URGENT-PLEASE HELP!!

[star fish1]

Please give me some more clarification on hyposalinity. I last asked Beth if hypo killed live sand and her response was that it does not kill nitrifying bactiria in sand beds. Then I read in other post that It kills live sand. Also, my coral beautys fins and tail appears to be torn. My blue hipotus is twitching alot. The yellow tang looks pale and the maroon clown has been swimming close to the top. Please help me save my fish!! Ed advised me that I should not get specific gravity and salinity confused. I didn't think I was but I have been using a plastic hydrometer and it mentions both. I have not been able to locate a glass hydrometer or a refractometer (which I can't afford). What can I do to save my tank?? I had previously used green ex which I replaced my carbon and got out earlier today. So as of right now my salinity is at 1.017 and I have been using garlic in the food(They only ate about 1/2 of what they usually do) along with melafix for the cloudy eye and torn fins.

 

[star fish1]

Oh yeah, my original problem was ich. This appeared Thursday. I started with the green ex on Friday and the spots are no longer visable.

 

[star fish1]

Terry, thank you som much for your patience. I just got home about an hour ago and I did a small water change of 5gal. This brought my salinity down to 1.014 according to my plastic hydrometer. Since you mentioned that this devise gives false high readings I was wondering how far off it is.I've been asking around and a friend told me about a place in the area that carries glass floating hydrometers. Would this be more accurate. This same friend advised against it, saying that it breaks easy and is more difficult to read.What do you think? I will pick it up first thing this morning along with something to regulate my ph and the alternative meds that you mentioned in your last post. Right now ph checks out ok. I was thinking of taking salinity down to 1.012 in the next water chg in the morning. And finally down to 1.009 in the final about 3-4 hours later. does this sound about right?
You also mentioned that this process would not kill live sand, only the critters in it. Are these critters any that I need to maintain my tank? Will this affect my bacteria level or do I have all that I need on bio wheels?

 

[beth]

The nitrifying bacteria in the sandbed is the primary source for biological filtration in aquaria. This bacteria will be fine under hyposaline conditions. By critters, Terry means organisms that live in the sand: worms, crustaceans, etc., that you find in reef tanks, particularly deep sand beds. While these organisms are not directly the biological filter of your substrate, they are the biological sandbed’s support system. They turn over the sand grains, optimizing the availability of sand to beneficial bacteria. To what degree some of these organisms can survive hyposalinity is not entirely known.
Starfish, I wish you would just stick with us here, and not run off to the LFS for advise. The ich problem has been going on for some time now [around 2 weeks?], and you are still not down to 1.009....! You need to be decisive and take the leap to follow our advise, otherwise, you will loose your whole tank.
Lets get down to hyposalinity today. Cleanup as much of the medications in the tank as you possibly can. I’d like to know your water reading at this point. You need to be sure that you have optimum water circulation in the tank, particularly at water surface. Is the surface water rippling due to water movement? If not, you need to get it moving.
Get the glass hydrometer. I’d wait now before you add any more meds. Lets get your current problems under control.

 

[mb4000]

I can't believe you beth. He asked his friend where to get a glass hydrometer and was told some advice by a friend, So what. He asked your advice on what his friend told him and even said that he was gonna buy it first thing. He didn't run to his LFS for advice. He has done nothing but ask for advice from this board, and you cut him down for something that he did not do. Real bad move on your part. You give good advice but you are not the holy grail here Beth. I would be more disapointed if his LFS does not throw in their two cents and show they care.

 

[mb4000]

If you ever want to find Anthem, then look for a post by me. LOL

 

[mb4000]

I do apologize for that. Must have been a bad day at work <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" /> Agreed

 

[beth]

Thanks Ed for the support; I am feeling my frustrations about this problem. I think your, mine and Terry's advise has been right on target [and the LFS is trying to sell star merchandise]. At this point I just had to be a bit aggressive here, with the hope that star will make a decision about what to do, or who's advise to take and follow thru to completion with a sound treatment. Hopefully star will not be as offended as mb4000, and decide to implement a viable treatment plan.
Just trying to help.

