Tank turned Green.

[Shark_Bait]

Went to bed last night and all was well in the 42 gal hex. Woke up this morning and the water is green. Smells funky too. Did not just do any major maintenance that might have stirred something up. Just kinda curious if anyone has any idea of what might have caused this.
Just did a 50% water change on the tank, and fired up the RO/DI unit so I can do another on Wends (day off). Any other suggestions?

[carlinsa]

lots of carbon...

[gjuarez]

lots of carbon and check for phosphates. If that is the problem you can use rowaphos or phosban. How old are the bulbs you are using?

[Shark_Bait]

Phosphates are 0... Bulbs are a 24" Currents setup that is about 6 months old. If it was lights I don't thonk This would happen over night, but who knows nothing bad happens slow in a reef tank.

[NaCl_H2O]

Sounds like an algae or Bacterial bloom - or somebody dropped a tea bag in your tank ;)

Water changes and carbon are your best bet. 50% changes are pretty tough on everything unless you keep parameters VERY close. Maybe do 25% morning, 25% evening.

Maybe try a UV sterilizer if you can get ahold of one? A canister type flter with very fine media might help too.

[JimD]

A canister filter with a fine pleated filter would be your best bet, run during the night while the lghts are out along with carbon and water changes. Theres obviously excess nutrients being introduced somewhere, youll need to identify the source and eliminate it. Are you dosing phytoplankton?

[Shark_Bait]

50% changes are pretty tough on everything unless you keep parameters VERY close

Not much in the tank now. Was for the seahorses; but they are not with us any longer :(



Are you dosing phytoplankton?

Nope... That's kinda what it looks like though. When you first dose the phyto and the tank gets that green tint. Maybe I should bottle and sell it ;)

[Richard]

Get a clam and watch him grow :D

[LoneStar]

hmmmm green water.....celebrating St. Patricks Day a little bit early??

[donniekim]

What kinda macro are you using?
Could it be grape caulerpa?!?, going sexual?
Just a guess, I've never seen it happen, but have heard about it.
I could be waaaaaaay off, so

[ReefOne]

that's what I was gonna ask. I use to use caulerpa until I noticed it made my water green as it started to grow. Ditched it and now I only use caluerpa. Let me know if you need some Rob...i can hook you up...it's overflowing out of my hang-on.

[Shark_Bait]

Well the water change and the carbon cleared it right up.
And finnaly found the cause. A mass die off of some macro. Not exactly sure of the type but; it ALL died off and kinda melted away. Couldn't pick it out by hand actually had to siphon it out as it turned into a slime. I'll figure out the type it was today and post here.
Thanks everyone for the help. Man that was scary

[donniekim]

I've read that when macro goes sexual it turns clear