Inverts

boxerzz · 07/05/2007, 06:42 AM

I had my tank for 3 years and when I started out I can see crabs snails from the live rocks now, none of them are left. Any ideas what it can be due. Furthermore, my tank ph is actually at 9 which is very high.

Avi · 07/05/2007, 06:55 AM

With a pH at 9, which you note is high, your other water-quality measurements may well also be off and so the inverts suffered from those conditions. What are your readings currently for nitrates, calcium and alkalinity?

BWine · 07/05/2007, 07:04 AM

A ph of 9? What are your other water parameters? For me, my snail population tends to dwindle over time. So, I usually have to add to my cleanup crew when I notice the decline.

boxerzz · 07/05/2007, 07:47 AM

ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates < 3 ppm

the rest I never measure ( I hope I am not wrong ) because I don't have corals, only live rocks and fish.

camocustom · 07/05/2007, 08:09 AM

Wait, I have never seen a pH in SW ever get that high....never seen it above 8.4...only with african cichlids that like it that high....how old is your test kit? it could be bad..try testing with other kits, maybe at your LFS...its worth a shot....if not....do you add any kind of pH/alkalinity buffers? if so, you might be adding too much, ....

boxerzz · 07/05/2007, 09:49 AM

the ph kit I use is quite old already and never use for a while, may be expired.

Avi · 07/05/2007, 10:03 AM

Can you give more info on your tank, like what kind of lighting, do you have a protein skimmer, what kind of waterflow is there, etc?

camocustom · 07/05/2007, 10:40 AM

If its that old, it sure as well could be bad.....try with a different test....

boxerzz · 07/05/2007, 06:55 PM

the kit is fine, I tested with pure water and the ph is right. 9 ph of my tank !

here are the parameters that I have

salinity 1.025

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate <3 ppm

50gal tank

800lph powerhead

80w PC lights with 3 years tubes.

Fish and live rocks only setup. If need more parameters tell me and I will get the extra kits.

rbursek · 07/05/2007, 07:29 PM

tupes/ bulbs should be changed at least every year. crabs will eat snails if they have no other food, eels, nasty wrasses eat crabs, I have to add both on a quarterly basis, it is a food chain, snails die, no algie, crabs eat snails, they all die unless you add stuff for them, it is a food chain cycle!!!!!
Bob

boxerzz · 07/05/2007, 11:36 PM

I see, but what about the ph ?

camocustom · 07/06/2007, 06:59 AM

LOW CARBON DIOXIDE!!!! check this out..i went researching for you....

here is a solution for it...
(from website)
A. Direct addition of carbon dioxide. Bottled soda water (seltzer) can be used to instantly reduce aquarium pH. Be sure to select unflavored soda water, and check the ingredients to be sure it doesn't contain anything that should be avoided (phosphate, etc). Many manufacturers list water and carbon dioxide as the only ingredients.

I recommend adding 6 mL of soda water per gallon of tank water to reduce pH by about 0.3 units. Add it to a high flow area away from organisms (such as in a sump). The local pH where it first is added will be very low. Going about this procedure slowly is better than proceeding too fast. If you do not have a sump, add it especially slowly. Some soda water may have more, or less, carbon dioxide in it, and the lower the aquarium's alkalinity, the larger will be the pH drop. Also, the higher the pH, the smaller will be the pH drop, because the buffering of seawater declines steadily as the pH drops from about 9 to 7.5.

and here is the site....

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hf/index.php#6

chaseracing · 07/06/2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by camocustom
LOW CARBON DIOXIDE!!!! check this out..i went researching for you....

here is a solution for it...
(from website)
A. Direct addition of carbon dioxide. Bottled soda water (seltzer) can be used to instantly reduce aquarium pH. Be sure to select unflavored soda water, and check the ingredients to be sure it doesn't contain anything that should be avoided (phosphate, etc). Many manufacturers list water and carbon dioxide as the only ingredients.

I recommend adding 6 mL of soda water per gallon of tank water to reduce pH by about 0.3 units. Add it to a high flow area away from organisms (such as in a sump). The local pH where it first is added will be very low. Going about this procedure slowly is better than proceeding too fast. If you do not have a sump, add it especially slowly. Some soda water may have more, or less, carbon dioxide in it, and the lower the aquarium's alkalinity, the larger will be the pH drop. Also, the higher the pH, the smaller will be the pH drop, because the buffering of seawater declines steadily as the pH drops from about 9 to 7.5.

and here is the site....

