Question / need advice

Filters were changed about a month and a half ago
It's only a RO unit as I have no place for a DI and we drink the RO water also
I have been using this RO water source for close to year with no issues to my
Green monti or red monti also the cap that was real bad she pulled out as the flesh was fluffing off but the acro she said has PE on the stalk but zero on branches and the purple haze is almost white today

Biggest issue is I'm 3000 miles away and can't do anything ATM
When I return I will be giving a 101 testing course to her but if I can learn from this mistake and better my reef for the long run I realy want to have a nice system and not have to freak out every time I leave town
Thanks guys and gal for the info so far

 

Well I guess the bottom line is I'll test all again when I return home
But I just can't help but to feel stumped ... I feel like I'm missing a key step or somthing important I'm over looking ...
I test my water before and after everywater change it's been fine then this happens
I Dont think stopping to use of Gfo will help as sure in the long run running gfo is better

How fast does your alk drop ? And how much ... Maybe I have bad test kits ? Or expired ones ... Hmmm

 

I definitely do not think stopping the GFO is the way to go. I never had an issue with it regarding alk and pH swings, but I have seen numerous post that addressed it and seemed legit.

I am puzzled as to way the algae set in so fast on the skeleton.

I think a doser or ATO is definitely something to consider though.

I used to travel extensively and it always seemed liked I had the most problems if I did anything to the tank right before I left ( within a few days). Through problems such as you are describing I finally decided to only make changes or water changes a week in advance so I could watch for negative results.

I am stilling leaning towards a swing in parameters though as the cause of your troubles.

 

I'm pretty perplexed on the algae growing on that one acro as well the only thing I can think is there was algea already there and I didn't see/ notice it and then water change then bamm
But I think I now know what half the issue is/was my girl just reminded me that the water I used for the water change we had picked up at the LFS and it was not from are RO
I was so skattered it was
My BDay and I was leaving and packing and well you know all that stuff
I had picked up water then let it mix over night my BDay night .. So I'm sure the LFS water had not been such a good choice ughhh
I think I'm going to stop weekly water changes and do bi weekly so I can moniter my peramiters better to get a better idea what's going on also run a alk test on LFS water and my water.
Thanks Corailline
And what kinda of doseing unit would you suggest

 

I have not used a dosing unit in so long, my tank is a nano, so I get by with manual dosing. I am sure 2in10 among a lot of members is a better resource for recommending one.

 

I've been using the Bubble Magus doser for a while now, and I'm quite pleased with it. A few other members are using it as well.

 

Not very. Fresh GFO can cause some abiotic precipitation, however, it should not be enough to cause the effect your seeing.

It sounds like most likely your LFS sold you tapwater. Hopefully it was inadvertent, perhaps they did not change their RO/DI filters when they were supposed to. Seems to happen all to often unfortunately.

Sorry to hear about your troubles though, I guess live and learn as they say...

 

Im Going to have to look into that when I return I really need to figur out what dropped or what the LFS water had in it grrr so irritating
Thanks for the info Evolved

 

I want to give the LFS a fighting chance but the situation really points to there water now ... I can't believe I spaced on picking up water from them drrrr lol
Live and learn Is right I wish I had the room for a storage tank I'd just go that way and do a full RO/DI unit and store my water..

Do you guys see any issue with doing water change bi weekly ?

 

Many people do bi-weekly, myself included. No worries there, except there's a greater opportunity for your parameters to degrade if you're not watching them or dosing to compensate.