zoo tank updates

I am sure this wont help and Im sure it will only create more confusion but I have 2 pieces of the rock we made in my tank right now. One of my largest mili's has been on this rock from the beginning. It has encrusted over it and shows no signs of any problems. I didnt let it cure in the stream with the rest because I brought it home with me and cured in in my toilet tank but it seems to be perfectly capable of haveing sps grow on it.

I have an idea that may be worth looking in to. I worry about my hot tub being in the same room as my tank. When it is running it smells like chlorine in my room. I have always been afraid of air born chlorine getting in my tank. I dont know if this is possible but I do keep my chlorine at a reduced amount in my hottub just so it doesnt hurt my tank. The room the tank is in is sharing the air with the otter tanks water. Are they putting anything in the otter tank that may be floating around in that room and effecting the tank? Not sure if this helps or hurts.
 
well as you did, i also have a small amount of the same rock. my thought after seeing the composion of the rock is that there is probibly around 175-200 lbs of rock in that tankat the zoo. we have atmost 5-10lbs that is alot less aluminum in our tanks than in the zoo tank. I to have SPS growing on one of the rocks but it was also cured in my toliet.

as for the otter tank, they use sand filtered city water with no other aditives. they dont use anything to kill algea becasue of the animals as well as they are always draining and refilling it because of the otter poop.
 
Vince:

I have suspected something had to be wrong with those rocks. It is the only variable that I can see. Other than the rocks everything else in that tank is top of the line including skimmer, sump, lights, and even corals. I realize there was some question about the lighting not being strong enough but IMO that wouldn’t cause the SPS to die the way they have been. When SPS don’t have enough light they usually brown out before they STN. In this tank they have been bleaching out before the STN. That to me indicates a chemical problem or too much light. We know from the PAR readings it is not too much light. Also I want to say that the above is just one idea and I could be wrong. I think it may be worth looking into further based on your findings Vince.
Click to expand...

im not sure that i could do a controlled experiment because because i have no way to test the amount of aluminum in water.
 
My heart of hearts tells me its the rock. nate has been telling me that for a long time. i think I've been denying to myself for fear of the expense and the hassle of replacing our existing rock but i think it is ultimately what needs to be done. i would like this to be done prior to the zoo opening. In contemplation of the cheapest way to go, i was thinking of getting "dry' fiji rock from 2-part soluitions and then getting perhaps getting some rock from larrybird in exchange for the t-5 lamps. I don't think we have to take out all the DIY rock but at least 50% or so. That would make it so about 25-30% of the rock is diy since there is some real live rock already in the system. Thoughts?
 
Can we remove 1/2 of the DIY rock and place it in one of the trash cans. After that I can bring in some coral to see if the problem goes away. If it does then we can look at replacing with real rock (dry or live).
 
That will not get rid of our problem by just taking the rock out you will need to do a 75-85% water change to get all of the aluminum orother heavy metals (if that is the problem) out of the tanks circulation. also i think more than 50% should come out if it turns out to be Al that is contaminting the water. you wont beableto do this before the zoo opens jerry, the sign said it opens this sat. the rock wont even be here by then. just checked the site and they are out of stock as well.
 
Thanks for checking Vince. No rush...it will happen when it happens. I'll call Tim and see when he can test for Aluminum.

BTW I have a fair amount of DIY rock in my 75 g tank. Some was leftover from the rock making party and some was more rock I made with the exact same formula. No problems in my tank. I'd say that about 55-60% of the rock is DIY in thje 75 gallon. I do notice that corraline algae appears to have a difficult time colonizing the DIY rock. Some othjer base rock that i put in the same time is completely encrusted with corraline. Interesting.

Lets keep watching when the eco-rock becomes available. When it does I'll order about 75 lbs. Anybody want to get some additional exo rock? Thje price drops abit after 100 lbs.
 
Just a thought but ask Tim at ABC Reefs about getting in some rock. Had some really nice pieces in there last week. His prices are really not bad.
 
I wil pick up 57 lbs of corraline covered live rock from Larrybird (hopefully this weekend) for our used t-5's and some cash. That can then seed the sea horse and 180 tanks and we can fill in the rest with dry rock.
 
Just throwing this out there...Blue Zoo sells lace rock (as base rock) for about $1/lb.

That is what I have in my tank...I think it is nice stuff and a little more interesting that the Carib Sea stuff...
 
I had read some of Randy's publications on Al and i retract my statments from above about Al causing what is happening to the zoo tank. if the Al in the system were high it would kill the leather corals and fish as well. So it had got to be some other toxin.
 
Frank: Thanks but I'm not currently seeing it on their site. Am I missing something?

BTW the zoo is scheduled to open 4/24 (Earth day). They would like a few of us to be on hand to discuss and show off the exhibit. Please indicate your availability (not sure of times yet). I would like to try to see if we can make the sea horse exhibit ready by then. If anyone has some live sand and tank water to add to the seahorse tank, please let me know. i will start adding some water and substrate this weekend but i don't want to take any from the 180 until we know whats happening.
 
Jerry, I think we need to get the sides painted, figure out electrical, and determine it's final location before we start to fill.... becasue once it's filled, that thing isnt moving, at least not easily, and that is a cramped area to be working.... I can probably make it out Sunday to help/try and get this thing going
 
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