 

[mb4000]

Beth. So you felt you had to be aggresive. Do you think that star is shaking in his shoes in fear of the wrath of Beth. Come on. He is going to take your advice or he is'nt. You did not offend me in any way. You annoyed me with how you responded, which you are more than allowed to do. Just as I am allowed to call you on what I felt was rude. You give great advice alot of the time. Sometimes though you word advice in a demeaning manner and no one deserves that. take it how you want to take it. Now I am not an expert with hypo so I have not given advice to star. I am though an adult who will point out when an resident expert puts somebody looking for help down.

 

[beth]

mb4000, I find it rude that you continue to interrupt my conversation with star. My comments and advise is directed toward star and star's particular situation with the problem at hand, not you. MYOB, please.
If star is offended, then star can say so here, or email me, and I will certainly be happy to speak to star about it. As for you, I don't appreciate your interrupting me or disrupting this thread. This thread is about star and star's tank that is undergoing serious problems right now. You are attempting to make this thread about you, and no one, except for yourself & other troublesome souls that get off on being derogatory, is interested.
At this point, this thread will be about star and star’s tank. Anyone who wishes to help out with star’s problem is welcome to do so. This thread will not be about mb4000, unless mb has some advise to give star about star’s tank.
Enough said.

 

[star fish1]

Thanks Guys. I appreciate your concern mb400, but for the record I was not offended by Beth or Ed's response and I do understand that you all are probably getting a little frustrated with me. Ed I realize that I haven't followed through on any one treatment. It is not that I don't appreciate it. This site has been a great source of support. I am just very afraid of losing my entire tank. I was also very disappointed in the guy that I was paying to service my tank. This guy doesn't know any more than I do. I'm not going to continue to pay a person and lose fish a result.
Well anyway I purchased the glass hydrometer today and I am about to take the plunge Ed. Wish me luck. I will keep you posted. Also I am not a he.

 

[star fish1]

OK. I have dropped salinity to 1.012 and my coral beauty is freaking out. swimming to the very top of tank as if its looking for a way out. The movement in not rapid,just that I've never seen it do that before. All other fish appear to be doing better than before. Nobody really seems to be eating much, with the exception of the maroon clown who has appeared to be the least affected by this mess. Should I be concerned with coral beauty behavior? Beth to answer your question from earlier regarding water movement. Yes I did still have my penguin going minus the carbon and I had turned my magnum off. I did this so that the melafix wouldn't be pulled out. Since dropping salinity this last time I have turned magnum back on and replaced carbon in penguin. I will be doing another small water change tomorrow to finally drop to the dreded 1.009 <img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> I pray that they make it through the night.

 

[mb4000]

Beth. I hope that is enough said by you, about me. You don't have to defend yourself against me. The sad part is that you will probably reply to this post and not even address star, even after you're last post was all about me doing the same thing. You made the thread about me when you would not take criticism. This is my last word on this. Feel free to have the last word Beth, and I apolagize to Star for using his thread in this manner. Good luck with the hypo.

 

[beth]

mb, your comments, especially at this point, are down right silly. LOL You are not even paying attention to what Star says. Star is a she, not a he. But glad to hear that you’ve agreed to discontinue this unproductive dialog. That shows maturity on your part.
Star, I kinda thought you were a female. Well, my concern now is that you turned your filters back on wo changing or cleaning out the water in the filters, media, filter pads, etc. You can not leave organically rich filter media wo water flow and then reinstate the flow....the water will be very bad. It does not take long for the water quality to deteriorate, and, if off long enough, to become toxic. If you have done this, I’d suggest a large water change. Reinstate carbon filtration. Clean out all filter media, pads, etc.
Get that circulation going in your tank, especially at water surface. You are treating in the main tank right?
There are no guarantees about saving your fish. With all this stressful stuff going on, you might loose some, so be prepared for that. However, if you stick with what we are trying to suggest here, you will be doing the right thing. No one in this hobby goes without difficult times; but we all do learn from our experiences and mistakes. Believe me, I have made plenty, and still do make them here and there.
What are your water readings now?