Fish are fine, water is perfect, corals are wilting. Can you guess the problem?

cveverly

cveverly

Member
Been fighting this for almost a week. Did a lot of water changes things were looking up at times then right back to sickly. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 0, dkh 9, calcium 450, PH 8.2. Lighting is 2 – 250 watt halide 10,000K and 2 96 watt 50/50 running about 12 hours a day. 18 watt UV filter running during the night. 125 gallon tank with 150+ pounds of live rock and numerous power heads. 60 gallon refugium. Been up since Jan 1 2005.
First to go was 2 separate colony of xenia. I thought that might be the problem and did more water changes thinking they polluted the tank even though water parameters were perfect.
Next evening things looked better. Then right back to wilting the next day. More water change. Next morning things looked better. Next night looking bad again. This went on for 6 days.
All this time fish never looked or acted stressed.
Well tonight I think I found the problem. I will tell you all later. Want to see if anyone can guess the problem.
:thinking:
 
T

tizzo

Guest
You sprayed air freshener and some got into the tank.
or...
They were shrinking up to get ready to sleep.
 
bailey52

bailey52

Member
Now from what I have been hearing... Even if your tank went through a great cycle, and have all the filtration in the world.. the tank still needs to mature enough to handle the corals.. i have heard anywhere from 6-9 months... anyone else think this?
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Stray voltage. Temp fluxuations, improper gas exchange, chemical warfare. I agree with Tizzo to look for pH fluxuations.
Run some fresh carbon.
Thomas
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member

Originally posted by Thomas712
Stray voltage. Temp fluxuations, improper gas exchange, chemical warfare. I agree with Tizzo to look for pH fluxuations.
Run some fresh carbon.
Thomas
We have a winner!
I did run fresh carbon and the PH was not varying much at all.
The problem was ……….. stray voltage. I was lucky enough to be looking in the sump and saw a flash. I have two power heads in one half of my sump/refugium for circulation and one of them let out a flash and pop. Unplugged it and the top had split and there were holes blown in the wire insulation from escaping voltage.
I sure hope this is the problem. I looked this morning and my large LT plate is looking a little better.
You all had some great ideas and thanks for your input.
 
bailey52

bailey52

Member
Wow, i had never heard of the stray voltage prob before.. and now in the past couple days it seems to have been a killer for a couple people
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
How to stop this from happing again? I see there is a “Titanium Ground Probe” available. Is this item worth while? Would it create a path for the voltage to drain keeping the tank a 0 voltage or would the water act as a path like a wire carrying current? Would it help or hurt?
 
ctgretzky9

ctgretzky9

Member
Stray voltage....now I have heard of this, but never though much about it, and like another poster stated, seems to be a problem lately.
I have a gfci plug in my wall, 6 strip surge protector ( a good one I know) is plugged into that, then all my electric is run off of that...does this eliminate stray voltage? Or is the stray voltage caused by electronics beyond these 2 devices?
Thank you!
 
ctgretzky9

ctgretzky9

Member
Thomas-
As usual, you answered my q....thank you!!!!
I am actually running to home depot right now to get a chop saw, ill get a volt meter while I'm there.
I did notice my fish acting a little flaky sometimes, and I do have a rio powerhead :rolleyes:
Thanks again...im off to HD
 
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