Please Help!

jasoncampbell83 · 09/07/2008, 07:10 PM

Can someone please help? I have a reef tank that has been set up for almost 3 years, and 10 days ago I cleaned it and acidentally unplugged the heater. I noticed 3 days later that my coral beauty angel fish was acting sick and was stuck to the filter, I gave it some time and it died later that night. The next morning I got up and another fish (hawkfish) was dead, I took my water into my local pet store to have it checked and they said everything was fine, they said unless it was a temp. varation, sure enough when I came home I found the heater unplugged... I immediately plugged it back in... one by one 3 more fish died over the next couple days ( a yellow tang (had it 2.5 years), and two firefish) The fish would look like they were having a hard time breathing, and every once in a while they would look like they would cough. My corals also do not look very good... they will not open up like they used to and my zoos look skinny at the bottom where they attach to the rocks? My tank has also broke out with algae... it looks like green hair and brown. I called my local pet store... actually I called 4 of them and they pretty much all said to just keep changing the filter and give it time. None of my corals have died yet... but they dont look very good. Then this morning I found my gobie dead... The water temp is back up to 78.5 degrees. I only have two clownfish left. I dont know what to do... I dont know why the gobie died if the water has been at a stable temp for about 6 days now? I want to wait a long time to add fish but I am scared that the new fish will die too and I dont want to chance that. I dont know if anyone of you that are more experienced than me have had this experience or know what I should do or what I can do? I am lost. It makes me sick... I have lost a lot of fish and a lot of money and my tank looks like crap. Can anyone help please?
Thanks
Jason

J-Burns · 09/07/2008, 07:27 PM

Have you looked for Ich ? After fish get stressed out they can get it real easy.

jasoncampbell83 · 09/07/2008, 07:30 PM

Thanks... and yes I have looked for ick and they dont have it... but thanks anyway... I think it all stems from the water temp. getting low.

Agu · 09/07/2008, 07:36 PM

So how low did the water temp get ? Fish and corals can handle a lot more temp extremes than we give them credit for.

All you can do is waterchanges if parameters are out of line and use carbon. Good luck ..........

ChrisKirkland · 09/07/2008, 07:41 PM

What is the current water parameters?

jasoncampbell83 · 09/07/2008, 07:43 PM

I dont know how low the temp got... We had the air on in the house and we usually keep it about 73... so I guess maybe that low... Do you think it could be anything else that the water test didnt detect at the pet store? Thanks eveyone for your help!

jasoncampbell83 · 09/07/2008, 07:44 PM

I dont have a test kit at home but my pet store said everything was great.

ChrisKirkland · 09/07/2008, 07:51 PM

If you have algae problems then the water parameters are NOT okay. The only reason they did not detect anything was b/c the algae was already absorbing the phosphates and nitrates. You need to do 20-25% water changes with ro/di water. Most invets and other bacterial organisms/ small organisms will not like/stand having the temps below 76 or so as compared to where it was for long periods of time (longer than 3 days). Do lots of water changes, watch for ick, and feed less.

otrlynn · 09/07/2008, 07:57 PM

I don't mean this critically, but now would be a good time to get your own test kits. It is difficult for anyone here to offer help if they don't know the exact water parameters. It sounds like there may have been multiple factors, in addition to the disconnected heater, if your corals look bad and you are starting to get a lot of hair algae

ChrisKirkland · 09/07/2008, 08:01 PM

+1 on the test kits, use salifert, or red sea.

jasoncampbell83 · 09/07/2008, 08:06 PM

Thanks everyone... Yes I do need to get test kits , I realized this when all this all happened... thanks for the heads up on the brands.

ChrisKirkland · 09/07/2008, 08:11 PM

No problem, when you get those kits post your results and we can help you better.

Reef Stallion · 09/07/2008, 09:33 PM

I agree with aggressive water changes. Dead fish pollute the water. Polluted water kills fish. It's a vicious cycle. Also, if this is a reef tank, I'm sure that the fish are not the only things that are dying off. Change the water and test the water.

Ritten · 09/07/2008, 10:05 PM

Jason, I know you said that you set the tank up three years ago, but were all these fish in the 37? Maybe you didn't change your signature line, but that's the first thing that caught my eye.

jasoncampbell83 · 09/07/2008, 10:46 PM

thanks... i just did a water change... how often do you recomend doing one since I have had all this trouble... every couple days maybe do a small water change? Thanks Ritten... no all these fish were not in a 37, its a 55... I need to change that on my signature line... thanks everyone for your help!

