Moved tank-now mysterious problems

[Randy22]

So... To get right to the point... I recently moved my tank 5 hours away, and took (I believe) all necessary precautions: saved 75% of the water, kept LR submerged, bagged each coral separately, kept fish with aerator, etc...

I then set up the tank in my new place, and everything was great for 2 weeks. I then had a brown algae bloom, which was not unexpected. However, after another 1 1/2 weeks, my corals stopped opening. It has now been over a week, and I do not know what else to try. Here are my tank parameters:

60 gal. tank
60 lb. live rock
3 power head circulation
remora skimmer
live sand bed
4 fish, xenia, hammer, mushroom
asst. hermits and snails
79 degree water, steady
PC lighting (since start)


I have done water changes, and they did not help. Fish are healthy, as normal. The tank is now approximately 1 1/2 years old and tank tests out normal (nitrate, pH, ammonia, calc) alk. was a little low, but I added buffer.

So, I ask for any ideas for other things I can try to get things back to normal, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Randy

[ August 16, 2001: Message edited by: Randy22 ]

 

[danmhippo]

This could be a toughy, well, let's start with some basic facts, what kind of corals do you have other than hammer and xenia? You said corals stop opening, you meant hammer right? Have you done testing for Nitrite? How about Ammonia? Any readings at all on either? What is your current alk reading after adding the buffer? How about Ca? What is the readings before?

It is typical for mushroom and xenia to stop opening after shocks, moving and new waters in your case. I am also suspecting on possible LR die-offs, that's why I asked about any readings on nitrite. I know that when I moved my tank, 10 minutes away, but the plumbings has been exposed to dryness for more than 5 hours due to disassembly and re-assembly, my tank went through a mini cycle as bacteria on the plumbing parts die-off and being re-colonized. Also, when I did the moving, a lot of detritus that was in the sand got stirred up and fouled the water quite a bit. I am also suspecting fauna in LS sustained die-offs too. Not sure if that applies to you, but just trying to throw in some possible explainations.

 

[StrikeThree]

I wonder about your top-off water. Are you using an RO/DI or Tap or bottled. If you were using tap the new water at the new place could be different in mineral/metal content etc. Just a thought, good luck. I move my 40 gal 2 hours this weekend.

Brian

 

[Randy22]

To answer some questions... I only have the three corals I listed originally (didn't get more because I knew I was moving...) My ammonia=0, haven't tested nitrite, but nitrate also tested at 0 (I am sure it is not quite 0, but you know how the colors go...)

I use a TWP for my water... Yes, my hammer isn't opening, and my xenia just looks bummed... the mushroom also is shriveled... I do believe it is die off from my sand bed (which was moved in the tank, with just a little water), the live rock (even though it was kept submerged), and other things like that...

My main question, how can I mitigate this die off and subsequent spike in algae, etc... I think if I can do this, all will be good. I am doing water changes, but don't have the time or ability to do them constantly... Any other ideas are appreciated.

Thanks again,
Randy

 

[Mac1]

Being in the process of going through the same thing (actually, quite worse, but that's another story), I can relate. Ironic as it sounds, if you don't have visible area's of die off (white, rotting tissue, etc.), then I would actually hold off on the water changes. Give the tank a chance to cycle. Run Carbon. If you have Algae/refugium, light it 24/7 and let that suck out as much crap as possible. Export what you can, and when you do water changes, make them really effective. Turn off all pumps, suck out every drop of water possible, before starting to refill the system. That maximizes the change out. Phosphate remover, Carbon, skim the hell out of the thing (Beg, borrow, build, or test drive a skimmer if you can). Export as many of the nutrients as you can, that's your best bet.

- Mac