Little bit of a crisis

[landon]

Background: I've been having some issues with cyano outbreaks in my sand bed and side glass. I tested my water and everything seemed fine and also took water to my LFS store, everything was fine. My 250 W was getting old and changed that out too. Nothing seemed to help the issue.

I had people coming over to watch GT and Alabama on Saturday and wanted the tank nice so I took a toothbrush to the rocks to sucked the cyano off the sand bed. While I was out that morning, I purchased so "ChemClear" for my LFS. They suggested this and the box said that it's for getting rid of red slime and reef safe. I dosed the instructed amount. I have a total of 120 gallons so I had to dissolve 12 scoops. The next day all corals, sps and lps, had their tenticles pulled in. I decided to go ahead and do a 20% water change, as the box instructs to do within 48 hours. Went to bed and woke up this morning to mostly all my corals being pail or WHITE. Most seem to have their polyps but they are still tucked in. Water is very cloudy.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? I did everything by the instructions (even adding a bubbler to supply more oxygen.)

I'm going to do some research on the web this morning but wanted to get this out there first.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Landon....I'd suggest two things....another water change and run carbon.

 

[fish scales2]

Start running skimmer wet as well.

 

[landon]

Good call on the carbon. Thanks!

porpoiseaquatics;568900 wrote: Landon....I'd suggest two things....another water change and run carbon.

 

[landon]

I turned the skimmer on with the valve all the open just to try and supply the tank with more oxygen. Even with the skimmer all the way on the cap is overflowing with foam. This tells me there is still chemicals in the water. ugh.

Fish Scales2;568901 wrote: Start running skimmer wet as well.

 

[mojo]

I'm afraid that beyond water changes and carbon, there's not much more you can do. Unfortunately, you may be past the point of no return on this one - white corals almost never recover.

I know it's too late and after the fact now, but the best 100% reef-safe treatment for red slime algae is to turn your lights off for 3 days. It'll come back slowly over time, but you'll knock out almost 100% of it in the short term. In the long term, water changes and water husbandry are about the only cure. It's feeding off something (nitrate / phosphates) in the water column.

As for your current situation, be prepared to be in recovery mode. If any coral looks dead, go ahead and remove it - it'll only continue to foul the water.

Hopefully the situation isn't as bad as you described, and everything will recover OK with a few water changes.

 

[landon]

:-( I hope this isn't the case. Perhaps I am feeling ill and need to head out of work. I've done about a 20% water change but since the skimmer is still bubbling over, I could stand to do a couple more. Don't wanna over do it.

mojo;568904 wrote: I'm afraid that beyond water changes and carbon, there's not much more you can do. Unfortunately, you may be past the point of no return on this one - white corals almost never recover.

Thanks for y'alls help!

I know it's too late and after the fact now, but the best 100% reef-safe treatment for red slime algae is to turn your lights off for 3 days. It'll come back slowly over time, but you'll knock out almost 100% of it in the short term. In the long term, water changes and water husbandry are about the only cure. It's feeding off something (nitrate / phosphates) in the water column.

As for your current situation, be prepared to be in recovery mode. If any coral looks dead, go ahead and remove it - it'll only continue to foul the water.

Hopefully the situation isn't as bad as you described, and everything will recover OK with a few water changes.

 

[jennm]

That's why I hate that stuff

Did you do the treatment at night? I *believe* it can have some sort of worse effect at night when the pH can drop naturally.

Adding the extra aeration was a good thing...

Sorry, I hate hearing these stories....

Jenn

 

[landon]

I did it around lunch on saturday. Just came home from work to do another water change. Very sad.

Fish seem fine thought, right now...

JennM;568908 wrote: That's why I hate that stuff

Did you do the treatment at night? I *believe* it can have some sort of worse effect at night when the pH can drop naturally.

Adding the extra aeration was a good thing...

Sorry, I hate hearing these stories....

Jenn