problem!!!!

K

Kelly68

In Memoriam
I woke up this morning to a disaster happening in front of my eyes. Once my main lights came on my reef tank....I noticed it was a little cloudy. I went looking around to make sure everyone was ok and the only thing I noticed is my grape caulerpa I had the tank was almost white. I also noticed it was like disintergrating in front of me. Like melting. I went to get dressed and about 10 minutes later went back to the tank and my tank was so cloudy it looked aweful. I immediately grabbed a bucket and tore the macro algae out of the tank. It was all slimy feeling. A piece of my xenia attached itself to it about 3 weeks ago. Did it poison the algae?

So I did a ten gallon water change. This is a 46 bowfront. Cleaned the filters and the skimmer and it is looking better. Not clear yet..but better. Nothing else is affected. Fish and corals are fine. Parameters are fine. What caused this to happen...any ideas?
 
More water changes, every 24 hours, run carbon, change daily.

Your caulerpa went sexual, I'm betting. This happens. It's a big reason why caulerpa is a rotten idea in a reef.

Stand by for more people will more ideas.

You might also run phosban: if phosphates were bound up in that stuff, it is now let loose in your tank and will not help corals at all.
 
Yep, pretty much what Sk8r said :(

I'd run the skimmer wet to pull out all you can too.

Since you have other tanks you could use water from (unless is another issue preventing that) you could do water changes more frequently than every 24 hours, or in larger amounts, I'd think too.
 
The 46 is the only saltwater tank I have. I have a crap load of freshwater. Where I live I can't find phosban......any other thoughts. Water changes....how much water? And I just changed the carbon. This really sucks. Will my fish be affected? My corals look fine right now. It just started this morning I think when the lights kicked on...so I caught it withing about 20 minutes.
 
How much/how often will get many conflicting thoughts. In an emergency, I see nothing wrong with 100%, and some see nothing wrong with it even under normal circumstances.

However, if all looks fine otherwise, I would do another 10 gallon change later today yet, and then 10 a day after as long as everything looks fine and nothing is seen detrimental in water tests. With any sign of stress or problems, I'd do a 50% right off and then go from there again. Sort of the middle ground between extremes of 100% or wait and see I guess :)

Your fish should be fine. It's the corals I'd be most worried about, and you said they are looking fine so far.
 
This is in the tank itself and not a refugium? If you just like the look of green in the tank, if you make any meetings I'm at I can bring you some halimeda. Grows slow and causes no problems other than taking up calcium. Must have come in on some rock, but I ended up with a bunch in my refugium.
 
One other point. When the caulerpa went sexual the toxins reduce the oxygen levels and it can be harmful or fatal for the fish. Do large water changes often and think about adding a temp airstones in addition to your skimmer to help oxygenate the water. I had this happen in my 24gal and did an 80% water change with no detrimental effects. I never used grape caulerpa again...

Lisa
 
Thanks everyone. I changed out the carbon...added extra carbon...added the nitrate sponge.......and will another water change later today. I never ever heard of this happening and if only I had known it would never have been in there. I will test the water again soon and any concerns...I will post again. I caught this soon as it was just happening...so I hope that will make a difference. Wish me luck.

Kelly
 
Pretty much what everyone else sais is correct.

Caulerpa should be lit 24 hours, or trimmed frequently on the growing tips in order to keep this from happening.
 
Keep your skimmer running and do the water change, since it was such a small rock you should be ok especially if all the fish and corals look fine, if anyone has grape caulerpa to pass on I would be interested !
 
MyPictures


I don't know if this is going to work. I just took a picture of my tank to show what it looks like. I hope the image posts. If not, I will try again. Bear with me!
 
DSCF0188.jpg
[/IMG]

I hope this works. I tried photobucket. I just want those who have been helping me today to see what my tank looks like about 6 hrs after the fact and to get opinions on how things are looking. Thanks.
 
Looks pretty happy to me :) Hard to tell in a picture, but can't see any major cloudiness.

I think I'd just keep an eye on water perameters and do small water changes until you feel comfortable you're past it.

We wont even tell the tang police you have a tang in a 46 :)
 
I know, I know. :) Thanks for not tattling on me. I got him fairly little to help with my hair algae problem....figured once he got bigger he would have to leave me. So it isn't a forever thing and got a young one. He is well fed and happy. Him and my coral beauty are pals.
 
Everything looks fine. I think you caught the water quickly enough. Just keep checking your parameters and watch your livestock. They willt ell you quickly if something is wrong. The xenia should close up quickly if the water is going bad.
jandlms
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Brian60077
Red Sea Salt
Replies
3
Views
175
Uncle99
Uncle99
Brian60077
Today is the 1 year anniversary of my journey back into saltwater
Replies
3
Views
184
Brian60077
Brian60077
rrrrob
Thoughts on Purigen?
Replies
11
Views
438
alejandrodia
A
Z
New lps frags - 1 day not doing well
Replies
16
Views
2K
Reefing102
Reefing102
wvned
Not sure what to do
Replies
8
Views
1K
OrionN
OrionN
Back
Top