I need HEPL

bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
I have had my tank setup for 15 months and all of the sudden everything is dieing. I had a yellow tang, and a cole tang die yesterday. they ate in the morning. the tank looks white clowdy so I did a water change yesterday after I found the fish dead. the remaining fish other than my 9" vlamangie are shoving their faces in the sand trying to breath. all tests are normal except amonia which is 0.25ppm what do I do?
 
joestone52

joestone52

New Member
15 months, your tank should be ok by now, what kind of filter you have? do you have any sea apple or any nudibranch ? if you have any of those, they emit poison in your water when they die especially sea apple.it happened to me when my sea apple died and I didn't notice right away, killed all my fish, i cried.you probably need good protein skimmer,it wont hurt you, keep on changing water about 15 gals every three days . watch you ph too. good luck!
 
bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
I do not have anything like an apple or anything, but I do have a SWF sand sifting cucumber in there. For all I know it could be dead. I just had the LFS test my water (my strips must be bad) and my nitrites were .5 and amonia .25. But my gut feeling is that is high because of the dieing coral, fish and snails. I need to find the cause. I am scared to do another 50% water change tonight because I do not want to cycle my tank any Ideas?
I did put a 3X dose of prime in to get the nitrites down.
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
If the cucumber did die or was stressed it is one possible cause for your problems. Personally I would do a large water change of similar temp, SG and pH water and run carbon in my filter to remove any possible toxins.
Tank size, filtration and/or protein skimmer information would be helpful to know to try to provide answers as well. Sorry for your losses.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
I agree with Al here. You are safe to do a larger water change as long as the water is well mixed and the PH, SG, and temp match. Run some carbon, as he suggested, to remove any toxins. Also, pick up a liquid master test kit. Test strips are not accurate enough for saltwater tanks.
 
bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
I know what do I have to lose, but I just did a 50% water change last night doing another 50 scares me
 
bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
Just did new tests and it looks BAD. (I have learned a lesson everyone, you can NOT take a week off from your aquarium especially when you change salt brands)
Ammonia .25
Nitrites .5
Nitrates 20
PH 8.0
calcium 380
I have now under the advice of LFS added
3x dose of PRIME
1X red slime gone just saw the red stuff this noon
1x marine buffer try to get that PH back up
My Last PhosX in the filter (I am out of filter bags EEKK)
My proteen skimmer is running at FULL SPEED
 
bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
what is your thought of doing 2 50% changes in 24 hrs?
this morning fish that are left: vlamangie and 2 damsles seem happy. the mushrooms that died yesterday are dead, but no more.
I am thinking about not cutting the light on today any opinion. It could be overcast at the reef today?
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bspiegel
http:///forum/post/2576242
what is your thought of doing 2 50% changes in 24 hrs?
this morning fish that are left: vlamangie and 2 damsles seem happy. the mushrooms that died yesterday are dead, but no more.
I am thinking about not cutting the light on today any opinion. It could be overcast at the reef today?
That isn't neccessary and unless you have that much water premixed then you may do more harm than good. Do one change today. Have you removed the dead organisms?
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bspiegel
http:///forum/post/2576651
everything I can find is out but I am missing a small damsel
If he is dead then the cleanup crew should take care of him. I was more concerned about the dead coral. Do the water change then mix up more water in case you have to do another tomorrow.
 
bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
got home ph is 8.3
Amm .35
Nitrite.125 :)
Nitrates +-30
did water change 50% with prime
3 hrs later
Nitrites do not measure
Amm .125
Nitrates still measure 30-40 (test kit must have a problem)
toadstool leather back standing upright.
I still have some dead mushrooms but I think I will let the snails crabs, and fish eat. I think I will just cut one of the 4 lights on again tomorow. It seemed to help.
 
bspiegel

bspiegel

New Member
I do not care what anyone says. The protein skimmer in the rapids pro filter works. You should see the crud it is pulling out.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by bspiegel
http:///forum/post/2577490
got home ph is 8.3
Amm .35
Nitrite.125 :)
Nitrates +-30
did water change 50% with prime
3 hrs later
Nitrites do not measure
Amm .125
Nitrates still measure 30-40 (test kit must have a problem)
toadstool leather back standing upright.
I still have some dead mushrooms but I think I will let the snails crabs, and fish eat. I think I will just cut one of the 4 lights on again tomorow. It seemed to help.
Pull the mushrooms out. That will feed your ammonia. Your fish and inverts can eat other things. It sounds like things are getting better. Keep it up!
 
T

tizzo

Guest
Originally Posted by bspiegel
http:///forum/post/2575809
I have now under the advice of LFS added
3x dose of PRIME
1X red slime gone just saw the red stuff this noon
1x marine buffer try to get that PH back up
My Last PhosX in the filter (I am out of filter bags EEKK)
My proteen skimmer is running at FULL SPEED
I gotta say I am confused about 1 thing. You are hesitant to do do 2 50% water changes in 24 hours but you throw a bunch of chemicals in your tank all at once??
I have no idea what prime does, but I know what red slime gone does, and while it kills the cyanoBACTERIA, it also kills your beneficial bacteria. Buffer doesn't just get your pH back up, it gets your alkalinity levels up and from your postings, you didn't test your alk levels.
You tank seems to be improving, and I am glad for that, but before you take the advice of your LFS, just know what you are adding.

Good luck with your tank though, I hope it all turns out well.
 
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