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Ann_A 
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 Topic: Plankton Bloom?
Posted: July 17 2013 at 12:46pm |
I have a 29 gallon zoanthid garden that has been running for a good 4-6 months (don't remember when I set it up really) that suddenly became cloudy within the last few days. The water has a green tint and it becomes more and more green every day. My skimmer isn't all that good but is now producing a lot of dark skimmate. I do have a refugium made from a large marina breeding box that is hung on the side of the tank. Could this be plankton growing? All levels are checking in at acceptable levels for zoanthids/palys (the only corals in there except temporary hard corals). Any help would be great. 
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DMower
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Posted: July 17 2013 at 6:49pm |
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It is likely an algae bloom from excessive nutrients. First thing I would check is the quality of water being added to system. Second I would look for any dead rotting CUC.
A UV sterilizer can kill the free floating algae bloom and clear up the water, but will not fix the cause.
I have a spare Aqua Ultraviolet 8 Watt Advantage 2000 Hang-On UV Sterilizer
that needs a bulb I could let go for cheap/trade if you want to try that route.
Edited by DMower - July 17 2013 at 7:01pm
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150 gal reef with 50 gal sump. Reef Octopus DCS-200 Skimmer. AI Sol Blues.
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ch3tt
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Posted: July 17 2013 at 6:53pm |
 DMower wrote:
It is likely an algae bloom from excessive nutrients. First thing I would check is the quality of water being added to system.
A UV sterilizer can kill the free floating algae bloom and clear up the water, but will not fix the cause.
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+1 sounds/looks like an algae bloom to me. Uv Sterilizer will help, I have also seen people shut the lights off for several days to help.
Edited by ch3tt - July 17 2013 at 6:55pm
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Red Sea Reefer 625 XXL
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 17 2013 at 8:19pm |
Just 3-7 days with a temporary UV Sterilizer will clear it up and it rarely comes back, but a Tridacna Clam is the coolest long term solution which results in clear water and a very happy clam. Aloha, Mark  808-345-1049
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Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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sabeypets
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 12:43am |
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Another possibility is that your caulerpa (feather?) has gone sexual. Check your refugium and see if any caulerpa has lost its green color and is clear.
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Shaun American Fork  "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams
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Ann_A
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 12:37pm |
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I checked the caulerpa already and none of it is white. Is there anything I can do besides getting a UV or a clam? The water going into the tank is RO water from my 4 stage BRS unit. Filters are only 6 months old.
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Akira
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 1:44pm |
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Ann my 4 stage has a color changing media in it and I just changed it after 6 months because it was brown. Im sure you already know that super dirty water and more production will shorten the filters life. I changed mine even though it showed 000 tds on output.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 1:50pm |
I have worked with live phyto for many years and had blooms in several aquariums when I overfed live phyto. The only reliable elimination came with use of either a UV Sterilizer or a decent sized Clam. The only other thing I know of that can clear phyto in the presence of
some kinds of coral is Rotifers, but in this case the Zooanthid coral will eat the rotifers faster than
they can multiply to eat the Phyto. I tried one years ago and it didn't
work, but a really good skimmer might remove the phyto. You could try plumbing this tank to another tank that has been up longer with a larger population of filter feeders and a good skimmer. Phyto is not harmful and if left to it's own the "culture" will crash with no deleterious effects to the coral or tank in general. It will probably take 1-3 weeks for it to crash. Leaving the lights off and completely darkening the tank with a dark sheet or blanket can help it crash, but the coral will suffer if left in this darkness for more than about 5 days. That's it for my ideas.  Aloha, Mark
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DMower
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 1:50pm |
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I have another small uv that is not for sale that you can borrow for a week or two if you want. It is ready to run.
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150 gal reef with 50 gal sump. Reef Octopus DCS-200 Skimmer. AI Sol Blues.
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Ann_A
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Posted: July 18 2013 at 9:22pm |
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I think I am going to upgrade my skimmer and try that for now since I need a new one anyways. If that doesn't clear it up I'll add some filter feeders and maybe borrow the UV from DMower.
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Ann_A
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Posted: July 21 2013 at 12:26pm |
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So I upgraded to the new CADlights PLS-50 nano skimmer (pipeless) and so far it is starting to clear up. I've already emptied a full collection cup of dark green skimmate in less than 24hrs, and it's not skimming very wet.
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