Adrian and I Frantically Testing Water

G

GreyhoundTrish

New member
In the last twenty four hours, just like that..bam.bam.bam. I lost my sexy shrimp, Mrs. Nemo and Mr. Nemo (who had completely (or seemingly so) recovered from any of his white spots). Last night water params were all normal. I was planning on doing my 10-20% change this weekend when Adrian was home (10 gallons of SW can be a tad too heavy for my bad back to lift). Both OCs were curious, lively, flitting, eating, etc. The sexy shrimp, was just....well...being itself. The only comment I made to Adrian, he was out of town last night, was I had more algae on my rocks than I thought I should, and he wisely advised cutting back on the time the lights are on. I didn't do anything unusual last night. I fed, frozen..mysis, yep, mysis last night. In fact, got the the brain coral to take one (had me a moment with my coral *sniff sniff*, and of course phyto.

Possible energy surge or something such, given the weather,etc? I am on an aquarium surge protector/timer set up. I don't know what else could have gone so bad so fast on me. Any thoughts of other things to look for, check, please let me know. We have the basic water test kits, plus the complete test kits for establish reefs.

I believe I can confirm my first zoa colony is a lost cause, my beauty from KR. *sigh* The other smaller zoa frags continue to improve. All corals appear healthy. I may have additionaly lost a hermit, but hard to tell if lost/dead or shedded and found a new home/shell. This was "dozer" so my big one. Otherwise I can't tell the others apart.

Trish :worried:

ETA: The reason A is home to help me with water checks tonight, is he was injured on the job last night. I went to Selmer to bring him home this morning. He'll be fine. My aquarium on the other hand....? I just re-read that, I didn't mean that to come out callous, just letting you all know he's OK, nothing to worry about. Just a bit sore, and out of it, a bit more shaken than I've ever seen him. They didn't even do a basic neuro exam on the man in the hospital, so I ran him through one when we got home, and fine. I'll check again in the morning before I go off to work, with strict orders for him to REST!!!
 
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I am so very sorry for your loss and I hope Adrian is okay. Is there any chance that maybe you put your hands in the water for some reason and you had lotion or something on your hands and also did you clean your glass with a spray glass cleaner. I hope everything else will be okay.
 
Check your salinity,and water temp.I had a problem a few months back because my hydromoter was reading 1.024. all other test were fine.I had someone else double check my water,all test were good except the salinity, he used a refractometer and it read 1.032.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10517152#post10517152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Doris M
I am so very sorry for your loss and I hope Adrian is okay. Is there any chance that maybe you put your hands in the water for some reason and you had lotion or something on your hands and also did you clean your glass with a spray glass cleaner. I hope everything else will be okay.
Click to expand...

Nope. I always wash hand thoroughly with light soap and hot water before and always use aquarium gloves as I'm finding my hands getting quite sensitive to the salt. *owie*. :(
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10517159#post10517159 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SNAKEMANVET
Check your salinity,and water temp.I had a problem a few months back because my hydromoter was reading 1.024. all other test were fine.I had someone else double check my water,all test were good except the salinity, he used a refractometer and it read 1.032.
Click to expand...

Ok, refractometer. Good idea. Only have been checking with hydrometer. I will order one without hesitation, unless someone knows where I can get one in town, reasonable price, or has a used one they'd sell. I just look at Drs F&S and saw 45.00 for the portable. Is that a good enough model? Or do I need to be thinking higher end?
 
Loosing a tank that fast is odd. I would do the normal test ammonia, nitrite, nitrite, pH. I would think salinity or temp would be more likely though. As Doris said some lotion on your hands or some type of cleaner sprayed in the area of the tank. Did you do any additives or top off water?
The $45 one is what I and most others use.
 
Nope, hadn't topped off in several days. And Like I told Doris, I was very careful about my hands in the tank, for the sealife, and for my skin that was beginning to crack from even brief forays into the saltwater. Everything has now been checked AGAIN and is "perfect". Anyone in town have the refractometer so I don't have to wait to get it until after the weekend?
 
you can go get a glass bob type one they are pretty good in a fix more so then a swing arm . you can get them at a fish store around here i know petco has one for 4 dollars or so
 
Added to the deceased list, after further inspection, two peppermint shrimp. :( And yes, they were eating Mysis well, when not zapping aptaisia. Again, healthy coloring activity (for before lights out) from them last night. Oh, and it seems Mr. Nemo rallied, at least for now, and is not deceased. We thought he was when we first looked, but there were still some last gasps for air, near the surface, now he's moving about a bit more freely.
 
Thanks Zann. I'm out of it after taking care of Adrian too, and he certainly can't go get one tonight, but will be going to get a refractometor tomorrow. Anything else I should add to that shopping list? I can get to KR, Petsmart, Petco (not preferred), etc. etc. I'd like to be as prepared for what might lie ahead this weekend.
 
well theres something wrong thats for sure what are your readings on the test you did and what test did you do .

and what do you top off with do you add anything to your top off water .
 
I top of with RO/DI from Kermits. No additives. The only additives that go in in fact are Iodine, for the shrimp, even other day, just a teensy bit. I use KR's Saltwater.

I've done Nitrite-Nitrate-Ammonia, at at zero, and Salinity right at 1.024, that's me on a pain pill. Did that number sound right, I can go harass Adrian if I got that one wrong. LOL! (Trying again to keep some humor)

I have made no real changes in "care" in the three months the tank has been up, other than the obvious ones as different species required them.
 
I thought you loss both your clowns. I believe at this point I would not believe some of my test kits. I believe I would do a major water change. Or take a water sample to a reputable fish store close by and have them check it.
 
what salt mix do you do
and i wouldnt dose iodine if you change your water each week then theres no need for it . and if you do dose it do it once a week .
the main thing is people do to much to there tanks at times .
did you check your calcium and stuff like that. whats the ph and the kh
 
I only do a partial change each week, but I've only added a few drops of iodine twice since getting the Peppermints, so won't continue when I am able to rebuild. I've never used any other additives, as that's always the advice I've gotten here, do the water changes, you won't need to supplement.

I will have Adrian check those other numbers. And report back shortly. I use what ever salt mix KR uses.

No place close to check the water, I'm up in Millington. Well, Adrian had "Said" the other OC was dead, but I think he meant to say he wasn't far from it. I do have the additional kits. and will have Adrian do them right now.

Adrian is off to check everything we have a test kit for. :) I think he realizes I'm shaking too much over being frustrated I'd spill. *blush*
 
Ok, Dave. I'll do that tomorrow. Thanks!!

And thank you ALL for TRULY being here for me. At some point I'm going to have to leave Adrian in charge, as I'm a VERY early to bed, early to rise, but he has had SW experience, and heck, not much left do die on me tonight. *sigh* Sorry. Bad joke. I know. :(

I can't believe all of you being here for me through this. You guys are the BEST!!!!!!
 
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