photoperiod?

[mcliffy2]

I notice that my tank gets cloudy towards the end of the day, and I think a cause might be running my lights too long b/c when I turn it on in the morning its usually a lot less cloudy. Any advice on how or if I should adjust it?

My lighting is 1x400w 14k MH + 4x39w T5s (2 10k + 2 Actinic). Here is my current setting:

T5 Actinics on for 11.5 hours
1 hour later 10k T5s on for 9.5 hours
1 hour later MH on for 7.5 hours

Thoughts?

[Geoff]

that photoperiod is not that long. i do not think that it is the light. sounds like it could be phytoplankton. what kind of skimmer do you have? are you skimming wet?

G~

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by Geoff

that photoperiod is not that long. i do not think that it is the light. sounds like it could be phytoplankton. what kind of skimmer do you have? are you skimming wet?

G~

would phytoplankton be whitish? I thought it would be more brown.

I have an ASM G2, and am not skimming that wet...I've tried to skim wetter, raising the return pipe as high as it will go, but can't get any wetter skim. I figured maybe my bioload is just low now (3 small fish in a 118g, about 10 corals, plus clean-up-crew), but maybe not. Should I be pulling out more?

I'll snap some photos of my setup, and maybe you guys can help me troubleshoot.

[mcliffy2]

Here is the skimmer setup:

[SPC]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

I notice that my tank gets cloudy towards the end of the day, and I think a cause might be running my lights too long b/c when I turn it on in the morning its usually a lot less cloudy.

But it still is cloudy? The first thing I think of when I see the word cloudy is a bacterial bloom, like what can happen when cycling or when organics get way to high. Do you have a DSB? How much excess detritus is sitting in your system?

Adding too much kalk or 2 part solution at one time can also cause this.

Another posibility would be something spawning (my anemone does this and I have had snails and urchins do this too), but this resultant spawn shouldn't last more than a day especially if there is a skimmer being used.

Steve

[Sambo]

I'm sure this is a really dumb question - but it's definitely cloudiness in the water? Not on the glass?

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by Sambo

I'm sure this is a really dumb question - but it's definitely cloudiness in the water? Not on the glass?

haha, no such thing as a dumb question, its definitely the water.


SPC - it varies in degree by the day, but there is a general trend of getting cloudier, like a bacterial bloom, towards the end of the day. I know there are some microbubbles getting in from the sump (I'm building an improved bubble trap this weekend), but there are definitely also white particles in the water (look like bacteria, not eggs, I've had snails spawn before) they'll occassionaly stick to the glass, and yesterday I noticed them on the back of my tank.

So I'm trying to figure out what it is that makes things cloudier as the day progresses (its not like an overwhelming cloudiness, more just something that is annoying and I'd like to fix).

How does that G2 skimmer look? Am I doing something wrong if it isn't pulling wet with the pipe up all the way?

Thanks.

[funi42]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

How does that G2 skimmer look? Am I doing something wrong if it isn't pulling wet with the pipe up all the way?

Thanks.

how long did it take for the collection cup to fill to where it is in the pictures?

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by funi42

how long did it take for the collection cup to fill to where it is in the pictures?

That is a couple days.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

That is a couple days.

Skimming that wet should fill that thing at least once a day IMO

I would double and triple check all your skimmer connections, clean out the airline, clean the pump.

[jerseyguy1996]

It looks like from the pictures that there is a pretty heavy residue right up at the top of the tower. I know that my skimmer gets much less efficient when that section is dirty. I always have to be careful after giving it a good cleaning because it will start pouring out tons of skimmate and I will have to readjust the collection cup to get a dryer product.

[afbengochea]

if u cant raise the water level in the skimmer, u can always do a gate valve mod on it and then u can raise it as high as u want

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by afbengochea

if u cant raise the water level in the skimmer, u can always do a gate valve mod on it and then u can raise it as high as u want

I've seen links to this. Is this the same concept as when I cover the return tube, that water starts coming bubbling up like crazy? (except the gate valve makes it adjustable)

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by jerseyguy1996

It looks like from the pictures that there is a pretty heavy residue right up at the top of the tower. I know that my skimmer gets much less efficient when that section is dirty. I always have to be careful after giving it a good cleaning because it will start pouring out tons of skimmate and I will have to readjust the collection cup to get a dryer product.

That might be the very simple answer...I've noticed it stops right by the ring of sludge. I'll clean it and see what happens.

[SPC]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

SPC - it varies in degree by the day, but there is a general trend of getting cloudier, like a bacterial bloom, towards the end of the day..

That sure sounds like that's what it is. What types of corals do you have? I ask this because if this is due to high organics (which quite frankly I'm at a loss for what else it could be due to), then SPS corals would definatly be showing signs of stress at levels this high.


not eggs, I've had snails spawn before) they'll occassionaly stick to the glass, and yesterday I noticed them on the back of my tank.

Just FYI, many of the snails we keep (astrea for ex.) spawn by scattering their eggs and sperm into the water column. I would bet the ones you are seeing on the glass are cerith or nass snails.

Steve