drstevemiller
01/25/2011, 09:13 PM
Hey Guys
I came home today to disaster - all of my SPS looking pale and sliming. I immediately did a 30 gallon water change (75 tank with a 30 sump - so about 30%). I tested the tank water before the change (after I did the water change as to not delay) and found that the alkalinity was in the toilet. The pH was 8.3 and Ca was 350ppm. I found this very odd as I dose daily with Kalk and use 2 part C Balance to maintain my alkalinity. As I'm inspecting things further I look in my sump and find my battery powered light that is under my tank to light my sump area......well......it's in my sump. I pull it out, freaked, and take it to the kitchen sink. The light itself, which is a cylinder shape and about the size of a bananna, has rust looking stains on it (it's supposed to be white). I open up the battery end of it (powered by 2 AA batteries) and....all this black sh*t pours out and the batteries are corroded.
That's why my alkalinity was in the dumps....there's been BATTERY ACID leaking in my tank.
I added liquid buffer to my tank to bring the alk up and I'm going to change the GFO and carbon as soon as I'm done writing this. I have another 20-25 gallons of water mixing now to do another water change if need be.
What my question is to you guys:
1) Has anybody had something like this happen before?
2) I did just under a 1/3 water change. Should I do more? Another 20 gallons?
3) Any other thoughts/ideas as to what I can do?
I'm just flat out sick to my stomach right now. Who the heck knows what was just leached into my tank? Lead? Copper? Zinc? ANYTHING! I have a squamosa clam that is 11" long in there and he's perfectly happy - as are the 2 fish. All my corals, however, look bad. Any help is appreciated.
I came home today to disaster - all of my SPS looking pale and sliming. I immediately did a 30 gallon water change (75 tank with a 30 sump - so about 30%). I tested the tank water before the change (after I did the water change as to not delay) and found that the alkalinity was in the toilet. The pH was 8.3 and Ca was 350ppm. I found this very odd as I dose daily with Kalk and use 2 part C Balance to maintain my alkalinity. As I'm inspecting things further I look in my sump and find my battery powered light that is under my tank to light my sump area......well......it's in my sump. I pull it out, freaked, and take it to the kitchen sink. The light itself, which is a cylinder shape and about the size of a bananna, has rust looking stains on it (it's supposed to be white). I open up the battery end of it (powered by 2 AA batteries) and....all this black sh*t pours out and the batteries are corroded.
That's why my alkalinity was in the dumps....there's been BATTERY ACID leaking in my tank.
I added liquid buffer to my tank to bring the alk up and I'm going to change the GFO and carbon as soon as I'm done writing this. I have another 20-25 gallons of water mixing now to do another water change if need be.
What my question is to you guys:
1) Has anybody had something like this happen before?
2) I did just under a 1/3 water change. Should I do more? Another 20 gallons?
3) Any other thoughts/ideas as to what I can do?
I'm just flat out sick to my stomach right now. Who the heck knows what was just leached into my tank? Lead? Copper? Zinc? ANYTHING! I have a squamosa clam that is 11" long in there and he's perfectly happy - as are the 2 fish. All my corals, however, look bad. Any help is appreciated.