I came home today too see my tank with almost 0 visibility. most of the corals look normal, in fact, one of them looks better, more fully extended. I've had a massive die-off in my macro algae starting maybe 2 weeks ago or less. Did one of the macro-algae's go "sexual"? otherwise, i dont have anything thats died recently except for the macroalgae.
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My water is cloudy
- Thread starter Mike02
- Start date
yes, also, there's the issue of "new tank syndrome", which i've seen occur in relatively well-established tanks (1yo or less). have you pinpointed the reason for the die-off? i'm thinking it might be better to remove the algae altogether unless it's the algae that you're really into culturing.
if it has gone into sexual reproduction it will add quite a bit to the bioload, though i've never personally experienced it. i have found quite a bit through google searches, though (but recommend you open a new browser winder i mean window or you'll likely just get bumped back to these sites - if you open the new window then you'll get a more comprehensive search result, including any published papers).
if it has gone into sexual reproduction it will add quite a bit to the bioload, though i've never personally experienced it. i have found quite a bit through google searches, though (but recommend you open a new browser winder i mean window or you'll likely just get bumped back to these sites - if you open the new window then you'll get a more comprehensive search result, including any published papers).
Hi, thanks for your replys. i've had this tank about 18 months. Also, the weird thing is that the skimmer isnt producing anything. whatever it is in the tank has caused it to stop producing skimmate. i was producing alot of "skimmate" before today. the skimmer is a CPR backpak and is working well (producing alot of bubbles as usual). I assume the macroalgae die-off is a result of lack of nutrients. prior to the last 2 wks, i the macroalgae grew really fast.
I'm assuming that the macros are in a refugium and not in the display tank. How are you lighting your macros? Is it 24/7 or are you only lighting it when the display tank lights are off to maintain PH? I have heard that Iron is important too. I would point out that "Miracle Mud" and the various Miracle refugium mud's from Ecosystems competitors all contain iron. I have no idea if that is coincidence or not. I personally light 24/7 in my fuge and have only had one problem with my macros going sexual---it was when I wasn't being careful and didn't prune enough. The growth on the top got so thick that the macros on the bottom didn't get enough light.
I'm certainly no expert. I rely greatly on people on this forum and my LFS who have had reef tanks for a long time. However, I have heard that if you are running a HIGHLY efficient skimmer on a refugium, you want it on the return side of the fuge instead of the incoming side so you don't starve the macros. That way, the skimmer only gets what the macros don't absorb. If your skimmer isn't producing, and your macros aren't getting enough light (your post didn't provide enough info to determine), then what are your macros "eating". Yes, I know eating isn't the proper term but think about it.
I'm certainly no expert. I rely greatly on people on this forum and my LFS who have had reef tanks for a long time. However, I have heard that if you are running a HIGHLY efficient skimmer on a refugium, you want it on the return side of the fuge instead of the incoming side so you don't starve the macros. That way, the skimmer only gets what the macros don't absorb. If your skimmer isn't producing, and your macros aren't getting enough light (your post didn't provide enough info to determine), then what are your macros "eating". Yes, I know eating isn't the proper term but think about it.
My skimmer was only not producing during the time the water went cloudy. i suppose i do have a "highly efficient" skimmer given that i have a CPR backpak on a 10 gallon tank. but, this is the first time i had a massive die-off in macro. when macro algae goes sexual, does it die?? i guess i should be looking it for myself online. This morning the water had cleared up and i changed some of the water and removed some of the dead macro. the FL brarium has been closed up for the past 24 yrs or so. It was in great shape prior and spreading fast unfortunately. i have a montipora digitata (purple tipped branching) that looks unaffected. its the size of about 2 baseballs and grows slowly but its healthy. i use 72 watts PC. 1 - 6700K white and 1 actinic.
in an unrelated thing, when i bought the montipora back in January 2002, a very small peice of branch was broken off from shipment. i put that on a rock, and it's spread to about a 2" square inch area. about 3 months ago or so, the brarium started to spread on the same rock. about a month ago it had come within 1/8" of the montipora. i was sure it would cover the "encrusting" montipora, but it so far hasnt. maybe i should put this in a seperate topic, but i think i've read that brarium ( or even GSP) will cover montipora. that hard corals always lose. i hope this isnt the case.
in an unrelated thing, when i bought the montipora back in January 2002, a very small peice of branch was broken off from shipment. i put that on a rock, and it's spread to about a 2" square inch area. about 3 months ago or so, the brarium started to spread on the same rock. about a month ago it had come within 1/8" of the montipora. i was sure it would cover the "encrusting" montipora, but it so far hasnt. maybe i should put this in a seperate topic, but i think i've read that brarium ( or even GSP) will cover montipora. that hard corals always lose. i hope this isnt the case.
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