Reef Corals & Fish Dying !!!!!!

[dlucia]

The past couple of months my tank has gotton a bad case of hair algea and red cyanobacteria. Last week I lost a rabbit fish. Some of my SPS are whiting out and dying. I do not know what the problem is. I have Chemi-pure running, with phosban and an ammonia aborber with reef carbon. Water quality does not really test bad. I do not not overfeed, just 3/4 of frozen cube a day. Change 10 gal in a 90 gal tank a week. Any ideas how I can determine whats wrong?

[aslavatortin]

Post parameters and define "does not really test bad".

[dlucia]

Yes I will post water parameters this weekend!

[scubasteve247]

we really need so see those numbers could be a couple things we are need
calcium:
alk:
phosphateimportant, you need a test kit that can read low enought, that means salifert, deltec, etc. one that can tell you if its about 0.03 mg/l)
magnesium(would be nice if possible)
nitrate:
tempeture(coldest and hottest points)

[Attreui]

If you are having a bad algae problem, you must have a nutrient problem. Definitely check the nitrates and Phosphates. Phosphate will not kill your fish though. Nitrate most likely will also not kill your fish, but can reap havoc on SPS coral. If I remember correctly Chemipure can deplete oxygen from the system. Your fish could have suffocated if this was the case. you may need to add some aeration to the system while you are using it.

[dlucia]

No I just starting using Chemi-pure after the fish died. The only thing that I have done different in the past 3 months is that I changed my make up water tub to a cheap clear plastic one from family dollar. Come to think of it it smelled really bad, but I don't know if anything from a plastic container would cause any harm. But come to think of it, shortly after this change is when i started to see the difference. is it possible that there is any oil or contaminants from this plastic tub that could be causing problems?

[downhillbiker]

start by immediately putting some kind of wooden air stone in the water if you can. if you are still having big problems with cyano, the bacteria can turn the water anaerobic. this is just a start until you get the params up. also if you have a glass top you may want to remove it, if you can.

[aslavatortin]

Originally posted by dlucia
No I just starting using Chemi-pure after the fish died. The only thing that I have done different in the past 3 months is that I changed my make up water tub to a cheap clear plastic one from family dollar. Come to think of it it smelled really bad, but I don't know if anything from a plastic container would cause any harm. But come to think of it, shortly after this change is when i started to see the difference. is it possible that there is any oil or contaminants from this plastic tub that could be causing problems?

If it was made in China, then yes...even Chinese infant formula kills people.

[sunfish11]

Originally posted by downhillbiker
start by immediately putting some kind of wooden air stone in the water if you can. if you are still having big problems with cyano, the bacteria can turn the water anaerobic. this is just a start until you get the params up. also if you have a glass top you may want to remove it, if you can.

Depending what type of plastic container you bought it could have pesticides or perhaps mold inhibitors. Both of those things are very bad for your reef. Always buy containers for mixing water that are food-safe.

Lisa

[dlucia]

Where does one find a food safe container?

[tebrown]

Home Depot. The BRUTE containers (while not cheap) are food safe.