Red Water

[Bighead278]

OMG, I am so fed up right now. My tank's water is redish-brownish and I can even see my rock! My blue legged hermit died too. Does anyone know wat this could be? I am now thinking my making my hex into a reef and getting rid of the nano for now. But I don't know how many gallons it is. Does anyone know how to find this out, its 24 inches deep and 25 in across from side to side.

[FloorLord]

i.e: param's, how long has your tank been set-up? feeding/Dosing?

Sounds like some SERIOUS Cyanobacteria.

D

[Bighead278]

Sorry I forgot to post that stuff mytank hasbenn set up for4 weeks with a lot of problems:

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...&threadid=60318

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...&threadid=60591

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthread...&threadid=60323

 

Temp: 80

pH: 7.8 (going to add some buffer now)

Ammo: The color is blue and it not even on the chart so it's above 6.0 i'm guessing

Nitrite: 0

Nitrate: 0

I'm adding Waste control and Nitromax Marine every other day(I started adding after the water turned red)

[FloorLord]

that is some serious stuff, for not alot of water, and is most likely not gonna help you in the long run.

It sounds like a REALLY BAD bacteria bloom to me.

has your salinity/pH been that off, the whole time?

Also, what about your water changes? how much, and how often?

D

[Bighead278]

I do a 10% water change a week and my pH and salinity are almost all ways on target at 8.3 for pH and 1.024for salinity. And when my water was real cloudly I did some 20-30% water changes. Cuold this be from something dieing on/in the rock?

[Bighead278]

I just noticed that there are bubles coming from my sand. Is this normal?

[scottj2]

What kind of water are you using?

[Bighead278]

Now I'm using tap water only because my parents won't let me buy a ro unit and I can't get to the fish store that often to buy any.(is $1 a gallonagoodprice for ro water?)

[scottj2]

That is more than likely the problem. If you can't afford an RO unit, I would at least drive to walmart and buy some distilled water. I actually used distilled for my first 6 months and never had a problem. That would be a better solution than your tap water anyway.

[janasleah]

Don't do tap water! That's a good bit of your problem. Buy ro water at Wal-mart, or distilled bottled water. I buy my water already mixed at my LFS for $1 a gallon, but I don't think that's a bargain particularly; I just don't have the room/time to mix, and I only use about a gallon a week. Unless you're way overfeeding, there's got to be something dead in there. You can move the rock around and try to find it (a big rock clam? a hitchhiker sponge?). I wouldn't try switching over to the hex tank right now. This is so painful, but if you can ultimately straighten it out, it will be a VERY valuable experience.

 

Have you tested your tap water for ammonia? sometimes it combines w/ the chlorine...can be a huge problem.

[Bighead278]

It's not that I can't afford the ro water its just that I don't have any time to go to the fish store to get the water, and my parents think a ro unit is a "waste of money" know mater how I explan it to them.I am going to actually permentaly switch it over to to the hex, but it might take a while I stil have to sell a few things in that tank first.

[steelhealr]

Well....I think the facts speak for themselves. It sounds almost like a red tide .....bad algae blooms that occur in the ocean. Unfortunately, most everyone here will tell you that there are some corners that can't be cut when setting up a small marine tank. Why don't you print this thread up for your parents....you need good water for a marine tank (MOM AND DAD..is it in your budget to get one???) SH

[ojyarumaru]

If you go to a supermarket, there should be water machines that sell RO/DI water by the gallon for ~25 cents.