Mike's 140 Cubish Build
- Thread starter miwoodar
- Start date
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
Marc - I really appreciate your questions. See below.
Well, without knowing all the details, I would take it back to the basics:
Did you check your sump for any contaminants (metals, batteries (tossed in by a kid), rusting impellars)?
full check, nothing
Did you check for stray voltage?
No, but I'm using the same equipment as I used on my old tank other than the addition of a Vortech and a different external pump so I haven't gone down the voltage path yet.
Did you verify that your tank's temperature is accurate with multiple devices?
three different thermometers - two stick ons and a coralife that all match. I wouldn't typically consider these reliable but they always matched the alcohol thermometer that I accidently broke earlier this year.
Did you verify that your salinity is actually what you think it is, testing it both with other equipment as well as to have someone else confirm those readings?
two hydrometers and a refractometer that was calibrated against a 1.026 solution
Did you have someone else test your water with their kits to verify that your numbers are accurate?
I had an appointment to have a reliable friend crosscheck my numbers but I've been CRAZY busy at work the last few weeks. I'm using the same test kits as I used prior to the move. None are expired.
Did you check your timers for excessive lighting, excessive heating, or excessive cooling periods?
My wife is home two days a week - lighting is on schedule. 12 hours actinics and 9 hours MH. Temp 79 in the mornings and 81 in the afternoons.
Did you test your RO/DI water for Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrate, and TDS? Did you test for chorine?
Ammonia - 0
Phosphate - 0 through Salifert (organic/inorganic? I've asked the office if I can borrow their Hanna - still waiting to get it back from the field), RO/DI was 2, now 0. Nitrates, 0. I've never thought about testing for chlorine though. My RO/DI smells clean - do you think I still should?
Did you test your newly mixed saltwater for everything, including Alk, pH, Cal, Mg, Ammonia, & Salinity?
Didn't test for ammonia - all the rest look good though
Did you verify that all equipment is working correctly, including calcium & kalk reactors, making sure the media looks right and the pumps are functioning as they should?
full check, nothing
Did you disturb your sandbed recently, unearthing anoxic zones?
No disturbences. The sandbed has been up since a few weeks before the transfer. Any thoughts on this?
Did you remove LR from your tank for a duration, exposing sponges to air which could die off and cause issues?
Minor exposure on the rock in the sump. I've sniffed it a few times and never found anything though.
Did you have Xenia die-off en-mass? Flatworms?
Xenia is growing strong. No flatworms of any kind. I've checked the frags closely
Did you treat with anything lately?
nothing
Do you dose anything?
Nothing. I stopped VSV after the move then tried it again for about a week after I started seeing some wierd stuff. I didn't see any improvements so I stopped in hopes of starting again after the hiccups clear up.
Is your tank grounded? Is it still grounded, or did the probe come loose? GFCI, no grounding probe though.
HTH [/B]
Well, without knowing all the details, I would take it back to the basics:
Did you check your sump for any contaminants (metals, batteries (tossed in by a kid), rusting impellars)?
full check, nothing
Did you check for stray voltage?
No, but I'm using the same equipment as I used on my old tank other than the addition of a Vortech and a different external pump so I haven't gone down the voltage path yet.
Did you verify that your tank's temperature is accurate with multiple devices?
three different thermometers - two stick ons and a coralife that all match. I wouldn't typically consider these reliable but they always matched the alcohol thermometer that I accidently broke earlier this year.
Did you verify that your salinity is actually what you think it is, testing it both with other equipment as well as to have someone else confirm those readings?
two hydrometers and a refractometer that was calibrated against a 1.026 solution
Did you have someone else test your water with their kits to verify that your numbers are accurate?
I had an appointment to have a reliable friend crosscheck my numbers but I've been CRAZY busy at work the last few weeks. I'm using the same test kits as I used prior to the move. None are expired.
Did you check your timers for excessive lighting, excessive heating, or excessive cooling periods?
My wife is home two days a week - lighting is on schedule. 12 hours actinics and 9 hours MH. Temp 79 in the mornings and 81 in the afternoons.
Did you test your RO/DI water for Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrate, and TDS? Did you test for chorine?
