Okay, I need some help here...tank diagnosis please...

[Anonymous]

I had a customer come into the shop, and I tested his water, and everything was fine save for the phosphates. They tested at close to 2.0, and not only does he have a 4-month old RO/DI unit, but he has a UV sterilizer on the tank (I know, I know, but bear with me)...

He has done water changes every week, sometimes twice a week, and yet hair algae has invaded his tank and is choking out his corals. I am at a loss...everything he has done for the past 3.5 years that his tank has been up has stayed the same. He has two fish (Naso tang and Yellow tang), feeds them the same stuff/amount every day, keeps his light on the same amount, keeps temperature the same...everything.

This problem has been developing over the course of the last month. He has hair algae on the top of the tank, and cyano all over the bottom. He has 4 powerheads circulating the tank, and a skimmer as well.

The skimmer still pulls out a fair amount of crap, and again, everything else in the tank is the same as it's been. It's only the past month that his tank has gone downhill.

Please advise as to what the problem could be, because it's got me flamboozled...thanks.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

hmmm. Seems that the RO/DI may need new filters. Has he tested the TDS of the water?

It seems odd that a 3-1/2 year old tank would suddenly have a phosphate problem if nothing changed in the routine.

Is he trying a new type of food?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Nope...feeding the same food, with even less fish than he had a year ago...if anything that's improved.

I suggested that about the RO/DI, so we'll have to see what his initial test reads when he brings in some water from it.

Thanks Louey.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Where did the fishes go? They can be high phosphate fertilizer, you know....

 

[Anonymous]

No, they were removed from the system; they did not die in the system.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
You may want to suggest a large water change (25-50%) to bring the water parameter back 1.5 yrs. if you can't find anything wrong with the RO/DI.

 

[Anonymous]

hi.
You may want to suggest a large water change (25-50%) to bring the water parameter back 1.5 yrs. if you can't find anything wrong with the RO/DI.

He's been doing water changes of 25% once a week once the problem manifested itself, so I doubt that's going to help...it's gotten worse, not better...that's why it's got me stymied...

Peace,

Chip

 

[tkhawaja]

Possibly the RO/DI unit needs the membranes / resin changed. What about lighting? If the bulbs are due for a change that might be a cause. Also what mechanical filtration is he using? If he's using a sand bed does he still have a high volume of sand sifters / detrivores?

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Many things in reef are "magics", but water change and its effect on the concentration of certain ion (e.g., phosp.) is mathematical science, and if it does not come down, either the new water is full of it, or the test kit is bad.

 

[Anonymous]

A vote for a problem with the RO water here....

 

[Chucker]

A note on water changes.... Bigger is better.

http://www.reefs.org/library/article/tb_wctext.html