Help with Yumas, please

[novacalypso]

I got an order of corals in on Tues. So far only one (lobo brain) didn't make it. I tried to save it but ended up having to take it out Wed night before it could do more damage. Wed my two new tri-colored yumas started to get severely stress, so much so their mouths gaped and i thought they might spew they're insides a few times ( they didn't thank goodness.) Thurs morning the smaller of the two did let go a tiny bit of stuff but seemed to go back to normal and the larger one has been a little droopy. Both keep acting really stressed. Yesterday i did three 1gal water changes since Wed night and have tested the water at least twice and even took it to the LFS to have them test it. Everything comes back good/ negative..except the aquarium pharm. ammonia tests keeps going off-color (opaquish white) and not matching the color chart. Both my test and the LFS did it. I also have a little more than a tablespoon of purigen and phosguard in a media bad and the uv sterilizer going. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Also the new zoas i got in the shipment haven't opened yet ( I know sometimes it takes a few days). One or two polyps have but not the whole colonies and 1 batch arrived opened but has opened again since acclimating. The richordea that came with the yumas is doing fine, it got a lil stressed while the brain was in but has been doing ok since it was taken out and after doing the water changes.

 

[Tallinu]

If your ammonia test is going white. It sounds like a precipitate is forming. There may be some chemical or mineral in your water column that is interfering with the test, causing a chemical reaction. Check your test kit versus water not from your tank and see if it turns white. Then perhaps if the test kit is working as intended on that source of water, you could maybe remove the purigen/phosguard temporarily. Run some carbon on your tank for a few hours and then try your test kit again. Is the test kit being used specifically intended for salt water? Or does it cover both fresh and salt? You may want to check to see if the manufacturer has a web site and lists possible issues that might mess with the test.

Maybe do another small water change and run some carbon on your tank. If they respond well remove the carbon before you strip to much essential organic and mineral content.

Tallinu

 

[Scythanith]

Re: Help with Yumas, please

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8427277#post8427277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by novacalypso
..except the aquarium pharm. ammonia tests keeps going off-color (opaquish white) and not matching the color chart.

I don't know if this is your problem, but if you use a test designed for freshwater use only it will do the exact thing you're describing.

Hope that helps,

Cheers

 

[novacalypso]

Thanks for the help . I've figure it's the test itself, it said for both fresh and saltwater but i don't believe it....so i've been taking water samples to a lfs to be tested using a diff brand ( i've ordered another ammonia test and it's on it's way.) I've done a another tiny water change over the wkend and have been doing with stability and a tiny partial dose of amquel plus and i've added carbon and extra purigen. So far it seems to be doing the trick. The yumas have calm down considerably since Fri and the baby ( there 2 adults and 1 baby) has completely closed it's mouth and might even be growing a little. The two adults have almost fully closed their mouths.