Ammonia - 0
Phosphate - 0 through Salifert (organic/inorganic? I've asked the office if I can borrow their Hanna - still waiting to get it back from the field), RO/DI was 2, now 0. Nitrates, 0. I've never thought about testing for chlorine though. My RO/DI smells clean - do you think I still should?
Did you test your newly mixed saltwater for everything, including Alk, pH, Cal, Mg, Ammonia, & Salinity?
Didn't test for ammonia - all the rest look good though
Did you verify that all equipment is working correctly, including calcium & kalk reactors, making sure the media looks right and the pumps are functioning as they should?
full check, nothing
Did you disturb your sandbed recently, unearthing anoxic zones?
No disturbences. The sandbed has been up since a few weeks before the transfer. Any thoughts on this?
Did you remove LR from your tank for a duration, exposing sponges to air which could die off and cause issues?
Minor exposure on the rock in the sump. I've sniffed it a few times and never found anything though.
Did you have Xenia die-off en-mass? Flatworms?
Xenia is growing strong. No flatworms of any kind. I've checked the frags closely
Did you treat with anything lately?
nothing
Do you dose anything?
Nothing. I stopped VSV after the move then tried it again for about a week after I started seeing some wierd stuff. I didn't see any improvements so I stopped in hopes of starting again after the hiccups clear up.
Is your tank grounded? Is it still grounded, or did the probe come loose? GFCI, no grounding probe though.
HTH [/B]
spleify
Premium Member
Mike, I am sorry this is happening. I can't even imagine how disappointing and frustrating this is for you after the last tank you had.
We all hope you find the cause of this horrible issue. If I can help out at all let me know.
Marc, that list you gave is probably one of the most complete list of issues to check for that I've seen in one place at one time. I list like this should be stickyed at the top for people to check before going any further.
Good luck Mike, let us know what else we can do.
How old is you're salt? does it go bad? I'm just trying to think of anything here.
Spleify
We all hope you find the cause of this horrible issue. If I can help out at all let me know.
Marc, that list you gave is probably one of the most complete list of issues to check for that I've seen in one place at one time. I list like this should be stickyed at the top for people to check before going any further.
Good luck Mike, let us know what else we can do.
How old is you're salt? does it go bad? I'm just trying to think of anything here.
Spleify
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
Additions to the RIP list above - pink mille and purple efflo are gone as well as the orange digitata (the first to go). I've lost lots of snails have died in the last few week but I can't tell if they are the new ones I added soon after the tank transfer or the ones that came from my old tank (the population in my old tank was pretty stable). I did a 30 gallon change last night and will be doing another this evening. If I can buy a bucket of salt today I'll be doing another tomorrow.
There is a positive side to all of this....it's clearing up real estate in the tank. I'm looking forward to buying that box of stellar corals I've always dreamed of but never had the room to do so. Really, whatever this is, it will pass. Many of my corals are doing great. Fish are great.
There is a positive side to all of this....it's clearing up real estate in the tank. I'm looking forward to buying that box of stellar corals I've always dreamed of but never had the room to do so. Really, whatever this is, it will pass. Many of my corals are doing great. Fish are great.
melev
Well-known member
Mike, do check your tank for stray electricity. Take a digital voltage meter, put one prong in the ground hole of an outlet and put the other probe in the water (sump as well as display). If you see anything above 0, power is leaking into the water. A pump on the side of your skimmer could be the cause, although I would expect your Xenia to take a hit if that were the case. Still, inspect those pumps very carefully, prying off the plastic cover if necessary.
Check your source water and your saltwater for ammonia. Ammonia will pass right through a RO/DI system. Any chlorine should be stopped by the carbon filters, but they only work for a specific duration (I've heard the number 600g float around for a long time). I recommend changing them every 6 months, no matter what.
With snails dying, something is definitely up. Do you have shrimp? Are they okay? If not, you might check for copper in your tank, your source water and your new saltwater.
Keeping a positive point of view is great, but... we need to find out what happened to avoid it happening again. I'm almost thinking you are accepting these losses due to the tank transfer / move?
