Sump Problem

[mjpelikan]

*sigh*

I believe my stupid Rubbermaid sump is leaching phosphates into the water... I have had a huge cyano outbreak which started shortly after I attached the sump.

So I guess I am now looking for a sump... Anyone have an extra sump?

 

[Phyto]

just curious, did you cycle your sump water before plumbing it to your main tank? did you use half old and half new water? i think a large volume (compared to your main display) of new water can cause cyano when setting up a new sump.
of course, you may already know that. i think i may have done the same thing with a rubbermaid sump.

 

[mjpelikan]

I didn't cycle. I treated this as a 25 gallon water change (without taking any water out). (I added 5 more gallons 2 days later)

I didn't know that could happen.

And the sump isn't actually "Rubbermaid" brand, it is the cheapest large plastic tub (with wheels) that Walmart was selling.

 

[Phyto]

I don't know if it can for sure. It is just a theory of mine.
It has happened to me 2 times. I have also read someone else post of adding a sump without using matured water. Soon after is an algae problem.

i think : Small additions of new water (regular water changes) have a subtle, and benificial, effect on the tank. A large addition of new water (even if added over a couple of days) has more new nutrients than the system can utilize before some dormant/controled algaes get ahold of them.


not 100

 

[chadfarmer]

the plastic will leach back into the water

give it a while with a po4 binder, cheato, or water changes

 

[mjpelikan]

I replaced my po4 binder (can't rember which one, not phasban) and it seemed to help. I have a 15gal water change planned for this weekend.

Thank you!