MURDEROUS new tank!!!

[rlablan]

I am under the impression that my new tank is killing everything I put in it!!! PLEASE HELP!
I Have been setting up and cycling my new 24g nano set up with live rock and sand. Here is the set up:
-24gal 'Cardiff' model bow front made by Current USA.
-This model is all-inclusive with a built in skimmer, and flow pump, with two adjustable flow nozzles on the other side of the 'false wall backing'.
-The rate of flow is whatever standard flow is for this model and pump.
-JBJ 1/15th HP chiller
-150 watt MH (With nearly new bulb) Current USA pendant.
20 lbs LR
22lbs LS
temp is 76-77 stable.
PH-8.4 (little higher than normal)
nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
Ammonia-0
The reason I am concerned is that my tank seems to be killing everything I put in it. I fragged some pulsing Xenia to put in the new nano from the other tank and also moved my beloved toadstool into the tank last night. I placed them in appropriate areas and had them under my metal halide. Came back this afternoon and neither of them look well. The toadstool is hard, none of his little "spines" are out and he has lost 80% of his peachy color. He is covered is a hazy layer of slime. The Xenia just looks lifeless and limp and doesn't open it's little hands much. I also placed 2 very small snails in the tank to start on the algae that is filming up on the glass. They roved around a bit and were eating. today that are sitting quite still and usually when I pick them up, they will suction on whatever I put them on. Not so this time. They haven't moved all day. They are hold up in their shells. One has even receded so far into his shell he is barely visible. What could be wrong??

 

[rlablan]

Bump

 

[katsafados]

For the corals, they might not be used to the new lights? Wh twer ethe lights in your other tank that you too them from. I read somewhere that corals look dead or dying when there placed in stronger lights after being in not so strong lights for a long time. Its pretty much then acclimating to the lighting conditions. But then again that might not be it also! Test everything, calcium alk, ph ect. see if all cthose parameters are good.

 

[rlablan]

Yeah I just tested PH and all... I don't actually have anything to test for calcium. But PH is a tad bit high. Everything else is normal. Honestly, I really don't know what to do. For now, I moved them both back under my T-5s in my 45. Should I have left them in the nano? I was afraid they would die. Should I put them back? What is the best thing to do?

 

[katsafados]

Well you might want to wait for someone more experienced since I've just started SW tanks in april lol.
But from what I read like I said before they might just be acclimating to your new stronger lights. You had t5's over a larger tank which means less light. Now ther eunder MH in a smaller tank which means way more light. Might be a power overload

But like I said I have no idea if I'm telling you the right advice. Keep them i nthe other tank untill someone else can come along and put there thoughts into it. Or if you want to take a risk leave them i nthe new tank for a while closer to the bottom and eventually work your way up closer to the lights.

 

[rlablan]

Yeah I moved them both to the mid range of the tank. I really appreciate the response. I am going to bump this tread until I get some more answers. I just have never seen anything like this before. Thanks again for the help!

 

[aquaguy24]

Corals like leathers do not like to be moved. xenia and toadstool are a great example of this, they stress out very easily. And they take time to bounce back sometimes even takes weeks for them to fully recover. So stop moving them around and give them time to aclimate to the new tank. Keep them low if under brighter lightng.

 

[katsafados]

See like I said!
If you want them in the smaller tank move them and leave them at the bottom to adjust. Then dont look at them any longer!

 

[jemshores]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3089232
Yeah I just tested PH and all... I don't actually have anything to test for calcium. But PH is a tad bit high. Everything else is normal. Honestly, I really don't know what to do. For now, I moved them both back under my T-5s in my 45. Should I have left them in the nano? I was afraid they would die. Should I put them back? What is the best thing to do?
I would put the corals back in the 45G until you get a hold on whats going on in the nano. Xenia is very hardy and if its acting like that something is amiss in you tank. What is your salinty? Did you change salt mixes? PH at 8.4 IMO is OK in a reef tank. ALso the snails are telling you that the water is off. I would focus there. Anything new introduced to the tank; maybe something on your hands, like cream? IDK...these small tanks are touchy...I have 2 of them and they are not forgiving!

 

[rlablan]

Jemshores-
I think you are right. I moved it AGAIN, the toadstool that is, because the xenia died lastnight. I looked at it this morning and it completely crumbled at the slightest touch. I don't know what is going on with it. I am gonna leave it empty for a bit. and just let it do it's thing. For now, I know my 45g is safe, that is where he will live. He is one of my favorites, I don't want him to die....
Thanks for the help guys. I do appreciate it. I will let you all know if I figure out the problem.

 

[katsafados]

I'm pretty sure xenia can grow back from nothing!

 

[rlablan]

I dont know about that. this stuff was pretty gone. I mean I touched it and it was like non existent. The original colony that I fragged it from is totally cool though. This stuff died and that is fine. I feel bad but I need to figure out what is going on with this tank before anything else goes in there.

 

[katsafados]

Was there copper added to it before? That can kill croals.

 

[rlablan]

Nope, no copper whatsoever. The tank is brand new and all of the LR is from my tank or from my LFS and the sand is new too... but live. Good question though. I still have not figured out what the problem would be. Every time I look at that tank, I just hear the 'Jaws' music.
Da Dum... Da dum...

 

[katsafados]

HMM maybe a hitchhicker animal that eats corals?

 

[aquaguy24]

Wat live stock do u have n there. How are u keeping the bacteria alive. Are u ghost feedng the tank.

 

[rlablan]

well I cycled the tank with some fish food... let it rot and all, but I have not put anything else in. I have been dosing the tank with a product that I love called stability. Should I put a little a little food into the tank?
As far as the hitch hiker, I have only seen one fairly large bristle worm, measuring about 3 1/2 inches. Could he be the culprit?

 

[katsafados]

I wouldnt use stability in the tank. No need to use it! I use that and prime on my FW tank but never dose anything in my SW tank.
The bristle worm may very well be the cause of it all. If its one of the bad dudes that eat corals. Theres also many good ones! You'll need to snap a pic of it and show it to someone like cranberry and see if the bristle is a good or bad one.
My tank had a baby fire worm which are like bristle worms but not benifitial to your tank. They more of less kill and eat everything. I think I caught him the other day cleanning my tank but there might be more in my tank. I use a bristle worm trap to try to get them but so far hasnt worked.

 

[rlablan]

I see him moving about quite a bit, I could just keep some tweezers by the tank and grab him out when I see him. He is often out in the open and roaming around, probably looking for food.
I cycled my 45 with the stability in it and I really like it, actually. I think it keeps thing, well, more stable.

At this point though, I will probably stop putting it in there. There is nothing in there for it to feed off of. I just put a bit more fish food in there, and I suppose I will continue to do so, for a few more weeks? Until the tank is ready to stock?
Dumb question but since I haven't been feeding the tank, does that mean it'll have to go through the whole cycle again?

 

[spiderwoman]

I would definitely stop using that product. You have no need for it as your biological filtration should showly start kicking in and with little to none bioload, your LR and LS is enough filtration. Water changes is all you need for replenishing trace elements. Switching from T5 to MH does not automatically mean you have more light. It's all about PAR on the depth of those corals. I nearly bleached all my frags in my frag tank under 6bulb T5 and they came all from under 3x400W MH.
What was the temp in your old tank? Did you temp acclimate the corals to your new tank? You should be OK leaving the LPS in the tank and let it slowly acclimate to it's new environment. They just don't like to be touched in most cases.