In need of help

[btrosclair]

:help:

This is my 120gl tank has benn set up for 1 yr and this is all I can seem to keep is the live rock. It was set up with the help of my LPS owner. Did all the routine waiting time and up keep like I was told. I'm trying to make this a reef/fish tank. But everything I introduce is dying. Tried several fish and several coral. All gone the only fish I thought was going to do fine was Sailfin tang(not) woke up this moring and its gone. I test my water its fine. I have my LPS test my water everything is fine. My LPS is at a lost. Keeps saying that if everything is testing fine not sure what could be the problem. Seems like by 1 yr I should have something beside rock,15 hermit crabs, and 10 snails. Please can some give me some input. Oh I all so have a 55gl for 2 yrs now fish only everything fine the only thing died was a baby clown when first started. Replaced it with a larger Maroon clown,and 2yrs later still going strong in that tank.

 

[hatessushi]

Well having the crabs and snails alive still is a good sign. You stated that the water tests are fine. can you tell us what they are? Also, what is your setup (equipment, amount of LR, LS)? Do you use RO/DI water or tap water. What additives do you use if any? This information would be helpfull for others on this forum to try to assist you.

 

[namas05]

How do you acclimate fish/corals?
what is you specific gravity?
when you say all test fine, what all are you testing for?
what light, filter, sump and other equipment do you have?
Are you running a grounding rod?
Need to have all the information that you can give to try to determine what the problem is.

 

[btrosclair]

I test my ph which is n normal 8.4, Nitrate 10, Nitrite 0.2, ammonia 0. Just brought in a water sample yesterday and they tested all the same now we did test the calcium 2wks ago at 240 which was low but started adding ( reef complete calcium2x/wk) when tested again yester. it was now (300). Also Just starting to add reef builder(1x/wk), and purple up(everyday) for the live rock. Was told to hold off on other additives like reef plus and reef iodide until I add my reef. Was using fresh water from a mill and adding seachem prime. But then was told that my tap water would do just fine if tested ok with adding prime to it. Is there anything else that I should be adding right now. As for the lighting I have suppose to be the best for coral which not sure of watt. but its 4 long lights 2 white and 2 white/blue which is what my LPS settup and is what he is using on his show tank all I know the lighting cost me 400.00. I have a sump under my tank also set up by my LPS and a protein scimmer. Not sure still of all the slang talk for all these things so if I didn't answer all the questions maybe reask with out the abbrivations sorry im still alittle new to all these terms.

 

[alyssia]

You shouldn't have any nitrites at all, so that is a problem. Also, purple up can seriously mess up your calcium and alkalinity. You should also be testing the alkalinity. What is your specific gravity?

 

[btrosclair]

the nitrites tested on 5-1 test strip this morning o ,that was my reading on the test kit that I have and thats the lowest reading number it show 0.2or lower. I am also adding advantage calcium to help for the calcium drop

 

[dragonladylea]

Nitrates at 10 wouldnt cause the fish to die IMO my trates run 0-20 and I have fish, softies, lps, and yes sps. My first thought is was the tank bought new or is it a used tank??
Where are you getting your water from?? Also you need to find out what your lighting is. 1st lesson you will learn is some (not all) LFS will tell you anything to make a buck. Many of us can tell you how much money we have wasted on unscrupulous LFS. 2nd lesson your in the right place and doing the right thing - researching and using fellow reefers knowledge is the best thing you can do.

 

[btrosclair]

I've also posted this in the fish disscusion section. I have most of the answers there 2. As for the lighting not sure what the watts r but I do know that Its suppose to be excellant. I have this person that know something about this and he came looked at it and said that it can't be the lighting. But I am up for any input thats why I post here. The water I was getting from a mill but that same person that looked at my lighting, my sump also showed my how to est my faucet water and said if it test fine that I could use it. So just started with that water but everything was killed before that. Besides I add Prime to my new water before adding it.

 

[dragonladylea]

Did you test the water for phosphates? and using your tap water IMO is not good. Are your pipes copper? You run the gamble of getting all kinds of heavy metals using tap water unless you have a good RO/DI hookup.

 

[btrosclair]

I never was testing the water from the mill but I used the same water in my 55 gal fish only tank witch I have a photo posted under the photo section. Those seem to be fine in that tank. No my pipes or not copper there the same kind I have running from my wet/dry sump to the tank the pvc pipes. I test my tap water with the 5-1 test strips I test my tank water with.

 

[dragonladylea]

When was the last time you checked your calcium and ph? you say you are adding purple up, reef builder and advantage calcium??? If you are adding all three your calcium and alk levels have to be way off! You shouldnt need to add any calcium at this stage since you really dont have any corals using it. I also still question using your tap water without an RO/DI.

 

[ginarox]

i would agree, with the well water, i wouldnt use it, i have natural spring water and i dont use it, i have an osmosis installed, which takes out any kind of bacteria, cause any well or natural spring you are on, you will have some type of bacteria in your water.... i wish the best for you, cause this is a very expensive hobby and to loose that many fish and stuff ,has to be very aggravating....

keep us posted, i hope that you get it figured out, i wish i could have helped you...but i am new at this hobby...i just know a little about well water and natural spring,,cause we had our water tested sent it to the health department and it came back that we have 14 types of bacteria in our water, and it is not safe to drink, so we have to buy our water,,,,good luck and have a good day....

