Whoa holy cloudy water batman

[Beverly]

Okay. The facts so far 50% water change with tapwater. That's a pretty big water change. You probably have a bacteria bloom from the declored tapwater due to the fact that Edmonton's tapwater is treated chloramine. Chloramine is a compound consisting of ammonia and chlorine, with about 1 ppm ammonia.

We had a recent discussion on chloramine in Edmonton's tapwater here....

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...light=ammonium

Instead of waiting for a bigger tank, you should invest in an RO or RO/Di unit, or else use RO or distilled water from the grocery store for water changes.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Beverly

Okay. The facts so far 50% water change with tapwater. That's a pretty big water change. You probably have a bacteria bloom from the declored tapwater due to the fact that Edmonton's tapwater is treated chloramine. Chloramine is a compound consisting of ammonia and chlorine, with about 1 ppm ammonia.

We had a recent discussion on chloramine in Edmonton's tapwater here....

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...light=ammonium

Instead of waiting for a bigger tank, you should invest in an RO or RO/Di unit, or else use RO or distilled water from the grocery store for water changes.

Since i am not allowed to install a Ro/DI unit in my apartment, is there anywhere in edmonton where i can buy bulk distilled water? i don't want to haul 5 gallon jugs from the damn grocery store
Also if there was a problem using tap water wouldn't it have shown up early, not after 4 months?

[TheReefGeek]

What do you mean, "not allowed" to install an RODI unit? Is this the landlord trying to say that?

[mr_alberta]

You can always get a faucet adapter so you don't have to tap any pipes to install a RO unit.

[TheReefGeek]

That is how I ran my RODI when I was in an apartment. I used a 50g rubbermaid container to store the water so I didn't have to run the unit too often.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

That is how I ran my RODI when I was in an apartment. I used a 50g rubbermaid container to store the water so I didn't have to run the unit too often.

well i will look into, buty i think it is too late for my current tank....i just did another water change (tested the new water...all seemed ok) when the new water hit my galaxea it turned it white....so i don't know what the hell went wrong...if the system can recover hopefully i will be able to at least save the liverock....but it doesn't look good...clowns are hanging out in the corner gasping for aIR...I'M SCREWED!


Is there a way i can re-do my tank if this explodes on me...which it looks like it has, I AM SO ****ED right now, i just don't know what happened...should i keep the rock in some salt water then make up a new batch and wash the substrate off and re-cycle it...? even if just to keep the liverock going untill new tank....lots of money just went down the drain

[TheReefGeek]

When the new water hit your galaxea, the water turned white, or the galaxea? How do your other corals look?

What water tests have your run? Can you post your results?

This is serious, but I have no idea what the problem is right now I am afraid.

I would head down to the grocery store for a couple 5g of distilled water, buy a new bag of salt, mix it up, heat it & aerate it in anything (5g bucket, rubbermade, spare tank), and transfer your livestock over right away.

If possible, I would have two temporary containers, one for fish & inverts, the other for corals. Try to save what you can. You can also seperate your live rock into a 3rd container, but remember everything has to be heated, and have a powerhead in it at least.

I would also run carbon right away, and any future water changes use new salt, and non-tap water.

[seashells]

Originally Posted by Subdued

Since i am not allowed to install a Ro/DI unit in my apartment, is there anywhere in edmonton where i can buy bulk distilled water? i don't want to haul 5 gallon jugs from the damn grocery store
Also if there was a problem using tap water wouldn't it have shown up early, not after 4 months?

Here is a tapwater filter you can attach to your sink faucet. Works very well. Here is the link http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...ct_ID=ro-aptwp

Hope this helps.

Doug

[Pan]

Well, looks like my system went tits up....the electric blue hermit is still alive but, not much else....and the water smells now like uncured liverock smells, mind you that could be because everything died on it...or at least a lot died...

Should i just keep the liverock and everything in there and see if in the next few weeks it rights itself? Then if it doesn't, clean the liverock (not sure how i would do this) and use it in the new tank? with new substrate etc..?

[TheReefGeek]

I think you should drain all your water, take everything out, rinse out your sand thoroughly, fill back up with RO water and new salt (not the salt you have been using) and put everything back in. Then watch your levels, tank might cycle again, then when it is all good put your clowns back in, and start again slowly with adding livestock.