Events during the Last Month in my Tank

557 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by rcassidy, May 21, 2003

rcassidy

Discussion Starter · May 21, 2003

So........

About 1 month ago I changed out my Reflectors on my PFO Dual HQI 400watt Radiums and removed the eggcrate on the top of the tank. WOW... What a difference in light from the new reflectors and then another WOW for the difference when I removed the eggcrate. That stuff REALLY blocks the light.

3 days later.... Bristle worms started spawning again. Whole tank turned white. 3 hours later skimmer cleaned it all out.

Then summer started. Tank hit 86 degrees one day and 85 the other two days before I was able to get some new fans on there. Now it is about 79-80 at night and 83 peak during the day.

2 days later Bristleworms spawning again. Same story.

Then last week I lost two frags that were in the tank for atleast 5 months and were doing very well. Both turned brown/white and that was it.

Then this Sunday morning I awake to find the left side of the rock work collapsed. Crap.. So I spend a couple hours fixing that, take note of the damaged corals (which are doing better already). Quick fish count... No Madarin Goby... Where did he go? Ah he will show up, I saw him the night before.

Last night. Still no Madarin Goby of 1 year (I love those guys too) Hrmm I get a ladder, look behind the tank and I find him shrivled on the floor. Crap again..... What I think happened in the rock work fell during the night (no light) and he darted away accidentaly going up and over the tank lip. He was VERY healthy.

Today... Bristleworms spawning again. Same issue.

Arggg...... The Brisleworm issue can't be good for the tank.... Everything else is normal. Ph 8.3, Ca 450 , Alk is Normal, Zero Nitrates, nothing has changed. 10gal water change every week. All other corals look good. Is this all just a weird series of events?

Ryan

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ckreef

· #2 · May 21, 2003

rcassidy said:
Then summer started. Tank hit 86 degrees one day and 85 the other two days before I was able to get some new fans on there. Now it is about 79-80 at night and 83 peak during the day.
Ryan

I imagine some of the problems can be attributed to the increase in temp. Initially the extreme 86 degrees. That is the reported temp where serious health issues start to occur.

My other thought on temp is the fluctuation --- 79 night to 83 day is 4 degrees. IMO way to much. I strive for only a 1 degree flucuation. If the tank reaches 83 degrees in the day why not set your heater at 82 then you would only have a 1 degree flucuation.

I sort of have the same problem --- so what I did is this --- I got the day temp down to 81 and set the heater for 82. Now the heater does the work and I only flucuate by 1 degree which is what the heater flucuates because of where I have the probe and the core placed in relation to each other.

Charles

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rcassidy

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 21, 2003

Charles,

So you haven't found a delta in temperature related to the MH's you use? IE The MH's will always heat it up the water 4 degrees from where you start?

I've been thinking about making this change but was always under the assumption that if I started at 81 I'll end up at 85. or If I start at 80 I'll end up at 84.

Ryan

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georgiajams

· #4 · May 21, 2003

Are the bristleworms bothering anything? What do you mean that the tank turned white? As in they are covering everything?

Seems to be some controversy over them. In fact, many detrivore packs now specifically include them as a feature. I have a small (visible) population of them in my new tank, but so far I don't see any problem... although livestock is very slim in there right now.

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ckreef

· #5 · May 21, 2003

rcassidy said:
Charles,

So you haven't found a delta in temperature related to the MH's you use? IE The MH's will always heat it up the water 4 degrees from where you start?

I've been thinking about making this change but was always under the assumption that if I started at 81 I'll end up at 85. or If I start at 80 I'll end up at 84.

Ryan

I think that depends on the setup of your canopy and the amount of cooling fans and ventilation in your canopy setup.

I just figured out what the day temp got to then set the heater for I degree more in order to keep the temp stable.

I have always used this method (heater to do the work) in order to maintain a stable temp. Maybe this weekend when your home and can monitor it run a few tests and see what you can come up w/ for the least temp flucuation even if it means a slightly higgher temp.

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rcassidy

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 21, 2003

I think I'm going to try and increase the base temp and see if I can reduce the flucuations this weekend. Its a good idea and hopefully it works. Thanks for the info.

As far as the Bristleworms go, they haven't bothered anything directly to my knowledge, but everything the tank turns white (like someone just poured a gallon of milk into it) I'm thinking it can't be good for the corals. Does anyone know?

Ryan

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