I recently read the article: Chemistry and the Aquarium: Aluminum in the Reef Aquarium, by Randy Holmes-Farley. It was a well researched and informative article and since he took some time to conduct and document some observations of his own, I thought I would relay my own experience regarding aluminum.
I am new to the reef keeping world and have had a reef system for only 1 year. I have a sixty gallon reef with approximately 100-150 lbs of live rock and sand. It's lit by PC with 2 63w white and 2 65w blue bulbs and has a 25 gallon sump, which I have since converted into a marcoalgae refugium, and a 4 gallon DIY surge device. Tank inhabitants include several fish, shrimp, a carpet anemone, soft and hard coral. All were doing well in with a pattern of one quarter water change/week with Catalina Water and routine water tests and additions including iodine and calcium.
Several months ago, in a DIY frenzy I added some aluminum grating to the sump. Big mistake. Within 12 hours (the next morning) everything was shut tight, almost clenched.. I've observed various other tanks and seen my own tank inhabitants go through their cycles but I had never seen everything closed and withdrawn at the same time. I made a mental note and when I came home from work, things hadn't changed. I pulled out the aluminum and did a 30 percent water change. I did another one in several days. The mucous covering one leather finger coral turned completely black within 48 hours of first exposure. Within a week the animals started to die. Ninety percent of all animals, both corals and fish died within 2 weeks. One pipeorgan survived but only 50% of the polyps and those took a month to re-emerge.
I am convinced that the aluminum (and my stupidity) was the culprit especially considering its high oxidative potential (the aluminum's, not mine). The store I deal with uses the same water and they experienced no problems. All my water conditions tested favorable initially and currently my new tank inhabitants are doing well. Some additional data for Mr. Holmes-Farley's aluminum experiment. I only wish I had been clear headed enough to test the water for aluminum to confirm!
Thanks for a great article and a great site!
I am new to the reef keeping world and have had a reef system for only 1 year. I have a sixty gallon reef with approximately 100-150 lbs of live rock and sand. It's lit by PC with 2 63w white and 2 65w blue bulbs and has a 25 gallon sump, which I have since converted into a marcoalgae refugium, and a 4 gallon DIY surge device. Tank inhabitants include several fish, shrimp, a carpet anemone, soft and hard coral. All were doing well in with a pattern of one quarter water change/week with Catalina Water and routine water tests and additions including iodine and calcium.
Several months ago, in a DIY frenzy I added some aluminum grating to the sump. Big mistake. Within 12 hours (the next morning) everything was shut tight, almost clenched.. I've observed various other tanks and seen my own tank inhabitants go through their cycles but I had never seen everything closed and withdrawn at the same time. I made a mental note and when I came home from work, things hadn't changed. I pulled out the aluminum and did a 30 percent water change. I did another one in several days. The mucous covering one leather finger coral turned completely black within 48 hours of first exposure. Within a week the animals started to die. Ninety percent of all animals, both corals and fish died within 2 weeks. One pipeorgan survived but only 50% of the polyps and those took a month to re-emerge.
I am convinced that the aluminum (and my stupidity) was the culprit especially considering its high oxidative potential (the aluminum's, not mine). The store I deal with uses the same water and they experienced no problems. All my water conditions tested favorable initially and currently my new tank inhabitants are doing well. Some additional data for Mr. Holmes-Farley's aluminum experiment. I only wish I had been clear headed enough to test the water for aluminum to confirm!
Thanks for a great article and a great site!
