Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - The Debate - Teardown, scrub, and rebuild, or try something else.

dougchambers · 08/04/2007, 02:25 PM

So I'm perplexed. The system has been up and running for just over 2 years. We have had zero nussance algae problems until just over 2 months ago when I saw a speck of green hair that has started spreading over corals quickly. Here is what we've done so far;

- Increased our frequence of water changes
- Replaced the MH bulbs
- Dialled up the skimmer
- Decreased our feedings
- Added more snails and crabs (2-weeks)
- Loaded a phos reactor (2-weeks ago)
- Checked our RO/DI (0 TDS)
- Lowered the temp to 79-79.5°

Nothing seems to have help. To make things worse, we've had an aptasia farm brewing for the last 6 months that I can't get under control either. I've tried multiple doses of Joe's Juice and even put a Copper Band into the tank. They continue to grow at an alarming rate.

My next thought is to tear out the rock, frag the overgrowth, and start scrubbing everything down. It seems pretty drastic, but the aptasias are huge and everywhere. It's pretty frustrating and embarrasing given how successful our old systems have been.

Any thoughts before I practically destroy the tank. Have I overlooked anything?

System Details (Short List - More on website);

135g in-wall display
~90g sump
DSB w/Live Rock
Heavy circulation with Closed loop
MR3 Skimmer (PCX55-HP Pump)
CR2 Calcium reactor
DIY Kalk Reactor
2-250W MH
3-110W URI Actinic

Here are the shots;

08/04/2007, 02:25 PM	#1
dougchambers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,882	The Debate - Teardown, scrub, and rebuild, or try something else. So I'm perplexed. The system has been up and running for just over 2 years. We have had zero nussance algae problems until just over 2 months ago when I saw a speck of green hair that has started spreading over corals quickly. Here is what we've done so far; - Increased our frequence of water changes - Replaced the MH bulbs - Dialled up the skimmer - Decreased our feedings - Added more snails and crabs (2-weeks) - Loaded a phos reactor (2-weeks ago) - Checked our RO/DI (0 TDS) - Lowered the temp to 79-79.5° Nothing seems to have help. To make things worse, we've had an aptasia farm brewing for the last 6 months that I can't get under control either. I've tried multiple doses of Joe's Juice and even put a Copper Band into the tank. They continue to grow at an alarming rate. My next thought is to tear out the rock, frag the overgrowth, and start scrubbing everything down. It seems pretty drastic, but the aptasias are huge and everywhere. It's pretty frustrating and embarrasing given how successful our old systems have been. Any thoughts before I practically destroy the tank. Have I overlooked anything? System Details (Short List - More on website); 135g in-wall display ~90g sump DSB w/Live Rock Heavy circulation with Closed loop MR3 Skimmer (PCX55-HP Pump) CR2 Calcium reactor DIY Kalk Reactor 2-250W MH 3-110W URI Actinic Here are the shots;