Tank crashing. Need advice.

aschroeder · 07/11/2007, 03:09 PM

I've been in a 2 week ordeal with my 20 gallon nano slowly crashing. I've posted a few times about it. Long story short, my alkalinity was extremely high and my calcium was low. I'll get into the details of what caused it if you're interested. So far I've lost 2 heads (out of 6) off my frogspawn, 3 mushrooms melted away, and a colony of cloves is slowly dying.

So I've managed to get things somewhat back in line with water changes and calcium additives. Now my calcium is at 430 ppm and my alk is continuing to drop (currently at 13.4 dkh). I have Zero Nitrates and Ammonia and the ph is 8.2.

Things have been stable for several days, but my coral aren't recovering. The only things opening up are a handful of zooanthid. I just did a 25% water change on Sunday after the 3 mushrooms died.

My question is what do I do? Just wait it out, or is there something else I could be doing? Do I need to do another water change?

on3ofak1nd · 07/11/2007, 03:43 PM

If all of your parameters are falling in check you may want to not do too many more large water changes too closely together. Performing smaller 5-10% might be beneficial if there is die off occuring.

Essentially it sounds like you're going to have to ride it out... the corals are probably still stressed but with time they may recover. Just keep levels consistant.

samtheman · 07/11/2007, 03:51 PM

Just keep levels consistant? Why didn't you think of that?

machinas · 07/11/2007, 05:03 PM

What brand of salt are you using? And on3ofak1nd is right, large water changes close together really stress out the ecosystem(I've learned that the hard way).

MTB · 07/11/2007, 05:29 PM

I would steer clear of more water changes ATM. See where your parameters are tomorrow and see if they move drastically. Could be something else now?.

OmarD · 07/12/2007, 06:52 AM

Water change and stay away from any additives...

Kurt03 · 07/12/2007, 07:09 AM

running carbon cant hurt. It should help soak up any of the bad stuff.

davidryder · 07/12/2007, 07:29 AM

Have you tested for magnesium?

aschroeder · 07/12/2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by davidryder
Have you tested for magnesium?

No I haven't tested for magnesium. I didn't know I needed to.

I always run 2 bags of carbon to draw out any contaminants in my water. I don't think I'm going to do anymore water changes at this point. It would likely do more harm than good. I'll watch the coral today and see if there is any improvement.

davidryder · 07/12/2007, 07:49 AM

Ca and Alk should typically stay balanced in the short term. There are some things that will knock it out of balance, but usually only over a long period of time.

Check this article out:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php

It will tell you everything you need to know about balancing Alk & Ca. Without keeping up on magnesium, Ca levels will dip down over time, possibly causing corals to "melt away".

davidryder · 07/12/2007, 07:50 AM

oops

aschroeder · 07/12/2007, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by davidryder
Ca and Alk should typically stay balanced in the short term. There are some things that will knock it out of balance, but usually only over a long period of time.

My Alk Calcium balance was thrown off because of a bad bucket of salt. The calcium alkalinity was so far off in the mixed saltwater, it caused my tank to crash. I'm going to post fully about it in a separate thread.

MTB · 07/12/2007, 09:03 AM

What salt brand was it?

07/11/2007, 03:09 PM	#1
aschroeder Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Johnston, Iowa Posts: 438	Tank crashing. Need advice. I've been in a 2 week ordeal with my 20 gallon nano slowly crashing. I've posted a few times about it. Long story short, my alkalinity was extremely high and my calcium was low. I'll get into the details of what caused it if you're interested. So far I've lost 2 heads (out of 6) off my frogspawn, 3 mushrooms melted away, and a colony of cloves is slowly dying. So I've managed to get things somewhat back in line with water changes and calcium additives. Now my calcium is at 430 ppm and my alk is continuing to drop (currently at 13.4 dkh). I have Zero Nitrates and Ammonia and the ph is 8.2. Things have been stable for several days, but my coral aren't recovering. The only things opening up are a handful of zooanthid. I just did a 25% water change on Sunday after the 3 mushrooms died. My question is what do I do? Just wait it out, or is there something else I could be doing? Do I need to do another water change?

07/11/2007, 03:43 PM	#2
on3ofak1nd Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Corning, NY Posts: 278	If all of your parameters are falling in check you may want to not do too many more large water changes too closely together. Performing smaller 5-10% might be beneficial if there is die off occuring. Essentially it sounds like you're going to have to ride it out... the corals are probably still stressed but with time they may recover. Just keep levels consistant. __________________ ~Wesley

07/11/2007, 05:03 PM	#4
machinas Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York Posts: 131	What brand of salt are you using? And on3ofak1nd is right, large water changes close together really stress out the ecosystem(I've learned that the hard way). __________________ "I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out." Current Tank Info: Little bit of everything

07/11/2007, 05:29 PM	#5
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	I would steer clear of more water changes ATM. See where your parameters are tomorrow and see if they move drastically. Could be something else now?. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

07/12/2007, 06:52 AM	#6
OmarD Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Silverdale, WA Posts: 179	Water change and stay away from any additives... __________________ AG "125" AquaC EV 180, "SCWD", 80 lbs lr, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (XM HQI 10000k bulb) Current Tank Info: AG "125" AquaC EV 180, "SCWD", 80 lbs lr, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (XM HQI 10000k bulb

07/11/2007, 03:51 PM	#3
samtheman Moved On Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 605	Just keep levels consistant? Why didn't you think of that?

07/12/2007, 07:09 AM	#7
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	running carbon cant hurt. It should help soak up any of the bad stuff.

07/12/2007, 07:29 AM	#8
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	Have you tested for magnesium? __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

07/12/2007, 07:49 AM	#10
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	Ca and Alk should typically stay balanced in the short term. There are some things that will knock it out of balance, but usually only over a long period of time. Check this article out: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php It will tell you everything you need to know about balancing Alk & Ca. Without keeping up on magnesium, Ca levels will dip down over time, possibly causing corals to "melt away". __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

07/12/2007, 07:50 AM	#11
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	oops __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

07/12/2007, 09:03 AM	#13
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	What salt brand was it? __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.