All new Died - Don't know why

[johngebw]

75 Gallon Reef Tank setup.
8 Weeks old and finshed cycle
48" 4x65W Coralife LUNAR Aqualight Deluxe Series
2x Actinic and 2x 10,000K, 3x 3/4W Blue LEDs -Straight Pin
100 pounds of live rock (adding more)
30 gallon sump
AquaC EV120 Protein Skimmer w/ JG Fitting + Rio 2100 Pump
live rock in sump
Heater
SpectraPure LiterMeter III LM3 Aquarium Dosing System
2 SEIO M820 820/3200 Pumps
Nature’s Ocean® Bio-Activ Live™ Aragonite
CaribSea Mineral Mud Refugium Substrate
Salinity = 1.02
Nitrate = 1.5
Nitrite = 0
PH = 8.3
Temp = 78.1
Alk = High - 12.7
Phosphate = 0
Calicum = 300
Hopefully putting all that together someone can tell me possable causes why new Cleaner Shrimp, Coral Banded Shrimp, 2 Pencil Urchin, & a Feather Duster died this morning. There were put into the tank yesterday afternoon.
I also put 2 Pink Tip Haitian Anemones in the tank and they both have kinda sucked in them selfs. I never had this happen with my old setup. I Acclimation correctly as instructed. I also put 4 turbo snails in to but they seem to be ok.
does anybody know why this would happen? I'm thinking that the Alk might have caused this death so soon.
John

 

[kimber27]

Salinty is way too low.

 

[itchy]

I didn't notice the salinty until Kimber pointed it out....yes that is low for inverts. Secondly the nitrates are a problem IMO...most inverts can not handle poor water quality. When you say you acclimated them properly, how did you acclimated them? You do not have enough lighting for the anemones. Since I am not very knowledgable about anemone care I will leave that to someone else, but I do know that is not enough lighting as they require MH...some can survive under PC but survive is all they can do and that will be for a short period of time.
You need to slowly raise your salinty....it should be around 1.023 to 1.0025 for corals, inverts and anemones.

 

[dskidmore]

You did not post your ammonia readings. It is possible that with adding all that at once you had an ammona spike.
I agree with the other comments.
If these anenomes don't make it, you may want to hold off for six months or so for the tank to stabilize.

 

[andretti]

Salinity way too low and I believe you added too many animals at once. You over loaded your bio load. Your trates are too high as well. Corals, and inverts cannot tolerate nitrates like fish can. I suggest taking a step back and learning some more before you add anything else to your tank.

 

[puffer32]

I think your PC lighting is strong enough to support anenomes :notsure: .I have same lighting. I do believe you put to much to fast in your tank and agree the salinity is to low, and trates are to high. You need to test your ammonia, i bet they are going to be high also. Take it slower next time and get your periminers stable before you add anything else.

 

[tthemadd1]

Definately agree about the salinity. Also with adding to many fish to quick. I would say that you should test ammonia, also stray voltage (seems to be the issue of the week). Good luck and be patient, if you do your tank will turn out great. BTW good for you getting all of the equipment before putting water in the tank.. :happy: :happy:

 

[ophiura]

Based on the types of animals - I would say almost certainly it was salinity. What was the salinity where you got them from? Did you just follow the time provided, or did you actually acclimate (drip or however) until the salinties matches? Do you have a hydrometer or an refractometer?

 

[johngebw]

Wow. Thanks for all your help. I must say that I should have known better putting that many at one time. My first reef I had I waited 4 months before I put anything in. This time I wait only 4 weeks. I'm not very happy with myself at all.
I don't know why everybody seems to think my Salinity is low, this is the readings I’m getting, 1.0275
I did not check for copper, but that kit is on the way.
I just purchased quite a few LaMotte’s & Salifert's kits for a more accurate readings
The Alkalinity is off the charts but right now all I can get is 300+ ppm. I will have to wait till my good kits come in which should be tomorrow or Wed. Right now I'm dosing with C-Balance Part A only from Two Little Fishies. That will at least save my rock. O BTW all I did have in the tank was a Cleaner Shrimp. No corals except that were on the rock when I got it. That too does not look good either but the coralline algae is still very strong and looking good. On the PC lighting, for what I want to keep would be fine, including the pink tips.
Forgot to add that my Ammonia was 0
I'll just keep on getting the tank back in balance and try and find out which did kill my friends.

 

[ophiura]

Salinity = 1.02
That is why we thought it was low Your right, your salinity is not low at all, and so our problem is not solved.
Is part A the alkalinity part or the calcium part? I'm assuming calcium?? :notsure:

 

[johngebw]

part A is calcium

 

[teen]

i thought corals and inverts dont add a lot to ur biolad, or is it that they just dont add as much as a fish?

 

[dskidmore]

Originally Posted by teen
i thought corals and inverts dont add a lot to ur biolad, or is it that they just dont add as much as a fish?
Depends on the inverts and feeding. Anything you need to feed will increase your bioload. Anything that scavenges up uneaten food will not change your bioload. Most of the commonly kept inverts are scavengers, such as the snails, small hermit crabs, conches, sand sifting stars; these will not increase your bioload. I'm betting the two Anemones were fed, and the feather dusters given a plankton substitute since the tank is not mature enough to have many pods. The food increases the bioload.