09/07/2008, 07:10 PM	#1
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	Please Help! Can someone please help? I have a reef tank that has been set up for almost 3 years, and 10 days ago I cleaned it and acidentally unplugged the heater. I noticed 3 days later that my coral beauty angel fish was acting sick and was stuck to the filter, I gave it some time and it died later that night. The next morning I got up and another fish (hawkfish) was dead, I took my water into my local pet store to have it checked and they said everything was fine, they said unless it was a temp. varation, sure enough when I came home I found the heater unplugged... I immediately plugged it back in... one by one 3 more fish died over the next couple days ( a yellow tang (had it 2.5 years), and two firefish) The fish would look like they were having a hard time breathing, and every once in a while they would look like they would cough. My corals also do not look very good... they will not open up like they used to and my zoos look skinny at the bottom where they attach to the rocks? My tank has also broke out with algae... it looks like green hair and brown. I called my local pet store... actually I called 4 of them and they pretty much all said to just keep changing the filter and give it time. None of my corals have died yet... but they dont look very good. Then this morning I found my gobie dead... The water temp is back up to 78.5 degrees. I only have two clownfish left. I dont know what to do... I dont know why the gobie died if the water has been at a stable temp for about 6 days now? I want to wait a long time to add fish but I am scared that the new fish will die too and I dont want to chance that. I dont know if anyone of you that are more experienced than me have had this experience or know what I should do or what I can do? I am lost. It makes me sick... I have lost a lot of fish and a lot of money and my tank looks like crap. Can anyone help please? Thanks Jason __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank

09/07/2008, 07:30 PM	#3
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	Thanks... and yes I have looked for ick and they dont have it... but thanks anyway... I think it all stems from the water temp. getting low. __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank

09/07/2008, 07:36 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	So how low did the water temp get ? Fish and corals can handle a lot more temp extremes than we give them credit for. All you can do is waterchanges if parameters are out of line and use carbon. Good luck .......... __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

09/07/2008, 07:41 PM	#5
ChrisKirkland Reef and Coral Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky. Posts: 1,739	What is the current water parameters? __________________ Chris Kirkland Reef Nerd. Current Tank Info: Getting back into the hobby.

09/07/2008, 07:43 PM	#6
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	I dont know how low the temp got... We had the air on in the house and we usually keep it about 73... so I guess maybe that low... Do you think it could be anything else that the water test didnt detect at the pet store? Thanks eveyone for your help! __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank

09/07/2008, 07:27 PM	#2
J-Burns Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Charleston, WV Posts: 235	Have you looked for Ich ? After fish get stressed out they can get it real easy.

09/07/2008, 07:44 PM	#7
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	I dont have a test kit at home but my pet store said everything was great. __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank

09/07/2008, 07:51 PM	#8
ChrisKirkland Reef and Coral Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky. Posts: 1,739	If you have algae problems then the water parameters are NOT okay. The only reason they did not detect anything was b/c the algae was already absorbing the phosphates and nitrates. You need to do 20-25% water changes with ro/di water. Most invets and other bacterial organisms/ small organisms will not like/stand having the temps below 76 or so as compared to where it was for long periods of time (longer than 3 days). Do lots of water changes, watch for ick, and feed less. __________________ Chris Kirkland Reef Nerd. Current Tank Info: Getting back into the hobby.

09/07/2008, 07:57 PM	#9
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	I don't mean this critically, but now would be a good time to get your own test kits. It is difficult for anyone here to offer help if they don't know the exact water parameters. It sounds like there may have been multiple factors, in addition to the disconnected heater, if your corals look bad and you are starting to get a lot of hair algae __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

09/07/2008, 08:01 PM	#10
ChrisKirkland Reef and Coral Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky. Posts: 1,739	+1 on the test kits, use salifert, or red sea. __________________ Chris Kirkland Reef Nerd. Current Tank Info: Getting back into the hobby.

09/07/2008, 08:06 PM	#11
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	Thanks everyone... Yes I do need to get test kits , I realized this when all this all happened... thanks for the heads up on the brands. __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank

09/07/2008, 08:11 PM	#12
ChrisKirkland Reef and Coral Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky. Posts: 1,739	No problem, when you get those kits post your results and we can help you better. __________________ Chris Kirkland Reef Nerd. Current Tank Info: Getting back into the hobby.

09/07/2008, 09:33 PM	#13
Reef Stallion Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coopersburg, PA Posts: 123	I agree with aggressive water changes. Dead fish pollute the water. Polluted water kills fish. It's a vicious cycle. Also, if this is a reef tank, I'm sure that the fish are not the only things that are dying off. Change the water and test the water.

09/07/2008, 10:05 PM	#14
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	Jason, I know you said that you set the tank up three years ago, but were all these fish in the 37? Maybe you didn't change your signature line, but that's the first thing that caught my eye.

09/07/2008, 10:46 PM	#15
jasoncampbell83 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 97	thanks... i just did a water change... how often do you recomend doing one since I have had all this trouble... every couple days maybe do a small water change? Thanks Ritten... no all these fish were not in a 37, its a 55... I need to change that on my signature line... thanks everyone for your help! __________________ Umm... No I dont set a chair in front of my tank and look at it for hours. Current Tank Info: (1) 75 gallon reef tank (1) 37 gallon reef tank, (1) 6 gallon nano cube reef tank