the sg as you go. I have done that on tanks after adding water after a waterchange that wasnt high enough sg. Just make sure to add it away from anything alive.

 

[Swanwillow]

what type of macro is it?

 

[billy72]

Mostly the feather shaped caulerpa - Sert.

I believe its quite a hardy type.

 

[billy72]

Perhaps the lighting is to strong?

 

[Swanwillow]

doubt it-it lived fine under 250 watt MH in my tank...

I'm waiting for someone else to reply, cause I'm lost now I gave up my ideas... see if someone else has any.

oh, heres one: phosphate!!! macros need phosphate to grow. oh, and go on down to the macro algae forum and ask them the same questons!!! they'll beable to steer ya the right way!

 

[billy72]

Thanx

Ill do that.

My phosphates should be high enough due to the fact i still top off with tap water.

 

[bertoni]

I would shut the lights off for some period. Many macroalgae can grow with 24 hours a day of light, but it is possible to overload them, I think. You could try dosing some iron; that sometimes help.

Salinity at 1.018 sounds very low, and I would move it slowly to 1.026 (over a period of a few weeks), but I can't guarantee that the macroalgae would respond.

Can you post a picture of the macroalgae?

 

[billy72]

Sorry Bertoni

I don't have that capability.

Its the feather cauperla. I purchased a plastic sandwich bag full.

I will try to shut off the lighting like you suggest.

Come to think of it, the store had it in line with its other tanks so Im sure it had a down time on its lighting.