Tank inhabitants seem unhealthy. Need help!

smaraghy · 04/28/2015, 07:51 AM

Hello,
I have a 60 gallon reef. With 2 clowns, 2 leopard wrasses, 2 rbtas, a hammer and a few different zoas. Tanks has been running for roughly 7 months. Parameters are As follows.
Nitrate, nitrite, phospahte ammonia are 0
Ph is 8.2
Saliniy is 1.025
Tds reads 0
That all being said my api reefmaster kits expired. Im buying a new one today
Here is the situation.
I added the leopard wrasses one at a time. With each addition i doesed prazipro for 3 weeks. I have been dosing for 6 weeks straight with no skimmer as directed. Well, i am getting poor ppe on my hammer and zoas are not opeing at all anymore. Anemones are retracted, one is tuning greyish. Peppermint sheimpbdies. My leopard is glancing off objects and my clowns appear to have swollen gills where you can see the gills hanging out past the gill plates.
At first i was thinking gill flukes, so I kept dosing prazipro with no luck. Now im thinking ammonia and my test kit just isnt reading it? I have been doing weekly water changss of 10 gallons. Any ideas would be very appreciated, i have no idea whats going on anymore!

Dmorty217 · 04/28/2015, 07:59 AM

Get a new kit to test for ammonia. Or a ammonia badge.

ska d · 04/28/2015, 08:56 AM

Throw some activated carbon in there and turn your skimmer back on. See if that helps. You may have overdosed. Either way I don't think you need to keep medicating. Start eliminating possibilities.

Sk8r · 04/28/2015, 09:02 AM

The immediate 'what's unusual' is the Prazi. I'd stop it and run carbon in the hope of uptaking it.
Check alkalinity---should be 8.3.
You say you have stony corals, but did not list coral parameters re calcium (s/b 420) and magnesium (s/b 1300.)

I suspect a water quality issue and maybe an overdose of med.

smaraghy · 04/28/2015, 09:42 AM

Thanks everyone. Im gonna buy a new ammonia test kit today. Do a large water change, turn my skimmer back on, run carbon, and stop dosing prazipro. I can get u my calc, alk, mag reading tonight hopefully.
Thanks again for the speedy replies!

smaraghy · 04/28/2015, 07:00 PM

Well I bought a new ammonia test kit. Water tested zero. I did a 25% water change, added carbon, and turned my skimmer back on. I forgot to test before the water change but after my ca= 410 mg=1280 alk=5.6. Seems my alkalinity is low, shud i raise it with baking soda then try to maintain it by dosing kalk? Im currently not dosing kalk, just water changes.
Im hoping i just overdosed prazipro and things will start to get better, time will tell i guess. All suggestions welcome!
Thanks

smaraghy · 04/29/2015, 04:45 PM

Well, the water change, carbon, and skimming did seem to improve the health of my corals. Zoas opening up again, anemone larger ect but my leopard wrasses are still sick. They are twitching, yawning, and glancing off rocks and sand. The prazipro did not seem to work. What should i do next? I know they are sensative to freshwater dips and copper but could i do a short fwd and then a low dose of cupramine in a qt tank? Please help!

outssider · 04/29/2015, 05:47 PM

5.6 alk is too low. dose baking soda to get it up slowly.

smaraghy · 04/29/2015, 06:36 PM

Is the low alkalinity harming the fish? Or just necc. For the health of corals?

julie180 · 04/30/2015, 04:18 AM

Best to ask about fish disease problems over on the dedicated forum. Experts there.

Azedenkae · 04/30/2015, 05:29 AM

Out of curiosity, how much and how often do you feed?

scooter31707 · 04/30/2015, 07:08 AM

I am no expert by all means, but I have heard and read some articles that Alk plays a big role for the fish also, just like it does with corals. Don't know how true that is. Maybe they are stress from the low Alk. That could be a option if you don't see no spots on the fish, it could just be irritation from the low Alk.

smaraghy · 04/30/2015, 09:04 AM

Im currently raising the alk slowly via baking soda.
I feed 2-3x a day, small portions: live black worms, brine, mysis, roe.

Dkuhlmann · 04/30/2015, 05:31 PM

I agree with the others, you've probably overdosed the Prazi. Do as has been suggested. And do water changes, don't dose with anything.

