I think I might have really messed up my tank.

[Anonymous]

I think I might have really messed up my tank. I was working on getting the CA reactor working to get the tank levels in line.

Last week I got a PH monitor and cranked up the C02 to get a level of 6.66 in the reactor and had a decent rate of effluent dripping in to the sump.

2 days later the tank measured an alk of 13.8 CA 320. I lowered the bubble rate a little bit to bring down the Alk. I went away Saturday/Sunday and got home last night to a tank that is a mess.

There was a hard to remove white coating on the glass. No polyp extension of the corals nad the tank was cloudy.

I tested the water: 8.0 ALK, CA 360. Not bad numbers but a huge drop off on the Alk from 13.8 to 8.

I know water chanegs are probably needed but I dont have any water on hand. I will make some tonight but that takes a long time to make water. with my RO/DI/DI. I am going away on Wednesday for a few days as well. I hope I didn't just nuke the tank..

 

[Anonymous]

Update. Called home. No polyp extension again. Tank still cloudy. Looks like it could be over.

 

[Anonymous]

What I would do is 1) turn off the calcium reactor until you figure that out
2) Use tap water with a dechloramine product to have instant water.

 

[Anonymous]

I really dont want to chance using "dirty" water due to my history with algae. The reactor is going to go for a ride to the dumpster if the corals are dead.

 

[SnowManSnow]

just because they arent opening up doesnt mean everything is dead. I'm with the other guy.. get somthing in there you know wont kill the corals.. get the bad water out... then replace with RODI ASAP.

b

 

[Len]

I've had a precipitation event once with kalkwasser. The corals closed up for a couple of days but things returned to normal within a week or two. The odd part is your test values look pretty decent.

 

[Anonymous]

What is that hard film on the glass? The rock looks white.

 

[Len]

I'm sure it's calcium (or possibly magnesium) percipitate.

 

[Anonymous]

It would cover all the glass and rock?

 

[Dewman]

I dosed my 75 with B-Ionic 2 part, and from dumping it into the sump water, my sump was coated with that precipitate. It would flake and crumble after a while.

That was back before I knew anything about dosing.

 

[Anonymous]

When it precipitates it will "snow" in the tank. So, yes it will get all over the rocks. Do some water changes(even with dechlorinated tap water if necessary). If not, buy 20 gallons of purified water.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a Ca reactor 'burp' to me. Happens when the pH in the reactor is low, like what happens when the flow goes way down. No big deal usually.

 

[Anonymous]

Update: Tank still looks bad. I am going away for a few days starting tomorrow afternoon. I wont have time to work on the tank. I will cross my fingers it will make it. I may come home in 5 days to a swamp.

 

[bleedingthought]

Rob, did you do a water change?

 

[Anonymous]

No,

I did not have water made. I made 5 gallons of RO/DI last night but I have not mixed it or heated it.

Looks like I wont get to it until I come back.

 

[bleedingthought]

Well, keep us posted! And good luck!