Tank Nuked another Mystery

[LtPiper]

Could there be any possibility that the vessel you used to measure the additives had a contaminate in it?

 

[1package]

Ron,

Off subject a little but what mods would you recommend for the super skimmer. Mine will work like a champ and then overflow for no reason as you mentioned.

 

[firefish2020]

Lloyd come in and check out what I did to the skimmer on the 150, Im usually there after 2:30

 

[Tazbader]

...if you have it in sump and don't use an osmolator or some kind of top-off it will never work right. Also if you use kalkwasser for evaporation and add that water once a day it'll foam like crazy. Additives and feeding will make it foam especially iodine.

The mod I think Ron is talking about is to run a tube from the air inlet (the little silencer thingy) to a seperate collection chamber. Position the tube so it will start to suck sludge just before the collection chamber over fills. If you get a foaming incident it will suck a little slurry and the bubbles will stop, causing the skimmer to stop foaming, preventing an overflow. If you don't want to use a seperate collection chamber you can do the same thing by just drilling a small hole into the top of the collector cup and positioning the air inlet tube so that it causes the same effect before it overflows. Simple mod, just remember normally you must still have the ability to suck air in through the tube wherever you end up putting it or the skimmer will not foam at all. And make sure your water level stays constant if you don't use it as a hang-on the back (which is the what they were really designed for but noone uses them for). Hope that helps.....

 

[coralreefer]

Today I tested copper and received a reading of .025ppm this was after the water change a day before.

Ron you know the UA keeps me from saying what I'd like to about this except people suck. I'm pretty sure crabfan is right about copper being an algaecide.

But I also do not think it has to completely bottom out before it stops falling out of solution. I may be wrong but I doubt it. When a tank precipitates it also forms calcium carbonate which will lower the alk and cal of the tank.

You're right Phil.

 

[firefish2020]

UPDATE:

Still at .025 ppm

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
pH 8.5

Surviving coral in the tank are looking much better.
Algae is still dying off which isn't really a bad thing I guess.
Skimate has returned to normal as well.

 

[Tazbader]

I doubt it was copper if you had a commensal shrimp live thru this....... is the alkalinity back to normal?

 

[firefish2020]

shrimp died on day 2

 

[Tazbader]

I just thought about this answering another thread...... is the polyfilter blue?

 

[firefish2020]

Good thinking, no poly in that tank though, only regular filter pad.

Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Copper=no longer detected

Noticed half a dozen crabs still alive.
Remaining coral looking better daily.
Skimate has returned to normal.

 

[spinnerbayt]

Stopped in today and saw the tank. What a bummer!

 

[Tazbader]

This brings to mind the old show from the 70's/80's the 6 million dollar man......... he survived the crash,he is barely alive, we can rebuild him, we can make him stronger faster smarter (as the music builds to a cresendo) the 6 million dollar reef!

At the next swap/meeting how's about a DIY on a monster skimmer for that beast, or a calcium reactor....... lets adopt it, name him George and hug him, and squeeze him, and pet him on his wittle head and keep him safe. George the CVRC Tank........ every meet those who can donate a frag for it. We could all go in on equipment for it,etc. Just a thought....I thought....

 

[igotsalt]

Ok, why did you ask about the polyfilter blue?

 

[Tazbader]

The brand name "Polyfilter" filter pad has cation resins imbedded in it and it absorbs (or adsorbs technically) metals, organics, etc. from the tank. In the case of copper it will turn really blue....