180g imploding....

[TokiHacker]

So... my 180 has been going strong. Tested params yesterday and the following

salinity 1.026
Ph 8.2
A 0
Ni 0
Na 10
Ca 520
Mg 1500
Alk 9

Then... I wake up this morning with the skimmer going crazy and lost my starry blenny 2 clown fish and coral beauty and everything else isn't looking great...

What happened?

Only thing I have added is NoPox (two days ago) stability yesterday and stresscoat (which I can assume is why the skimmer is going off the chain)

but... with that what is killing the fish and making coral look awful?

 

[billdogg]

I'd be interested in your parameters today.

Also - with your parameters where they were yesterday, why were you adding anything at all?

All it takes is one thing to start going south and then it can quickly become a cascade of issues.

Carbon and water changes at this point regardless of what todays testing shows would be a good idea IMO

 

[TokiHacker]

I'd be interested in your parameters today.

Also - with your parameters where they were yesterday, why were you adding anything at all?

All it takes is one thing to start going south and then it can quickly become a cascade of issues.

Carbon and water changes at this point regardless of what todays testing shows would be a good idea IMO

Already put carbon in and had to go to work so wasn't able to change water... by the time I checked I was already pretty much walking out the door. Trying to see if I can jump ship today and get home.

 

[cincyjim]

Do you use a UV sterilizer? I ask because when I used Stress Coat with the UV sterilizer, I had some very bad reactions. I'm not sure why they didn't get along with each other but my parameters were greatly affected by the interaction between the two.

 

[TokiHacker]

No iv sterilizer


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[TokiHacker]

It is really quite frustrating.... just kinda makes you want to quit some times...

 

[TokiHacker]

I'd be interested in your parameters today.

Also - with your parameters where they were yesterday, why were you adding anything at all?

All it takes is one thing to start going south and then it can quickly become a cascade of issues.

Carbon and water changes at this point regardless of what todays testing shows would be a good idea IMO

The reasoning for the stability was I have always done it. When a WC is done had a cap of stability and stresscoat. Has never caused any issues until this time.

 

[sik_z33]

How old is the system?

 

[mcgyvr]

Why did you add stresscoat?

I haven't used that crap since I thought I needed to with my first goldfish tank when I was 4.. API rode that one all the way to the bank..

and are you dosing? Your alk is lower than what it could/should be with cal/mag being top of the range.. (None of that is necessarily bad) but I'd expect alk to be at the higher end too if it was just from the salt mix..

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

Anything make its way into your tank from the outside air? Like an AC vent blowing on it that might have pulled in some chemicals or something?

 

[afish70]

Did you check your heater? I have read people having similar situations to find out the heater was wacked out and stuck on heat or the exact opposite.

 

[GimpyFin]

I'm guessing the cocktail of nopox, stresscoat, and stability is what caused everything to go south. I don't use them, but I know Red Sea warns against using any chemical absorbers/neutralizers with nopox (Like stress coat.) Any particular reason for using them? Are you using tap water?

 

[Sk8r]

I would agree. Rather than use stresscoat, keep your alkalinity about 8.3 and your salinity stable. Fish have natural defenses if given half a chance, so they don't need the stresscoat unless there's something bad going on. Generally, they produce a good slime coat all on their own.

 

[Tripod1404]

Stress coat contain Aloe Vera extract ,so it is a carbon source. Mixing that with nopox might have caused an overdose of carbon which would result in bacteria bloom. If this is the case, bacteria would consume the oxygen and fish would suffocate. It would also make the skimmer go crazy.

 

[homer1475]

Stress coat contain Aloe Vera extract ,so it is a carbon source. Mixing that with nopox might have caused an overdose of carbon which would result in bacteria bloom. If this is the case, bacteria would consume the oxygen and fish would suffocate. It would also make the skimmer go crazy.

THIS!

Was just going to post the same exact thing.

 

[billdogg]

Stress coat contain Aloe Vera extract ,so it is a carbon source. Mixing that with nopox might have caused an overdose of carbon which would result in bacteria bloom. If this is the case, bacteria would consume the oxygen and fish would suffocate. It would also make the skimmer go crazy.

THIS!

Was just going to post the same exact thing.

Thanks for the information! I suspected something along those lines - thanks for confirming.

 

[monkeysee1]

I'm guessing the cocktail of nopox, stresscoat, and stability is what caused everything to go south.

Nailed it.
Wonder what posessed Toki to put all that in his tank to begin with. His parameters were fine. Calcium and Magnesium were a bit high, but okay (though his calcium level could, over time, end up clogging his piping because of precipitate buildup.

 

[TokiHacker]

Nailed it.
Wonder what posessed Toki to put all that in his tank to begin with. His parameters were fine. Calcium and Magnesium were a bit high, but okay (though his calcium level could, over time, end up clogging his piping because of precipitate buildup.

The reasoning behind the stresscoat was because there was a Singapore angel that came out of quarantine that kinda got beat up a little... was under the assumption that would help with keeping it alive since I could not catch him.

 

[TokiHacker]

An nopox to lower the nitrates to 5ppm and stability because I just always have.... maybe being a creature of habit isn't always the best thing...

 

[Sounds Fishy]

Has your Singapore angel survived?I hope so,because they really are delicate,and very nice fish.Two things I know about stress coat.The reason it is supposed to work is because it encourages the slime on fish to thicken,however,in order to achieve this the product irritates the fishs' outer coat ( thus stimulating the slime to grow to protect the fish from the product you added).That seems counter productive.
Also,your skimmer just removes it from the water,anyway.So why bother... No pox is a good product.
Sounds maybe you love you fish so much you tried to give them every oppourtunity at a good life by adding a few things that are supposed to help keep everything in good condition,however,sometimes( and in hind sight), just doing regular water changes is the best solution.