protein skimmer went out

[jsdean]

I was out of town for 5 days and my protien skimmer quit working. My wife didnt notice. When I got back I had algae all through the tank. I did an immediate 50% water change and turned the skimmer back on, but my 2 clowns and damsel i had died within a day. The sally lightfoot crab is still alive. I am only using 55 lbs live rock power heads and a skimmer ( ihave a 56 gallon tank). How long do you think it will take to get the tank back in order where I can add fish again. All the levels look fine except the ammonia was a little high. Also what does the skimmer take out, and what do yu think it was that killed the fish? Thanks in advance

 

[david s]

if you are reading ammonia it will have to cycle a bit depends on how good you tanks bio filter is. the ammonia is probubly from the dead fish more than skimmer not working

 

[wamp]

The only thing skimmer releates that I can think of would be that the collection cup would overflow allowing all that "gunk" back in the tank. Other than that, a not working skimmer will not kill fish within 5 days. Did she add water to the tank? Did she add any doses of anything? I would look in that direction. Not blamming her but something changed to kill the tank that fast.

 

[jsdean]

I think it was the salinity. It had a lot of evaporation, and when i checked the salinity when i got home it was over 1.03. I added purified water, but i don't know if it shocked the fish. my guess then is that it was the salinity.