SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!

[Anonymous]

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i'm looking at my tank and the water is all cloudy green!! i'm breaking it apart to see what's wrong but i'm afraid for my critters... what's wrong?? it just happened in the last 15 minutes... help me please!!! can i do an emergency water change??? will it harm them if the water can't sit and mix for 24 hours?

 

[Anonymous]

i'm cleaning my pumps, skimmer and adding charcoal. please, someone answer me! i have never been in this situation before. what is happening to my tank?

 

[Xphixer2]

I don't think the water will be bad if it is not mixing for 24hours. 24 hrs is prefered to make sure the oxygen level is up and temp is stabilized and salt mix is completely mixed, salinity stabilized. I think the folks at Instant ocean have said that their salt can be used right away but they recomend 12-24 hours of mixing. In this case you may be better off with not waiting. The prescence of green water usually indicates an algae bloom. Is your skimmer operating properly? Algae blooms aren't an immediate danger to fish and others but may pose a problem if left for a while. Rich

 

[danmhippo]

Did you have caulerpa, did they turn white/transparent?

I am thinking of 2 possibilities, 1. Caulerpa going sexual 2. A sudden green algae bloom, but the reproduction rate shouldn't be so fast though.

Do acouple of large water changes and make sure your skimmer is function normally to ensure proper gas exchange. Check your skimmate production and empty skimmate cup promptly.

Turn off light.

 

[Anonymous]

yes, i do have a handful of caulerpa growing from rock. no, it's not turning white. algae bloom? ok, i'm doing the quick water change now... i hope this works. this is so strange and unimagineable to me. i feel like such an idiot for not knowing what's going on. thanks for the responses, guys. i REALLY appreciate your help. i am watching this post while i clean my tank.

 

[danmhippo]

The green color you described, it's not the green algae on the tank glass is it, or it's the water is actually green? take a large while mug and scoop a cup up to see it's actually the water green. It's interesting green algae reproduce that fast, you said 15min is it? Prior to seeing green water, did you do anything or cleaned anything? Were you making water change? Feeding?

What's your PO4 and NO3 level now?

 

[flameangel1]

Coral shrimp,,
Sounds like your Caulerpa sporalated and yes- it happens very fast.
Throw the origonal bunch out (it is probably white now)
, do a 20% water change and it will be fine.

Water can turn "pea soup green" when Caulerpa sporalates.

 

[Anonymous]

yes, the water is actually green. AND i looked better at my caulerpa - it is WHITE. so you say i should pull the caulerpa bunch out? all of it or just the white part - only half the bunch is white.

dan, i didn't do anything prior to the "incident" other than turn on my lights. i was getting their food ready and when i came back to check on the tank, the water was green. it happened fast. i thought that perhaps a pump went bad or maybe a snail got munched - but i have filters on my pumps so that won't happen.

 

[flameangel1]

Coral Shrimp,,
Pull it all out !!
The rest WILL turn white in a few minutes.

 

[danmhippo]

Just the white part. The most critical factor in caulerpa going sexual is O2 depletion due to all the bioactivity associated with eggs and gamets. Keep your skimmer running optimal should prevent that from suffocating your fish.

Otherwise, this large orgy event is free food for all other corals in your tank. Watch the ammonia and nitrite level closely for the next few hours.

 

[flameangel1]

Coralshrimp,,
I have seen all the different Caulerpas do this at one time or another.
And there is NO specific reason for them to do this occasionally.
Contrary to current thought- have seen them do this when pruned very heavily-been in the same tanks doing normally- no one has been near the tank to do anything etc.

But, it sure can knock your oxygen level down when it happens.

Dont panic!!
Have seen this many times. Your animals will be fine , just by doing the water change and keeping the circulation up.

Also- in an emergency- 2 hours is fine for newly mixed water.
Better to use it than to wait with a mess.

 

[naesco]

I would also recommend you put an air diffuser in the corner of the tank away from any sponge to ensure that your O2 levels stay up.

 

[Anonymous]

naesco, the only air diffuser i have is limestone. is that okay? or will it produce too many fine bubbles? and should i position it closer to the top or bottom near the sand?

 

[danmhippo]

Anything is better then none at all.

 

[SPC]

So how is everything looking now Ms Coral? Excellent advice from all above BTW.
Steve

 

[naesco]

Yes that diffuser is OK. Position it near the bottom but not so that it disturbs the sand.

 

[Anonymous]

the tank has cleared up a tiny bit. i cleaned the skimmer and it's pulling out green 'stuff'. i still haven't done my water change yet. wanted to let the water mix a bit longer.

thanks for all your advice guys. you are great.

sorry i freaked out on you. :roll:

 

[SPC]

Coral, I would crank the skimmer wide open (wet foam).
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

will that clear the water faster??

 

[flameangel1]

coralshrimp,,

I would not wait any longer to do that water change !!!
I always do it immediately and the water will clear up in about 15 minutes that way.

By the way- it is a good idea to always have at least 20% of the tank size, of made up saltwater on hand at all times.
It will keep a week easy with a powerhead in the vat.
And we never know when we might need it in a hurry.
Good luck !!