Dino and cotton candy together

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Reakwonthachef, Feb 28, 2014.

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  1. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2011
    Messages:
    218
    Location:
    pennsylvania
    Just a quick question to see if anyone knows.

    Params:

    Phos: 0
    Nitrate: 0
    Cal: 500
    Mag: 1350
    SG: 1.026
    PH: 8.2
    KH: 9.5

    Stock: No fish, No CUC No sand. SPS and LPS w/ zoanthids and a leather
    Equip: LED lights, skimmer w mag drive 7 and kent venturi, HOB ref (3 gal) w cheato and a gorg, Hydor evolution 750 in the ref, WP 25 in main display. Display = 40g.

    Ok. Onto the question. When I set up my reef I used live rock that had been soaking in a dead system for about 3 months. About 50lbs. I boiled all but 5lbs (given to me at a later date) twice for 3 hours, srubbed with a wire brush and rinsed once and bleached in the sun for 3 months before constructing my reef ridge with acrylic rods and PC-7 epoxy. I had a horrible 6 month cycle. Cloudy water, then Bright green water, then diatoms ect ect. Well here it is 1 year after the cycle and I have dino on the surface of my LR. Just small patches and it never grows anywhere but the surface of the live rock. I've also got cotton candy popping up. The tests always say 0 for phos and nitrate. I don't feed. I tried purigen and for 6 months it never changed color. My cheato barely grows. My question is: Could the rocks be leaching old trapped phos at a slow rate and the dino consuming it before it can even get into the water column? I mean I just cant understand what is happening here. My SPS corals are doing AWESOME, my leather hasn't grown at all but opens up and looks beautiful. The frog spawn is healthy but never fully expands and the zoas just don't grow. Anyone have anything similar ever happen? I should have started with new rock, but even then you don't know if phosphate is trapped inside. Ugh. Also, I just did a 75% WC last week and the cotton candy is loving it. I normally do a 10% every month with reef crystals salt.
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
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    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Any carbon dosing ie: bio-pellets, vinegar......

    Phosphates do not promote the growth of Dinoflagellates (if someone could verify that it would be great) but they could certainly encourage the growth of Cotton Candy (beautiful stuff).

    What lighting type over the Chaeto?

    I would love to see your system with regard to the corals and the growth on the surface of the rock.
     
  4. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    Messages:
    7,660
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    yes, a picture would be very helpful. I can't think that after you did all that to your rock that it could be leeching at this point.....
     
  5. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

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    Location:
    pennsylvania
    Ill get a pic tomorrow when I get home from work. Over the chaeto is a 6500k 10 watt led. I mean I use distilled water. There can be nothing causing a nitrate issue I don't put anything in the tank. I don't carbon dose, I don't want to mess up and kill anything. It took time to get everything I have, ill never get it all back. I can live with manual removal. When a coral takes hold and begins to grow, the dino recedes, it does not affect the coral.
     
  6. Av8Bluewater

    Av8Bluewater Giant Squid

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    Location:
    Dallas
    Are you putting any additives or coral foods in the tank?

    I have a small bit of cotton candy. It seems to expand and contract based on how much aminos /coral food I put in the tank. At least it's easy to remove. It is pretty stuff though as long as it doesn't get invasive.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2014
  7. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

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    Sorry I still haven't gotten a pic. Been busy. But no, I'm scared to feed or add anything. I got a bottle of fluval bio enhancer. That's the only thing I've used and haven't seen any results.
     
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  9. littlephish

    littlephish Plankton

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    Mar 1, 2014
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    I don't think the bio enhancer will help you. What it seed won't be enough on it's own to strip the nutrients from the water. Have you done a water change and reduced your light cycle?
     
  10. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    I agree, your rock should be fine. IIRC, reef crystals salt is 'enhanced' with organics for coral food. That would explain why the cotton candy loves large water changes.
     
  11. Reakwonthachef

    Reakwonthachef Feather Duster

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    Ok finally got a chance to do a full manual cleaning today. I only have the before pics. Hopefully I will have time to snap some after pics tomorrow.
    The first two pics are of the main display and the third is the ref.

    It should be known that I haven't had to do a manual removal of dino for 3 months prior. It just stayed a thin layer on the rocks and never grew. After my skimmer overflowed 30 gallons into the basement drain, I had to replace the water. That's when the dino went nuts and the cotton candy arrived.
     

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