Tank Problems...Any Ideas?

CrackerFish · 12/30/2006, 08:37 PM

Hi Folks,

I have recently been having problems with my tank. I took some water to the LFS to be tested today and all of the tests he could do checked out.

Tank is a drilled 75 with 30 gallon sump.

NH = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = Trace

Calcium = 340 .... Low
KH = 9
SG 1.024
Ph 8.2-8.3

About 3 months ago I noticed that my zoas seem to be irritated. I could tell that something was wrong with them. Well over the last few days I lost 2 of my ricordias, they melted rapidly. I managed to move one of them to a 10 gallon hospital tank but it probably will not make it. I have some other rics but they did not seem to be affected. Today they are sick and I have moved them to another tank. My finger leather has retracted and will not open. The Xenia in the tank looks sick also. I added carbon to the sump a week or so ago to see if that would help the zoas.

I change about 10 gallons every 2-3 weeks in this tank. All top off is dripped in slowly. I checked the tank today with a volt meter to see if I could detect any voltage, about .8 - 1.0 volt ac. thought maybe it could be stray voltage.

I am currently mixing water to do a larger water change tommorrow.

I also added a piece of poly filter today to pull out any contamination.

I don't think anything got into the tank, but I can't be sure.
On the same day I noticed the rics being sick, one of the red mushrooms had white slime coming out of its mouth. The sick rics also have slime coming off of them.

Give me some ideas as to what I can do to figure out what is going on with my tank, or what you think might cause these symptoms.

Whatever has happened seems to have happened rapidly.

What I have in the tank.

2 ocellaris clowns
1 yellow tang
2 yellow watchman gobies
a few snails
a few hermits
1 banded coral shrimp
1 peppermint shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp

The 2 clowns I have have been experiencing some infections on their fins and I dipped them last week. All of the other fish seem healthy.

Thanks for your time.

dermer · 12/30/2006, 09:24 PM

temp swings
lighting -how long
phosphates

drummereef · 12/30/2006, 11:05 PM

Good call on the temp swings. What's the day/night temp range? Also, what is your alk/calcium supplimentation?

CrackerFish · 12/31/2006, 08:07 AM

I'll keep a closer eye on temp / day night. See what that turns up. We did have some really cold temps a few weeks back.

Thanks Guys!!

Randy1 · 12/31/2006, 08:39 AM

I think you got a whole in your ro membrane. Its letting huge amount of contaminates into your tank. I had the same problem. Also check your sanity with a refractometer, I'll bet your at least 5 points off. Good Luck

mm949 · 12/31/2006, 10:58 AM

phosphates.....

CrackerFish · 01/01/2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

I think you got a whole in your ro membrane.

Actually my RO unit is not producing like it used to. Don't think it would be a hole, maybe something though. I changed a carbon filter a few months ago and you know I can' t remember if I flushed it before I installed it. I'm afraid that I might have clogged to Membrane. I wonder if it could be back flushed somehow by reversing the water lines on it.

SG is at 1.024 with my refractometer. My target is .023-.024

I'm starting to believe I had a large temp swing as I think right before this happened, we had some really cold weather, and it got cold in the house. I'm gonna add another large heater to the tank. I only have one 250 watter in there now. Probably not enough when it gets cold in the house.

The weather here is chaotic right now, high today 68 low tonight 38 thats a big swing, and when it gets really cold, my heat pump doesn't work very well.

I just hope my stuff will recover. And I thought the SPS were super sensitive to events like this. They are still doing great. I only have 2. I have a green slimer (not sure) and several pink/orange monti digi frags, but both seem unaffected.

Also, I had removed a xenia stalk from a rock, ( cut it off with a knife) because it had taken over one of my zoa rocks, could this be a problem? I have some more that I would like to remove the same way.

Anyone reading this that doesn't know, use caution with xenia elongata, if your conditions are right, it will spread rapidly. I also have pom pom xenia, alittle slower growth but still grows quickly, much easier on the eyes though.

Thanks for the great input on this guys.

I need to get a po4 test kit, any recommendations?

CrackerFish · 01/03/2007, 06:02 PM

Yesterday, my yellow tang became ill and died.

I'm gonna miss him.

surfjeepzx · 01/03/2007, 06:22 PM

Put a couple bags of carbon in your sump. If you have carbon that has been in too long change it.

12/30/2006, 08:37 PM	#1
CrackerFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SC Posts: 161	Tank Problems...Any Ideas? Hi Folks, I have recently been having problems with my tank. I took some water to the LFS to be tested today and all of the tests he could do checked out. Tank is a drilled 75 with 30 gallon sump. NH = 0 Nitrite = 0 Nitrate = Trace Calcium = 340 .... Low KH = 9 SG 1.024 Ph 8.2-8.3 About 3 months ago I noticed that my zoas seem to be irritated. I could tell that something was wrong with them. Well over the last few days I lost 2 of my ricordias, they melted rapidly. I managed to move one of them to a 10 gallon hospital tank but it probably will not make it. I have some other rics but they did not seem to be affected. Today they are sick and I have moved them to another tank. My finger leather has retracted and will not open. The Xenia in the tank looks sick also. I added carbon to the sump a week or so ago to see if that would help the zoas. I change about 10 gallons every 2-3 weeks in this tank. All top off is dripped in slowly. I checked the tank today with a volt meter to see if I could detect any voltage, about .8 - 1.0 volt ac. thought maybe it could be stray voltage. I am currently mixing water to do a larger water change tommorrow. I also added a piece of poly filter today to pull out any contamination. I don't think anything got into the tank, but I can't be sure. On the same day I noticed the rics being sick, one of the red mushrooms had white slime coming out of its mouth. The sick rics also have slime coming off of them. Give me some ideas as to what I can do to figure out what is going on with my tank, or what you think might cause these symptoms. Whatever has happened seems to have happened rapidly. What I have in the tank. 2 ocellaris clowns 1 yellow tang 2 yellow watchman gobies a few snails a few hermits 1 banded coral shrimp 1 peppermint shrimp 1 cleaner shrimp The 2 clowns I have have been experiencing some infections on their fins and I dipped them last week. All of the other fish seem healthy. Thanks for your time.

12/30/2006, 11:05 PM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Good call on the temp swings. What's the day/night temp range? Also, what is your alk/calcium supplimentation? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

12/31/2006, 10:58 AM	#6
mm949 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 1,843	phosphates..... __________________ 219"x30"x48" - 1350gl reef Current Tank Info: ...18ft of double sided goodness

12/30/2006, 09:24 PM	#2
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	temp swings lighting -how long phosphates

12/31/2006, 08:07 AM	#4
CrackerFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SC Posts: 161	I'll keep a closer eye on temp / day night. See what that turns up. We did have some really cold temps a few weeks back. Thanks Guys!!

12/31/2006, 08:39 AM	#5
Randy1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lorain, Ohio USA Posts: 578	I think you got a whole in your ro membrane. Its letting huge amount of contaminates into your tank. I had the same problem. Also check your sanity with a refractometer, I'll bet your at least 5 points off. Good Luck

01/03/2007, 06:02 PM	#8
CrackerFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SC Posts: 161	Yesterday, my yellow tang became ill and died. I'm gonna miss him.

01/03/2007, 06:22 PM	#9
surfjeepzx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wilbur by the Sea, FL Posts: 842	Put a couple bags of carbon in your sump. If you have carbon that has been in too long change it.