Need Help ASAP

tropicalfishguy · 05/16/2007, 09:36 PM

Ok, I have a problem. First off, my setup in question is a 65g, its been up and running for about 8 mths. The inhabitants are 2 occellaris clowns, 2 firefish, a fairy wrasse, coral banded shrimp and a handful
of red leg hermits. I have about 65 lbs live rock, 2 zoos and 2 leathers.
My firefish and wrasse are just sitting on the bottom, not doing a whole lot. I did a 15g water change, there is 0 am, 0 ni, 8.4 PH, 320 cal, only changes I have made in the tank recently, was I swapped the mj powerheads for korallinas and started adding calcium. physically there is nothing wrong (no visible ich, etc). I'm stumped as to what could be wrong. I thought maybe some airborne contaminet, but the clowns and corals are fine, I did add carbon, but that isn't helping and they haven't eaten in 2 days. Any thoughts?

drummereef · 05/16/2007, 09:39 PM

What's the temp, salinity, alkalinity, and nitrate?

tropicalfishguy · 05/16/2007, 09:56 PM

Temp is 80, it was at 84, but I lowered it over 3 days. Sal 1.025 as per
my refractometer, alk is 9 dkh and I never checked the nitrate, but is usually never goes over 10 ppm as I religiously change 20 % of the water every 2 weeks and the tank is not stocked heavily

Sk8r · 05/17/2007, 08:13 AM

check for: ammonia; nitrate; volt leakage; and run polyfilter in case there's any contamination carbon won't remove. Are you using ro/di? Sometimes tapwater contains interesting unannounced surprises like arsenic, etc. Plus doublecheck instruments like your thermometer, ph meter, and refractometer at the lfs. Any children or guests with pennies around?

tropicalfishguy · 05/17/2007, 08:23 AM

NA, no pennies, how would I go about checking for a voltage leak? thats about the only thing I haven't checked. I use tap water, but I did a water change on my FOWLR the same day, and everything is thriving in there, I'm stumped

Der_Iron_Chef · 05/17/2007, 09:11 AM

Some fish are more sensitive to oxygen levels. With the switchout of the powerheads, have you placed them differently? Less surface agitation=less oxygenation? I don't know...just throwing it out.

MTB · 05/17/2007, 09:19 AM

Get a volt meter to see if there is voltage in the tank. Available at any hardware store.

It could be a low oxygen count. Doubt it as the clowns are still doing ok.

If it was copper you would think the CBS would react first.
Could be internal parasites.

tropicalfishguy · 05/17/2007, 09:37 AM

Yes the powerheads are placed differently, , is it possible to have
a reduction of oxygen even with a protein skimmer running?

tropicalfishguy · 05/17/2007, 05:06 PM

Well update on my crisis, I lost the wrasse this morning, but when I came home from work the firefish are out and swimming normally, so what ever it was, it appears the water change, carbon nipped it in the butt. Thanks again for everyones help

05/16/2007, 09:36 PM	#1
tropicalfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 126	Need Help ASAP Ok, I have a problem. First off, my setup in question is a 65g, its been up and running for about 8 mths. The inhabitants are 2 occellaris clowns, 2 firefish, a fairy wrasse, coral banded shrimp and a handful of red leg hermits. I have about 65 lbs live rock, 2 zoos and 2 leathers. My firefish and wrasse are just sitting on the bottom, not doing a whole lot. I did a 15g water change, there is 0 am, 0 ni, 8.4 PH, 320 cal, only changes I have made in the tank recently, was I swapped the mj powerheads for korallinas and started adding calcium. physically there is nothing wrong (no visible ich, etc). I'm stumped as to what could be wrong. I thought maybe some airborne contaminet, but the clowns and corals are fine, I did add carbon, but that isn't helping and they haven't eaten in 2 days. Any thoughts?

05/16/2007, 09:39 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	What's the temp, salinity, alkalinity, and nitrate? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/17/2007, 08:13 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	check for: ammonia; nitrate; volt leakage; and run polyfilter in case there's any contamination carbon won't remove. Are you using ro/di? Sometimes tapwater contains interesting unannounced surprises like arsenic, etc. Plus doublecheck instruments like your thermometer, ph meter, and refractometer at the lfs. Any children or guests with pennies around? __________________ 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%.

05/17/2007, 09:19 AM	#7
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	Get a volt meter to see if there is voltage in the tank. Available at any hardware store. It could be a low oxygen count. Doubt it as the clowns are still doing ok. If it was copper you would think the CBS would react first. Could be internal parasites. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

05/16/2007, 09:56 PM	#3
tropicalfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 126	Temp is 80, it was at 84, but I lowered it over 3 days. Sal 1.025 as per my refractometer, alk is 9 dkh and I never checked the nitrate, but is usually never goes over 10 ppm as I religiously change 20 % of the water every 2 weeks and the tank is not stocked heavily

05/17/2007, 08:23 AM	#5
tropicalfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 126	NA, no pennies, how would I go about checking for a voltage leak? thats about the only thing I haven't checked. I use tap water, but I did a water change on my FOWLR the same day, and everything is thriving in there, I'm stumped

05/17/2007, 09:11 AM	#6
Der_Iron_Chef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 841	Some fish are more sensitive to oxygen levels. With the switchout of the powerheads, have you placed them differently? Less surface agitation=less oxygenation? I don't know...just throwing it out.

05/17/2007, 09:37 AM	#8
tropicalfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 126	Yes the powerheads are placed differently, , is it possible to have a reduction of oxygen even with a protein skimmer running?

05/17/2007, 05:06 PM	#9
tropicalfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 126	Well update on my crisis, I lost the wrasse this morning, but when I came home from work the firefish are out and swimming normally, so what ever it was, it appears the water change, carbon nipped it in the butt. Thanks again for everyones help