Corals and anemones dying? Help

shobby

shobby

Member
Looked at aquarium stats, all was good but ph was low and calcium was 320. Mixed the ph up as directed dumped it in the sump which immediately sucked up and went through entire display tank. Now several corals, not all, and the three anemones look bad. Changed out about 24 gallons of water couple days after the incident, not thinking it would crash the aquarium, but didn't help. Checked all parameters, all are good but nitrates are at 20. The anemones look better after the lights go out but shrink up when lights go on. I have a good size monte coral that is starting to turn white and several Kenya coral are turning brown on tips. Is there anyway to save them? Please help.

Shelley
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
What was the pH after you added the pHUp? What was the pH initially, and why do you think it was low. Did something die in the tank? That would lower the pH, as would excess uneaten food.
 
shobby

shobby

Member
It is now at 8.4 but before I added it had barely any color at all. I purchased a nitrate remover which I guess has an effect on the ph. Also notice a lot of cyno growing in aquarium which was not there a few days ago. I haven't had a problem with that in years. Just seems like a lot of things all of a sudden is happening.
 
C

carol mcdermott

New Member
Do you have protein skimmer? Your nitrates are too high. Keep doing small water changes and don't overfeed. Also you have to target feed some mushrooms and most anemones.also, the water changes will raise your ph and calcium plus lower nitrates. Good luck, carol
 
shobby

shobby

Member
Yes I have a protein skimmer. I also have a nitrate remover. All of this started when I added it but not because of it. I read to keep an eye on the ph so I tested and it was low. I dosed, was good for a few days rechecked, extremely low. Raised the ph again but I believe that I just over dosed on ph up. Funny thing, the test that I used, I tested again after a couple more days passed and I was having the problems, and the ph tested real low again, so I retested, low, retested and it was perfect. So I have found out that the test was bad and I most likely poisoned the tank. I lost a few things but luckily most survived and are now making a comeback. By the way, nitrates are now down to 5. Still have brown algae crap on sand but expect that to go away soon.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the update...

PH is not the same all day and night, it will test the lowest first thing lights on, and it will read the highest just before lights out. If you test at different times in the day you will get a different reading. Keeping the Alkalinity stable will help stabilize the PH. I'm pretty sure Cyano can't grow without phosphates.
 
shobby

shobby

Member
flower said:
Thanks for the update...

PH is not the same all day and night, it will test the lowest first thing lights on, and it will read the highest just before lights out. If you test at different times in the day you will get a different reading. Keeping the Alkalinity stable will help stabilize the PH. I'm pretty sure Cyano can't grow without phosphates.
Click to expand...
I tested about same time every day since I work it is usually around 7 pm, but when I said I tested three times with three different results, I meant back to back. I tested, dumped it and went and retested in a matter of minutes not hours. Don't feel that it is Cyano, it isn't the thick red stuff that lays like a blanket, it looks more like brown dust on the sand bed. Not there when lights are off but comes out after a couple of hours of lights being on. And phosphates tested less than 1. But again should I trust the tester?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
shobby said:
I tested about same time every day since I work it is usually around 7 pm, but when I said I tested three times with three different results, I meant back to back. I tested, dumped it and went and retested in a matter of minutes not hours. Don't feel that it is Cyano, it isn't the thick red stuff that lays like a blanket, it looks more like brown dust on the sand bed. Not there when lights are off but comes out after a couple of hours of lights being on. And phosphates tested less than 1. But again should I trust the tester?
Click to expand...
Hi,

I now use Seachem test kits, each come with a regent so you can double check the testing material, so I know if the reading is accurate. I had a nightmare worrying about nitrates, doing daily water changes that would go up to 80+ by the next morning... and it turned out to be the API test kit. I even purchased a new API master kit thinking the first was just old, I was so convinced I had super high nitrates that I even changed my filter system. I finally went and got the SeaChem kits and my nitrates were 1.

As for the "dust" on your sand... You need a critter that will move your substrate, nassarius snails, a sand sifting star, or a cucumber. Moving your power head to kind of keep things off the sand is hard to accomplish without it blowing sand all over the place, but if you can manage it, that will keep debris off of the substrate as well.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
If you are using test strips you are already making a big mistake. You need the lab drop type test kits, that give you the precise number readings ...The only strip test worth a dime is the ammonia one, because it doesn't matter what the numbers are, if you have any ammonia, do a water change.

Alkalinity will stabilize the PH, they are linked, that's why Bang Guy keeps asking about your alkalinity readings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top