dead toadstool cause tank crash?

modrace · 07/12/2008, 07:36 AM

A quick overview before I get into questions. Ive had a toadstool in my tank for approx. 6 months now. 3 weeks ago it disappearred. I looked through the rockwork as much as possible, but was not able to find it. 2 nights ago while rearranging some rockwork I stumbled upon it. It looked dead, and as I started to remove it, about 2/3 of it came off as almost a white powder in the tank. I removed as much of it as I possibly could, however.
The next morning I woke up to gasping fish, and by the time I was able to get a hospital tank set up I only had one clown left. The toadstool was about 5" when it was fully expanded. The ammonia level in the tank was off the chart when tested. Ph was around 8, sal. was 1.027 on refract. which may be a bit high, but I dont believe should hurt anything. Temp has been fluctuating between, 79-81(night to middle of day).
I guess my question is, could all the debris from the leather have caused that kind of spike, or does anyone have any ideas for me? The tank is a 55 gal. btw, with a 30gal sump converted from a wet/dry filter. Probably 75 lbs. of rock total, with chaeto in the sump as well. If you'd like any other info, just let me know.
Thanks in advance for any help!!

MIKE HUNT · 07/12/2008, 09:09 AM

No, prob something else. Could be lack of water changes, dead fish, uncured LR, Sand bed releasing ammonia, inadequate flitration. Please elaborate on your setup

Sk8r · 07/12/2008, 09:12 AM

Yes, it could. Yellow toadstools are the worst, but any big fleshy thing dying in your tank is not good. Immediately run carbon whenever dealing with this kind of situation---massive amounts of carbon (washed); Amquel may be in order. A 20% water change would be good, now, too.

When softies are upset they spit chemicals into the water. A dying softie of size can be very bad news. Carbon is a good remover for organics, meaning anything produced by living organisms.

Never, however, leave a carbon bag in your tank over 5 days: if you forget them, they can start releasing everything they absorbed.

modrace · 07/12/2008, 09:24 AM

Ive been doing 10% water changes weekly, using ro. I wasn'g missing any fish until this incident. Tank has been running 1 yr. and about 2 mos. Unfortunately substrate is cc, acquired at setup, before I found rc. Maybe this would be the time to change it over, since I dont have much left in there atm.

I didnt have any carbon in the house, going to grab some on the way home from the office today. I changed about 10% of the water yesterday, I may change another 10% if not more today as well. Couldn't hurt I guess.

Thanks again for all the help.

07/12/2008, 07:36 AM	#1
modrace Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 9	dead toadstool cause tank crash? A quick overview before I get into questions. Ive had a toadstool in my tank for approx. 6 months now. 3 weeks ago it disappearred. I looked through the rockwork as much as possible, but was not able to find it. 2 nights ago while rearranging some rockwork I stumbled upon it. It looked dead, and as I started to remove it, about 2/3 of it came off as almost a white powder in the tank. I removed as much of it as I possibly could, however. The next morning I woke up to gasping fish, and by the time I was able to get a hospital tank set up I only had one clown left. The toadstool was about 5" when it was fully expanded. The ammonia level in the tank was off the chart when tested. Ph was around 8, sal. was 1.027 on refract. which may be a bit high, but I dont believe should hurt anything. Temp has been fluctuating between, 79-81(night to middle of day). I guess my question is, could all the debris from the leather have caused that kind of spike, or does anyone have any ideas for me? The tank is a 55 gal. btw, with a 30gal sump converted from a wet/dry filter. Probably 75 lbs. of rock total, with chaeto in the sump as well. If you'd like any other info, just let me know. Thanks in advance for any help!!

07/12/2008, 09:12 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Yes, it could. Yellow toadstools are the worst, but any big fleshy thing dying in your tank is not good. Immediately run carbon whenever dealing with this kind of situation---massive amounts of carbon (washed); Amquel may be in order. A 20% water change would be good, now, too. When softies are upset they spit chemicals into the water. A dying softie of size can be very bad news. Carbon is a good remover for organics, meaning anything produced by living organisms. Never, however, leave a carbon bag in your tank over 5 days: if you forget them, they can start releasing everything they absorbed. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/12/2008, 09:09 AM	#2
MIKE HUNT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 92	No, prob something else. Could be lack of water changes, dead fish, uncured LR, Sand bed releasing ammonia, inadequate flitration. Please elaborate on your setup

07/12/2008, 09:24 AM	#4
modrace Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 9	Ive been doing 10% water changes weekly, using ro. I wasn'g missing any fish until this incident. Tank has been running 1 yr. and about 2 mos. Unfortunately substrate is cc, acquired at setup, before I found rc. Maybe this would be the time to change it over, since I dont have much left in there atm. I didnt have any carbon in the house, going to grab some on the way home from the office today. I changed about 10% of the water yesterday, I may change another 10% if not more today as well. Couldn't hurt I guess. Thanks again for all the help.