Not sure what is going on

[mikeyj28]

Okay so over the last month or so I have been having a problem with some algae that is only on my sand. I have bumped up the flow and syphoned off the sand a few times now and it has seemed to go away. On Friday night i decided to run activated carbon in my tank to help remove whatever it was that was causing this algae. Now as of yesterday my zoas will not open up and my birds nest SPS looks like it is bleaching so i removed the carbon thinking that might be the problem. Today the corals still look the same and im concerned to what might be going on.

here are my parameters
Calcium 410 ppm
Magnesium 1300 ppm
pH. 8.25
Temp 78.3
Phosphates 0
Nitrates 0
Salinity is 1.026
KH 9.3
ammonia 0

:headwally:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What brand of carbon? There is a problem with Kent carbon right now.

Otherwise, this sounds like cyanobacteria. What color is it?

 

[mikeyj28]

its Kent carbon.....what is the problem with it?
The algae is brown

 

[bertoni]

I think they reported some problems with metal contamination. I'd stop the carbon for the time being. A bit of GFO might help with the algae.

 

[mikeyj28]

I just saw the post and sure enough im effected by this problem. I will be taking it back to the store tomorrow, however this doesn't replace my corals that i will lose. So angry right now.
Next thing can i run GFO and bio pellets at the same time on my 150 im setting up?

 

[bertoni]

That combination works for a lot of people. Each tank is different, though, so you might need to do some tuning.

 

[mikeyj28]

thanks Jonathan.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Sorry to hear of the problems.

Good luck.

 

[fishpoop]

Glad I read this. I just bought a pound of this but haven't used any yet. I'll be checking the expiration date.

link to more info....

http://www.kentmarine.com/news/news-archive/kent-marine-reef.htm

 

[mikeyj28]

Sorry to hear of the problems.

Good luck.

thank you

 

[Bugger]

Where is the expired date listed on the product. the link is useless no

 

[Bugger]

My Carbon dosent have the exp written on the label. The link reads only carbon bought within the last three months though. fingers crossed

 

[mikeyj28]

the exp date is part of the bar code. If you look at the link you will see the exp date and serial number

 

[ivans75]

If I were you I wouldnt wait much longer, get 50 persen water change, use natural sea water if possible. I dont know about in the US, here, the NSW is quite clean, free of phosphate and nitrate. And go to the shop and give em hell. Next week change 20 percent of water with NSW as well

 

[mikeyj28]

If I were you I wouldnt wait much longer, get 50 persen water change, use natural sea water if possible. I dont know about in the US, here, the NSW is quite clean, free of phosphate and nitrate. And go to the shop and give em hell. Next week change 20 percent of water with NSW as well

I cannot use natrual sea water as i live in Ohio (land locked state) lol. Anyway I already took the carbon back and wrote a long letter to Kent expressing my anger. I have already changed quite a bit of water, however it is a bit too late. I have lost my SPS and a few other corals along with most all of my inverts. Lesson learned I guess. Its pretty sad that this is the first time i was using any carbon at all and this is what I get. Trust me I will NEVER use any of the companies products again.