 

[mandarin w]

I keep noticeing that you keep saying test strips. I have found those to be VERY unreliable!!
Go get new test. perferb. Saifert, and retest everything. If you can't affort Saifert for all of your test. get the standard Saltwater test kit. and Sailfert for your Cal. and ALK. I have a feeling your strips are bad.
Did you buy your tank new or used. Maybe if used, the previous owner used copper meds in the tank, which sometimes can leach into the seals.
Maybe one suggestion would be to take the tank down, (since you don't have any live stock in
there any longer and reclean everything. Use vinagar water. and reset the tank up from scratch. Maybe something just didn't take off from the start. and never got a chance to catch up.

 

[jenny_rs]

i would agree that using test strips are very unreliable. i myself use lower brand testing kits, but i feel they work just as well as the higher brands, but i refuse to use test trips.

 

[btrosclair]

I'm using the calcium because from having the coral that died in it my calcium level went low and that was before I started using anything, so now I have to try to raise the calcium back up. The calcium I started 2 wks ago the puple up and reef builder I just started that Friday and only using the builder 1 time a wk for now that what I was told to do by my lfs. What if I would add a water purifire for my tap water. The tank was a used one so I don't know what the other owner used in it. Got it from my lfs never met the other owner. I do have a kit for testing I use 1 time a wk tht test my ph, alk, nitates & nitites the 5-1 is what I do on daily basis. Not sure what a RO/DI is.

 

[dragonladylea]

Okay cant understand why the coral dying would lower your calcium, and from your post you arent testing your calcium levels?? Also, just because your LFS tells you to use something doesnt mean its right. I have a few bottles of things a LFS told me I had to have for my tank that are useless of unnecessary!! You will learn quickly which LFS is a good one and which is only out to make a buck!!! RO/DI is a water purification unit that pretty much filters out anything and is attached to your household water supply. Just the fact that your LFS is saying using tap water is fine makes me question whether they have your best interest in mind. Any LFS that knows anything about saltwater tanks will tell you not to use tap water. At this point since there is nothing in your tank other than liverock I would pretty much do a 100% water change and start over. Definately stop dosing the calcium, reef builder and purple up. There isnt anything depleting the calcium you are putting in. I do not use any of the additives you are using and I have a tank full of fish, softies, LPS and even SPS that are growing like mad!! I would also find another LFS and save yourself some aggravation and money!

 

[mandarin w]

I agree with dragonladylea, Start the tank over. It is basically universal, Use ro/di water. Always. As far as coralline alge. You shouldn't have to add anything to get that going. I have probley 5 tanks going. I have to take rock out and scrub it down to try and get rid of my alge. I have never added anything to purple it up. It is an alge and most tanks should have no problem growing it. If it is not there something is missing. Take everything out, clean it up. Do Not use any cleaning products. Just water. Put it back together and use RO/DI water to fill it back up. And let it complete it cycleing process. This may take about a month. But you may want to go to a different LFS and pick up a couple of new peices of live rock to seed what you have and get the ball rolling. I have dealt with several LFS in the past that will tell you this is ok, just so they can sell you tons of thing to fix it down the road. Best place to get advice, is your fellow reefer here on-line. We don't want to sell you a damn thing. :joy:

 

[hatessushi]

I use test strips all the time but I don't trust them on the ALK reading. I do however trust them on the trites, and trates since I have run 10 Sailfert tests side by side and they were the same. You just have to make sure you keep them totaly dry. I live in the southwest so it's way drier here. I don't know if I would trust them in the humid areas though. Are you QT'ing your fish for a few weeks before putting them in the Display tank? How are you acclimating them?

 

[btrosclair]

I was testing my calcium @ the lfs the first test tested 240 thats when I started using calcium saw the results and @ that time my coral was all gone but still had fish and starfish. But what made them test that was because my sand was turning black on the top. I understand about not trusting the lfs because since the problem started I've been after trying to get them to come service my tank. Which they do and charge 45 an hour. Kept saying they would put me on there rotation never happen. So then I went to ***** which is the only other saltwater dealer we have here. There I met someone that was willing to take there time and come to my house to help @ no charge. Now he was the one that told me to start with the additives. The purple up i'm adding for my rock which he said helps to bring them to a bright heathy purple he said. They both told me the calcium is for the mechanics of my system they said till I get it back into the 400 is where it should be. Ok if I get a water purifier and hook it to my faucit is that going to be fine for the water. I live 45 min away from my lfs so when I get home with my fish I let them sit in the bag flotting in my water for 20 min then take alittle water out of bag and replace with my water for 10 min then repeat that process till the bag is full with my water, then take the fish out and release in my tank. Not letting any of the lfs water or any of that water in my tank. Everything I do for this tank I do with my 55 gal which I've been able to keep good for 2 yrs with no coral. So I think that I will do a complete water change and try that but I do have snails and hermitt crabs still in there besides the rock.