barbianj's stuff Time for a new reef tank

Jerry, that's some serious bubble algae!!

Need any Chaeto? Couldn't hurt

BTW, interestingly, I read a decent anedoctal study (too lazy to looke for the link), that was all about actual bacteria, and bacteria colonies being found in a covered, plastic container storing RO water!

 

And I understand about the WC's, but do you ever test Nitrates and Phophates?
IME, if they are detected on an API kit- you definitely got em!

 

I have a huge wad of chaeto in the sump, Todd, but thanks. Nitrates have never been an issue. Phosphates are between .02-.04, but I have to assume that they are higher.

That bubble algae was nearly gone, but it comes back quick. This time it's all in low light areas, like below the Black Sun coral and the bottom of the frag tank. Actually, it mostly grows where there is coralline algae.

The Brute container has been sitting with the same RO water in it that had 78 TDS. This morning I checked it, and it went up to 150. I'm going to empty and rinse it again, then fill it with new RO water to see what happens. Right now, I'm mainly concerned that I found the source of the problem, and that it's fixed, not so much why.

 

I'm sure you'll figure it out, stay on it.

 

I would do a side by side comparison in a clean glass container before going too far. I have seen DI water increase in conductivity just by the absorption of CO2 from the air. It will show up as conductivity. Now, 150 micro-mho seems prety excessive and it's likely not just the CO2, but it might be worth taking a look at it.

Good luck!

 

Apparently in the new Photobucket, pictures can't be batch copied, so I'll have to copy them over one at a time.

First, a few fish pictures that I didn't post here.

 

Now for some SPS. Most of these pictures I took with the flow on and auto ISO. I don't like the graininess of the images, so I won't be doing that again.

 

The entire top of the tank is algae free now. For some reason, it's still holding on in the lower light areas, but slowly fading away. All of my RO filters are new, and I set up a spare 125 as my new RO holding tank. I'm assuming that I have an overall phosphate problem, even though they test low. I've been running new Phosguard every two weeks. Last night I changed that out to try Brightwell GFO. I was surprised how much it had to be rinsed. Went through 5 gallons of RO before it came out clean. I can see where some people can have problems if it's not rinsed well. So far, everything looks good today.

Actually decided to do a water change. Did 25 gallons, and nothing bad happened, so I did another 40 a few days later. Most of you know that I'm not that big on wc's. Colors actually looked a little better. Hmmm.

My goofy Red Planet, finally growing upward.

 

Cali Tort





Purple Unknown



Hard to capture the violet in this one.



A rescued Blue Millie that is started to show some color around the edge.

 

A weird thing that happened was that my chaeto died off, before the algae in the DT. It's the second time it's happened. It grows like crazy for a while, then a hair type algae starts to grow on it, and within a couple of weeks it's smothered and dies. I'm going to start keeping chaeto in the FOWLR system again so the I can easily replace it.

Also got an 800 watt Finnex titanium heater without a thermostat to use with the controller. Should have done that a long time ago. Temps are extremely stable.



Some little frag I got from someone. Originally it was just encrusted over a plug. Starting to get a little purple in it.



Supposed to be a red and blue Millie.