Help needed

ericrich · 10/21/2008, 01:35 PM

I have a 90 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump that has been up and running now for over 2 years. just checked water parameters and nitrate and nitrites are 0, ammonia is 0, phophates 0, temp is 82, salinity is 1.024, PH is 8.3. Yet starting last week my snails are falling off the side of the tank and dying, emerald crab found dead this morning, and some coral is dying off. Zenias, acroporia, and star polyps doing great... What do i need to check or what could be going on? Any help is greatly appreciated.

sdc19982002 · 10/21/2008, 01:38 PM

Calcium,mag..Whens the last water change?

ericrich · 10/21/2008, 01:44 PM

I don't really do regular water changes. I add reef plus and trace elements to water. I add magnesium and calcium to the water every few weeks.

ericrich · 10/21/2008, 01:45 PM

The algea has also gotten really bad over the last month.

sdc19982002 · 10/21/2008, 01:47 PM

What are your test results for mag and calcium. Any changes to the tank recently,Add new livestock?

lkirkt · 10/21/2008, 05:07 PM

When in doubt do a water change. I had a total sps melt down a few years ago. I did all parameter checks and found nothing. I didn't do a water thinking all my test came out ok. I should have done water change. All my sps croaked. Now I do 10% change every other month. Great insurance against things creeping up on me.

acrodave · 10/21/2008, 05:13 PM

You need to test your alk and ca.. and i would not dose anything with out testing first

ericrich · 10/22/2008, 12:18 PM

Alkalinity tests normal, i do not have a test kit for magnesium or calcium, having to order one. Did a 10% water change last night.

ericrich · 10/31/2008, 03:02 PM

Had water tested and alk is 14, calcium is 320, phosphate .25, magnesium 1170, nitrate & nitrite 0, PH 8.2, salinity 1.025

ljosh · 10/31/2008, 04:16 PM

Your alk is high and calcium is low. Your magnesium could probably use a bit of top up as well.

Playa-1 · 10/31/2008, 04:23 PM

It sounds to me like some water changes with a quality salt mix are in order to get your water parameters back inline.

tmz · 10/31/2008, 07:17 PM

I agree do several 25% water change over the course of a week. Something toxic(metal organics, etc) has built up in your tank in my opinion.

sohal1025 · 10/31/2008, 07:56 PM

Is your R/O still putting out clean water, maybe the tds is high.

crvz · 10/31/2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Playa-1
It sounds to me like some water changes with a quality salt mix are in order to get your water parameters back inline.

agreed, seems that this system is overdue for some attention. Also, if you're having only inverts showing distress, I'd look for source water contaminents. Copper, though probably unlikely, would wipe out the inverts if there was any measurable content.

10/21/2008, 01:35 PM	#1
ericrich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama Posts: 15	Help needed I have a 90 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump that has been up and running now for over 2 years. just checked water parameters and nitrate and nitrites are 0, ammonia is 0, phophates 0, temp is 82, salinity is 1.024, PH is 8.3. Yet starting last week my snails are falling off the side of the tank and dying, emerald crab found dead this morning, and some coral is dying off. Zenias, acroporia, and star polyps doing great... What do i need to check or what could be going on? Any help is greatly appreciated.

10/21/2008, 05:13 PM	#7
acrodave REEF NERD Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maryville tn-- work in knoxville Posts: 4,187	You need to test your alk and ca.. and i would not dose anything with out testing first __________________ Peace,Dave Superman puts on Tim Tebow pajamas when he goes to bed The Heisman as a sophomore nuff said Less technology more biology Tattoos are the only art you can take to the grave Current Tank Info: 26gal bow,20gal mantis tank/fuge150wHQI,20k AB Seio 620 maxijet1200x's 2 on a wave maker. all sps

10/31/2008, 07:17 PM	#12
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I agree do several 25% water change over the course of a week. Something toxic(metal organics, etc) has built up in your tank in my opinion. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

10/31/2008, 07:56 PM	#13
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	Is your R/O still putting out clean water, maybe the tds is high. __________________ THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor

10/21/2008, 01:38 PM	#2
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	Calcium,mag..Whens the last water change?

10/21/2008, 01:44 PM	#3
ericrich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama Posts: 15	I don't really do regular water changes. I add reef plus and trace elements to water. I add magnesium and calcium to the water every few weeks.

10/21/2008, 01:45 PM	#4
ericrich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama Posts: 15	The algea has also gotten really bad over the last month.

10/21/2008, 01:47 PM	#5
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	What are your test results for mag and calcium. Any changes to the tank recently,Add new livestock?

10/21/2008, 05:07 PM	#6
lkirkt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 57	When in doubt do a water change. I had a total sps melt down a few years ago. I did all parameter checks and found nothing. I didn't do a water thinking all my test came out ok. I should have done water change. All my sps croaked. Now I do 10% change every other month. Great insurance against things creeping up on me.

10/22/2008, 12:18 PM	#8
ericrich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama Posts: 15	Alkalinity tests normal, i do not have a test kit for magnesium or calcium, having to order one. Did a 10% water change last night.

10/31/2008, 03:02 PM	#9
ericrich Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama Posts: 15	Had water tested and alk is 14, calcium is 320, phosphate .25, magnesium 1170, nitrate & nitrite 0, PH 8.2, salinity 1.025

10/31/2008, 04:16 PM	#10
ljosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 354	Your alk is high and calcium is low. Your magnesium could probably use a bit of top up as well.

10/31/2008, 04:23 PM	#11
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	It sounds to me like some water changes with a quality salt mix are in order to get your water parameters back inline.