04/28/2015, 07:51 AM	#1
smaraghy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 32	Tank inhabitants seem unhealthy. Need help! Hello, I have a 60 gallon reef. With 2 clowns, 2 leopard wrasses, 2 rbtas, a hammer and a few different zoas. Tanks has been running for roughly 7 months. Parameters are As follows. Nitrate, nitrite, phospahte ammonia are 0 Ph is 8.2 Saliniy is 1.025 Tds reads 0 That all being said my api reefmaster kits expired. Im buying a new one today Here is the situation. I added the leopard wrasses one at a time. With each addition i doesed prazipro for 3 weeks. I have been dosing for 6 weeks straight with no skimmer as directed. Well, i am getting poor ppe on my hammer and zoas are not opeing at all anymore. Anemones are retracted, one is tuning greyish. Peppermint sheimpbdies. My leopard is glancing off objects and my clowns appear to have swollen gills where you can see the gills hanging out past the gill plates. At first i was thinking gill flukes, so I kept dosing prazipro with no luck. Now im thinking ammonia and my test kit just isnt reading it? I have been doing weekly water changss of 10 gallons. Any ideas would be very appreciated, i have no idea whats going on anymore!

04/28/2015, 07:59 AM	#2
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	Get a new kit to test for ammonia. Or a ammonia badge. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

04/28/2015, 09:02 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The immediate 'what's unusual' is the Prazi. I'd stop it and run carbon in the hope of uptaking it. Check alkalinity---should be 8.3. You say you have stony corals, but did not list coral parameters re calcium (s/b 420) and magnesium (s/b 1300.) I suspect a water quality issue and maybe an overdose of med. __________________ 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%.

04/28/2015, 09:42 AM	#5
smaraghy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 32	Thanks everyone. Im gonna buy a new ammonia test kit today. Do a large water change, turn my skimmer back on, run carbon, and stop dosing prazipro. I can get u my calc, alk, mag reading tonight hopefully. Thanks again for the speedy replies! Last edited by smaraghy; 04/28/2015 at 09:42 AM. Reason: Spelling

04/29/2015, 04:45 PM	#7
smaraghy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 32	Fish still sick Well, the water change, carbon, and skimming did seem to improve the health of my corals. Zoas opening up again, anemone larger ect but my leopard wrasses are still sick. They are twitching, yawning, and glancing off rocks and sand. The prazipro did not seem to work. What should i do next? I know they are sensative to freshwater dips and copper but could i do a short fwd and then a low dose of cupramine in a qt tank? Please help!

04/28/2015, 08:56 AM	#3
ska d Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 508	Throw some activated carbon in there and turn your skimmer back on. See if that helps. You may have overdosed. Either way I don't think you need to keep medicating. Start eliminating possibilities.

04/28/2015, 07:00 PM	#6
smaraghy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 32	Well I bought a new ammonia test kit. Water tested zero. I did a 25% water change, added carbon, and turned my skimmer back on. I forgot to test before the water change but after my ca= 410 mg=1280 alk=5.6. Seems my alkalinity is low, shud i raise it with baking soda then try to maintain it by dosing kalk? Im currently not dosing kalk, just water changes. Im hoping i just overdosed prazipro and things will start to get better, time will tell i guess. All suggestions welcome! Thanks

04/29/2015, 05:47 PM	#8
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	5.6 alk is too low. dose baking soda to get it up slowly.

04/29/2015, 06:36 PM	#9
smaraghy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 32	Is the low alkalinity harming the fish? Or just necc. For the health of corals?

04/30/2015, 04:18 AM	#10
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Best to ask about fish disease problems over on the dedicated forum. Experts there.

04/30/2015, 05:29 AM	#11
Azedenkae Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,196	Out of curiosity, how much and how often do you feed?

04/30/2015, 07:08 AM	#12
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I am no expert by all means, but I have heard and read some articles that Alk plays a big role for the fish also, just like it does with corals. Don't know how true that is. Maybe they are stress from the low Alk. That could be a option if you don't see no spots on the fish, it could just be irritation from the low Alk.

04/30/2015, 09:04 AM	#13
smaraghy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 32	Im currently raising the alk slowly via baking soda. I feed 2-3x a day, small portions: live black worms, brine, mysis, roe.

04/30/2015, 05:31 PM	#14
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I agree with the others, you've probably overdosed the Prazi. Do as has been suggested. And do water changes, don't dose with anything. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300 Last edited by Dkuhlmann; 04/30/2015 at 05:36 PM.