Mystery Killer

[Evorngdmn]

Hello,

I have been keeping tanks in one form or another for the last 20 years. I have recently started a new nano reef. "Brief" Description - Built in filter, Refugium (light timed to come on at night to maintain PH), Metal Halide Light (Timed 12hr days), Moon Light LEDs (Timed 12hr night), Skimmer, Underwater fan for additional flow, 29gallon, Maintains 78.8 degrees, PH tests 8.3, Alkaline Normal, To deal with Ammonia (Wouldn't thing I'd have to worry with no fish in the tank) Bio-active sand and live rock, To deal with Nitrate Macro Algae in the refugium, Chemical Supplements - Kent Marine Reef Starter Kit, Copepods and Brine Shrimp in refugium.

I put a lone flame scallop in two weeks ago and it appeared to thrive (fed it micro plankton everyday). Yesterday I received my live corals from an online supplier. When I got home to add the new animals I noticed the flame scallop was less..."puffy" then normal. Seemingly peeling away from his shell. I fed him and he seemed to improve. I then tested the water to make sure everything was chemically fine and all fixtures were operating properly. I then began the very long process of acclimating the new coral, and anemone to the tank.

After it was done the water was cloudy, and all seemed well with the exception of the anemone rolling around threatening to sting the soft corals. The water seemed cloudy which concerned me, so I started checking for dead things. The Scallop had died. I removed the scallop from the tank and performed a ~1/2 water change, using a bucket and a latter to slow drip the water to prevent animals from getting further stressed.

Next morning I awoke to even cloudier water and a liquified anemone pretty I will be changing the water again ASAP.

Given that I see nothing wrong with the water or setup, have followed all the steps for acclimation and care, what is killing my animals?

[JHawlz9989]

My first thought is how the anemone was acclimated? You say it was a long process, so I'm assuming you drip acclimated them somehow? Were the lights on or off when these additions were made? Having been in a dark shipping container for one or two days, anemones (and probably other corals) can be stressed a little easier with light.

You state the tank was recently started -- how recently?

I suspect time may be something you could use. It's very easy to overreact in this hobby, and slowing things down has been helpful to many newcomers, myself included.

Good luck!

Josh

[JHawlz9989]

Also- what are your test parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, and alkalinity will all be helpful to know.

Josh

[Evorngdmn]

Josh, I did use the drip method but my logic was wrong regarding the light. I thought that because the anemone needed high intensity light to survive that I should turn the light on immediately. That is what I did. Probably killed him

Tank has been going for three weeks after the second I got the scallop and then I added everything else on the third.

Water testing - I use Ia home PH/Alkalinity kit the Alkalinity is in the normal range. The ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were tested at a local pet store I don't know for sure what they called good. The Calcium has never been tested, but I use a daily supplement.

Moving forward with patience - I have some questions regarding how much to practice. The Corals are not worse looking but not better. How can I tell if soft corals are dead or just taking their time to open up? I don't want to leave them in there so long that they kill their tank mates.

I really think that you are on to something with the light. I think (could be wrong) if the water was in poor quality the sea stars would dissolve and then I would have a huge problem. I had the light off for 10hr last night and on for 12 today. If the corals are suffering from a light problem should I turn it off for a while, or is there a strategy to unF$%^ myself?

Thanks For Your Help

[Munchdog]

Did I read correctly? Three weeks into your tank you added your anemone?

You wanna be atleast 6 months into a stable tank, and probably closer to a year.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

have you measured ammonia?

What type of anemone?

[Fish Biscuit]

Don't add anything to the tank that you are not testing for. I would get a Ca test before you dose anymore.

[Osteopth]

Also check for copper. It can show up from wierd sources.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

FWIW, a copper test will only be positive if it is really super high. Copper kits are designed to test for therapeutic levels when treating fish, not for determining if the water is suitable for a reef.

[Evorngdmn]

Decided that the LPS might not be very trustworthy, so I spent a mint buying test supplies. Ammonia .25 and Nitrate 5 were low but should probably be lower. The rest of the tests were in the test manufacturers normal range.
Fish Biscuit - The Calcium is off the fricken charts! I will not be adding any calcium unless it needs it in the future, thanks for the advise.
Osteopth - I thought about the copper being an issue, but I couldn't find a test that reviewed reliably according to some very angry copper test reviewers, and I feel as though the the serpent stars and green zoos wouldn't be doing so well if there were copper in the tank.
Munch - you are probably right, but the advertisers of live sand, live rock, and bio culture supplements say otherwise; most advertising that inverts can be immediately introduced into the tank. Knowing this is probably false I felt as though three weeks would be permissible as it would be in a fish only aquarium. I will wait a while before reintroducing a bubble anemone.
Thanks