Continuing Tank problems - Fish demises

[mdrobc1213]

I really question the device you're using to test specific gravity. If you're getting 1.023 out of the tap, your city is either piping seawater right to your house, or your readings are incorrect. Also to expand on the point Broken makes...even if you're just doing WCs and no top off, you're increasing salinity. Imagine 0.5 gallons of water evaporates. That leaves behind 0.5 gallons worth of salt. Then you take out 10 gallons in your WC, then add 10.5 gallons of saltwater at normal strength to get the tank back to full. You now have an extra 0.5 gallons of salt. Do this several times and you'll have gallons worth of extra salt..you should top off every day (or continuously, using your fancy Apex (I'm jealous!)). At minimum, you should top off with RODI before doing your water change so you're replacing 1.025 water with 1.025 water.

Yes I see now. Have started looking at dosing with RO at min and RODI from LFS and have seen lowering salinity 1.027 now this evening and fish in Quarantine and Biocube are still alive and eating well.

Also I've been using a white filter pad and a charcoal pad in my sump pre filter prior to my bioballs. Should I continue this...not sure of the benefit other than clearer water and some removal of particulate matter but I have Filter socks for that also. Thanks

 

[BrianKC]

The filter pad is just another thing to keep clean so I'd dump it. Charcoal pad is okay but generally granular charcoal in a media bag is more effective.

 

[mdrobc1213]

The filter pad is just another thing to keep clean so I'd dump it. Charcoal pad is okay but generally granular charcoal in a media bag is more effective.

Yes thanks. I've moved my top offs to RODI water and stopped using LFS salt water other than for water changes and only using/doing about 10% of total tank volume (10-15g at a time). Levels are holding steady and will do a water test again when I get back from short vacay out of town but salinity is now down to 1.027 and working to get it slowly down to 1.023. PH I've noticed has stabilized also and fish seem to be doing better that are in the tank. NO further losses. No new additions. Doing same with Biocube 14 and Quarantine tank and look to be stable and doing well. Purchased a SMart ATO unit last week and will install when I get back and hopefully should help keep things on the right track.

Also bought The Conscious Marine Aquarist (Lemon Peel on cover) and The ne Marine Aquarium to re-read and re-acquaint myself with info I seemed to have forgotten.