I am throwing in the towel. (12/10/14)

Found this. About $32 at Petco. This is the 24 watt. The 9 watt is $20.

http://www.google.com/shopping/prod...S&sa=X&ei=y_gqVNfXA4zbigKR8oGYBQ&ved=0CBgQrRI

 

I had a bloom that took 2-3 weeks to cure. It was so bad it looked like an elephant sneezed in the tank. I cured it by stopping all coral foods, especially the liquid "ready to eat" foods, like amino acids. I started feeding the fish lightly every other day and trimmed up the chaeto. I turkey blasted the rocks every other day and ran the skimmer extra wet. You can also add good bacteria to help compete with the bad bacteria. Mine started to clear before I needed to buy it so I can't offer any experience on that. I ran extra carbon and changed out the filter floss twice a week.

I would definately say no amino acids at all during this time. Corals are the only organisms that love that stuff. I actually blame my bacterial bloom on feeding too much amino acids (reef energy a/b).

Did you use dry rock to start your tank or live rock? I also believe there is a problem with using all dry rock and blooms will occur as the rocks and tank age. I used all dry rock and I have had all sorts of blooms. I set them off by doing something stupid but I think the blooms would have been easier to deal with had I used live rock to begin with.

Hang in there man! I have looked at your build more than once for advise on different things.

I didn't use a UV light either so I can't offer advise on that. Good luck and keep up the good work.

 

Not sure if you have the directions with the UV but from what I remember it clearly stated that it will only last around 6 months running constantly. I also thought it stated the light should go out but I can't say I trust that. If buddy ran for over a year than I would definitely say new bulb. Unfortunetely this units bulb is close to the same amount of a new unit but either way A LOT cheaper than every other UV unit out there.

 

Just went to Petco.com and they have an online exclusive for 13.99 for the 9watt. I going to order a couple for myself. Just not sure how long it will take to ship

 

Update:

Ordered a UV replacement, will be in tomorrow. Found out today, it's the wrong one.

I said bleep that, I'm not ordering the right replacement and waiting.

I bought a 9 watt UV from Petco tonight. Huge difference 4 hours later. It's getting clearer. Skimmer went nuts collecting the dead bacteria.

 

BTW, helped a friend remove sand from refugium. Added a light sand bed back to my tank using a cup. Sand was about a year old.

 

Sounds like a bacterial bloom then? Sound like the skimmer is working too.

 

Yep, appears do. Good Rob see the skimmer picking up what the UV is killing.

 

The skimmer may be picking up some from the sand also. Glad to hear it's working.

 

Well it picked up within the last few hours. Sand was added Sunday.