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hf/index.php#6

...or do a big water change and aim a PH at the surface.

-=E=-

boxerzz · 07/06/2007, 08:19 PM

thank you guys very much, I will do what I can.

07/05/2007, 06:42 AM	#1
boxerzz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 606	Inverts I had my tank for 3 years and when I started out I can see crabs snails from the live rocks now, none of them are left. Any ideas what it can be due. Furthermore, my tank ph is actually at 9 which is very high.

07/05/2007, 06:55 AM	#2
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	With a pH at 9, which you note is high, your other water-quality measurements may well also be off and so the inverts suffered from those conditions. What are your readings currently for nitrates, calcium and alkalinity? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

07/05/2007, 07:04 AM	#3
BWine Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brandywine, MD Posts: 230	A ph of 9? What are your other water parameters? For me, my snail population tends to dwindle over time. So, I usually have to add to my cleanup crew when I notice the decline. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 210 gal, 75 gal Sump/Refugium, MSX300a Skimmer, 4 AI SOL Blues

07/05/2007, 10:03 AM	#7
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Can you give more info on your tank, like what kind of lighting, do you have a protein skimmer, what kind of waterflow is there, etc? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

07/05/2007, 06:55 PM	#9
boxerzz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 606	the kit is fine, I tested with pure water and the ph is right. 9 ph of my tank ! here are the parameters that I have salinity 1.025 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate <3 ppm 50gal tank 800lph powerhead 80w PC lights with 3 years tubes. Fish and live rocks only setup. If need more parameters tell me and I will get the extra kits. Last edited by boxerzz; 07/05/2007 at 07:05 PM.

07/05/2007, 07:47 AM	#4
boxerzz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 606	ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates < 3 ppm the rest I never measure ( I hope I am not wrong ) because I don't have corals, only live rocks and fish.

07/05/2007, 08:09 AM	#5
camocustom Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 166	Wait, I have never seen a pH in SW ever get that high....never seen it above 8.4...only with african cichlids that like it that high....how old is your test kit? it could be bad..try testing with other kits, maybe at your LFS...its worth a shot....if not....do you add any kind of pH/alkalinity buffers? if so, you might be adding too much, ....

07/05/2007, 09:49 AM	#6
boxerzz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 606	the ph kit I use is quite old already and never use for a while, may be expired.

07/05/2007, 10:40 AM	#8
camocustom Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 166	If its that old, it sure as well could be bad.....try with a different test....

07/05/2007, 07:29 PM	#10
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	tupes/ bulbs should be changed at least every year. crabs will eat snails if they have no other food, eels, nasty wrasses eat crabs, I have to add both on a quarterly basis, it is a food chain, snails die, no algie, crabs eat snails, they all die unless you add stuff for them, it is a food chain cycle!!!!! Bob

07/05/2007, 11:36 PM	#11
boxerzz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 606	I see, but what about the ph ?

07/06/2007, 06:59 AM	#12
camocustom Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 166	LOW CARBON DIOXIDE!!!! check this out..i went researching for you.... here is a solution for it... (from website) A. Direct addition of carbon dioxide. Bottled soda water (seltzer) can be used to instantly reduce aquarium pH. Be sure to select unflavored soda water, and check the ingredients to be sure it doesn't contain anything that should be avoided (phosphate, etc). Many manufacturers list water and carbon dioxide as the only ingredients. I recommend adding 6 mL of soda water per gallon of tank water to reduce pH by about 0.3 units. Add it to a high flow area away from organisms (such as in a sump). The local pH where it first is added will be very low. Going about this procedure slowly is better than proceeding too fast. If you do not have a sump, add it especially slowly. Some soda water may have more, or less, carbon dioxide in it, and the lower the aquarium's alkalinity, the larger will be the pH drop. Also, the higher the pH, the smaller will be the pH drop, because the buffering of seawater declines steadily as the pH drops from about 9 to 7.5. and here is the site.... http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hf/index.php#6

07/06/2007, 08:19 PM	#14
boxerzz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 606	thank you guys very much, I will do what I can.