Fragged leather = dying sps????

[Reefer08]

Hello everyone im trying to figure out why my sps is dying. I recently fragged my fiji yellow leather. It measured 12 inches or more across (huge) and I fragged into in half. My carbon in my media reactor was about 1 week old (half full with carbon). Do you guys think that might have caused some of my sps to die off? About 50% has died.

2. Ive been having problems with my heater. Stopped working and temp dropped to 75 one night, replaced it once I saw it not working.

3. The RO/DI water ive been getting measured at 250 TDS, trusted my source, had a brown algae outbreak from this.

Its not been a very good week for my corals. Do you guys think me fragging my leather impacted the health of my sps at all??


Thanks

 

[Znut Reefer]

Could have been the toxins the leather released. Sorry to hear this for you. Hopefully you won't loose them all. Did you frag the leather in the tank by chance?

 

[Jeff]

Not sure if it was the drop in temperature, the high tds, the leather toxins, or a combination but I would do a water change and increase the carbon use.

 

[Reefer08]

I fragged the leather outside of the tank, then placed them back in the tank.

I probably should have added that I have no protein skimmer. I just perform weekly water changes and have a huge refugium.

 

[redfishsc]

I think Jeff is right. You are looking at the 1-2-3 punch from all that, I'd wager.

I have read of some leathers that can release chemical warfare if fragged, but have never fragged one personally. I have a small cabbage leather, but it was a hitchhiker and I won't frag him anytime soon.

 

[MileHighFish]

so your top off water and water changes were done with 250 tds water? how long have you used that same source? was it from a local store?

 

[Reefer08]

10 percent water change with 250 tds and a few gallons for top off until i realized it was at 250. The sps thats still have have no pe

 

[Steve 926]

I'm sure you know that a tds of 250 is not good. if you caught the mistake early on, the total volume in the display would not be that high. several WC with a 0 tds reading will eventually straighten it out. always check your levels beforehand, & match them. the drop in temp to 75 overnight, is not that big of an issue. I'm sure that many fish & corals experience this while being shipped.

Fraging leathers however, is an issue.
Leathers are notorious for releasing slime & chemicals when fraged.
I have found the best way to frag them is outside of the display, & then place them in a bucket / container with a powerhead for a good 30 min. the water movement will help to stop the slime / chemical release, & not add it to your display.
any longer than 30 min, or if the room is cool, you may need to place a small heater in the container.

Colt corals are also notorious for slime release, & this rinse method works well for them also.

Good Luck.

Steve

:smokin:

 

[Reefer08]

But what would a high tds reading mean though for a reef tank? Does it mean my nitrates and phosphates will be high??

 

[flyyyguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13713726#post13713726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer08

3. The RO/DI water ive been getting measured at 250 TDS, trusted my source, had a brown algae outbreak from this.

That is not ro/di water. that is sewage. Ok...not really sewage but if an RO/DI unit is spitting out wter with a tds of 250.........it isnt working. TDS should be zero, or at least in the ballpark. If the filters or membrane need changed or replaced it could be ten or so....soemtimes a little more. You need to evaluate why you trust this source, or at least confirm you are in fact getting ro/di water.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13715472#post13715472 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer08
But what would a high tds reading mean though for a reef tank? Does it mean my nitrates and phosphates will be high??

probably. But that isnt the dangerous part. an efficient system can deal with nitrates and phosphates. Using water with a TDS that high could also mean that you are using untreated water with whatever toxic heavy metal or impurity you can think of that hasnt been removed from the water. That is a large part of why we shoot for a tds of zero.