Check your source water and your saltwater for ammonia. Ammonia will pass right through a RO/DI system. Any chlorine should be stopped by the carbon filters, but they only work for a specific duration (I've heard the number 600g float around for a long time). I recommend changing them every 6 months, no matter what.
With snails dying, something is definitely up. Do you have shrimp? Are they okay? If not, you might check for copper in your tank, your source water and your new saltwater.
Keeping a positive point of view is great, but... we need to find out what happened to avoid it happening again. I'm almost thinking you are accepting these losses due to the tank transfer / move?
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
:lol: I just read my last post...sorry for incohent sentence structure. Apparently I needed another cup of coffee before posting this morning.
I don't have any shrimp.
I'll give my source water a full check this evening.
My neighbor is a handyman - I'll see if his multimeter is available this evening as well.
I think my problems may have started in my last tank due to a little nipping by the flame angel on the monti digi - very poor digi PE for the last few months prior to the move. I believe that was strike one. Upon aquascaping the new tank I had many of my corals out of the water for longer than I had intended. I think that was strike two. A handful of my other SPS started showing symptoms at the time the digi went caput. I think the digi might have gotten sick and spread something to the rest of the tank. Some corals have been able to fend it off. Other corals, not so.
I don't have any shrimp.
I'll give my source water a full check this evening.
My neighbor is a handyman - I'll see if his multimeter is available this evening as well.
I think my problems may have started in my last tank due to a little nipping by the flame angel on the monti digi - very poor digi PE for the last few months prior to the move. I believe that was strike one. Upon aquascaping the new tank I had many of my corals out of the water for longer than I had intended. I think that was strike two. A handful of my other SPS started showing symptoms at the time the digi went caput. I think the digi might have gotten sick and spread something to the rest of the tank. Some corals have been able to fend it off. Other corals, not so.
ox5477
New member
Sorry about the bad streak of luck with the sps Mike. Hope this problem is resolved quickly in the near future.
Quick question about those "Swirler Steins." I would assume they are homemade and are a cool little design. Wondering if the motor you use to move the cam system is a DC motor using a AC to DC converter or its a straight AC motor that can be plugged directly into any household outlet? Would be a cool DIY project for the future to do something similar, with a few ideas for improvement I might be able to think of
. Thanks Mike
Quick question about those "Swirler Steins." I would assume they are homemade and are a cool little design. Wondering if the motor you use to move the cam system is a DC motor using a AC to DC converter or its a straight AC motor that can be plugged directly into any household outlet? Would be a cool DIY project for the future to do something similar, with a few ideas for improvement I might be able to think of
. Thanks Mike
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
Thanks for the well wishes.
The swirler stein is running on an AC motor that runs off of household current.
I started a new thread about how to make one here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1483439&highlight=swirler+stein
The swirler stein is running on an AC motor that runs off of household current.
I started a new thread about how to make one here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1483439&highlight=swirler+stein
melev
Well-known member
Xenia is often the tank's barometer, in my experience. When it was unhappy, the parameters had shifted. Conversely, happy xenia usually tells me at a glance that all is well.
I know of a specific instance where a pump failed (GenX, IIRC), rusted into the water, causing the Xenia to crash, which caused the (red planaria) flatworms to crash, which took out the entire reef tank virtually overnight. It was so sad - a stunning reef gone so quickly.
I know of a specific instance where a pump failed (GenX, IIRC), rusted into the water, causing the Xenia to crash, which caused the (red planaria) flatworms to crash, which took out the entire reef tank virtually overnight. It was so sad - a stunning reef gone so quickly.
ox5477
New member
Hey Mike, only could find this motor, as the link from the other thread does not connect for me....
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2008102219543645&item=10-958-A&catname=electric
Im sure this could work fine but would obv be quite a bit slower in turning.
Thanks Mike
https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?UID=2008102219543645&item=10-958-A&catname=electric
Im sure this could work fine but would obv be quite a bit slower in turning.
Thanks Mike
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
Sorry - I missed this question. The top panel of the canopy lifts out of the way. Right now I'm using a block of wood to hold it up while I'm in the tank. I've contemplated using a locking hinge or a gas strut. The latter would be tough to squeeze in with the lighting. The locking hinge would fit but I haven't had time to follow up on the idea.
The tank has pretty good access....
