PghReef
Well-Known Member
My reef will be 2 years old this October. Started off great with real live rock,had sps growing within months of setup, colors vibrant, everything testing great. Was smooth sailing for about 6 months until last spring when I had unexplained stn and rtn issues. That continued despite multiple ICP testing showing everything was perfect. I looked at everything from lighting, feeding, dosing schedules, flow, equipment issues, etc and came up empty. I started trace elements, added some more biodiversity from IPSF, deep cleaned the entire sump and all the equipment. I also started large weekly water changes. Things seemed to stabilize again and I once again saw some growth. Over this past winter I added numerous new coral frags and they all began encrusting nicely. Then summer rolled around and once again rtn and stn issues, overall dull coloration, even lost some colonies I had survive through last years issues. Everything still test out fantastic but obviously somethings not right. Fish all look great though and no issues with snail deaths, my amphipod population is through the roof as well.
I feel like I'm missing something here and have been at a loss for ideas. The only other thing I can think of would be something leaching into the tank thata nit picked up in an ICP. When I built thr tank into the cabinetry I used mostly oil poly to seal the inside of the canopy section and it's all in great shape. I did however use polyacylic on the 1 small beam that lies on the front of the tank,attached picture for clarity. Over time the polyacrylic has not held up well and I've noticed the finish peeling off and thr wood has almost is a fuzzy/splintered look to it. The finish is fully cured but there is obviously a chance pieces of it or of the wood are ending up in the water.
I would think running carbon would remove any contaminants, but something needs done anyway. I decided to cover the entire tank, use a coarse sandpaper to rough up and remove all the lose finish and outer layer of the bad wood, and seal it off with aquarium Silicone and acrylic. I cut acrylic into thin straps and then glued them in place with the Silicone. Here's hoping that was the issue.
The wood in question is below, that thin 1×2 is right off the water at the front of the tank. I have good airflow and tight it'd be enough but obviously the humidity has taken its toll on the underside and backside of that board.
I feel like I'm missing something here and have been at a loss for ideas. The only other thing I can think of would be something leaching into the tank thata nit picked up in an ICP. When I built thr tank into the cabinetry I used mostly oil poly to seal the inside of the canopy section and it's all in great shape. I did however use polyacylic on the 1 small beam that lies on the front of the tank,attached picture for clarity. Over time the polyacrylic has not held up well and I've noticed the finish peeling off and thr wood has almost is a fuzzy/splintered look to it. The finish is fully cured but there is obviously a chance pieces of it or of the wood are ending up in the water.
I would think running carbon would remove any contaminants, but something needs done anyway. I decided to cover the entire tank, use a coarse sandpaper to rough up and remove all the lose finish and outer layer of the bad wood, and seal it off with aquarium Silicone and acrylic. I cut acrylic into thin straps and then glued them in place with the Silicone. Here's hoping that was the issue.
The wood in question is below, that thin 1×2 is right off the water at the front of the tank. I have good airflow and tight it'd be enough but obviously the humidity has taken its toll on the underside and backside of that board.
