Starting to Upset me......

[jazzsam]

So I need to identify what my problem is before I can fix it! Here goes........

I have a buildup on my glass, sand, and even on my fish! It kinda looks like diatomes but now it is starting to have a green look to it. It builds up so fast that if I don't clean the glass almost every hour there is an immediate film! It is kinda brown/green and the sand is almost like a neon green now. My fish have a brown look to them almost looking like they have been playing in dirt. I have to find my problem before I can fix it. I use RO/DI water (note: this did not happen until I changed to the RO water). I can not test my water until I get home but I hope to have something obvious in my water. Is there any test that is recomended other than the normal to try?

 

[Phyl]

Have you recently changed salt brands, or just to RO/DI water? Is the source of the water the same (same tap, or were you buying water before)? Have you tested the output of your RO/DI for TDS or PO4? Mixed salt water (before it goes into your tank)? I'd also test both for Nitrates. Did you change your lighting? How old are your bulbs? Change your food?

The film you're getting sounds like cyano (yes, even the bright green). Can be caused by lack of sufficient flow, old bulbs, excess nutrients.

If you can identify the source of the nutrients then you can use chemi-pure to get rid of the problem and maintain a proper solution. Using the chemicals without identifying the source will only get you back to square one in short order, so first thing is identifying the source.

 

[RichT]

I agree...sounds like cyno.
PO4 is a big contributor to nuisance algae and bacteria. Problem is testing for it. Most regular test kits don't detect low enough ranges to be useful and low range test kits are expensive. Plus, the algae and bacteria may be taking up the nutrient so it won't show up on the test. So if you have the problem it's probably safe to say you have the nutrients and approach that as a possible problem. As Phyl said, treating the symptom without addressing the cause will only land you back where you stared.

 

[jazzsam]

I did have a red cyno outbreak that I thought I solved.

I also have higher lighting because I put a large mirror behind the tank and that is really relecting the light a lot into the tank because there is no back.

I know this sounds bad but I "might" have changed the salt recently also. I was buying in bags for a long time and I would just get the same looking bag and I did not realy ever look at the brand and then I just recently bought a bucket of the Coralife salt.