I'm having the worst reefing week since I started in 2006. I thought I would make a summary post of ALL my problems....
Week of 2/17 noticed this on my largest chalice. chalice later died from all kinds of skin falling off about 7-9days later:
then later that week around 2/20/14, this happened to two other chalices I had:
Lost two more chalices but managed to work quick and moved all 15 chalices into a 30gal QT tank.
Now...........This morning found this on one of my acans:
Later today found this on my largest acan:
I am LOSING MY MIND and about to quit this hobby unless I can figure this out.
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Theory #1:
Ive been keeping track of water parameter for the last two months. the only parameter to note is my ALK changed:
12/1/13: alk 8.3
12/7/13: alk 10.2
12/15/13: alk 13.1
01/01/14: alk 16
01/15/14: alk 7.7
1/21/14: alk 8.6
rest of January: alk bounced around 7-8
rest of Feb: alk bounced around 7-8
today 3/1/14: alk 6.7
So theory #1 from other local reefers is I'm suffering from that ALK spike from 1/1/14 of 16.
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Theory #2:
I started in early January to spotfeed my chalice and acans for the first time ever. I either fed them too much or the extra food caused a NO3 spike. I was feeding them crushed-up Fauna Marin LPS pellets into a paste and then squirting on the chalices and in the acans mouths. I also would do the same thing with Reef Chili making it into a paste that could be squirted.
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Theory #3:
I have a Hoeven Wrasse in the system and since they are "verocious eaters" maybe I'm not feeding it enough and its taking bite right out of the acans. I'm to the point of yanking him out of the tank just bc he"might" be a suspect.
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Theory #4
Maybe a have some mystery crab or pest attacking the chalices and acans. I have no idea how you determine its a pest. All i got to go on is theses pictures.
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Theory #5
I have some sort of bacterial infection running rampant in my main system. The chalices in the QT seem to be stablizing. Dipping acans in Rx tonight and placing them in the QT tank.
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Theory #6
Tank is in the basement and has been down there for around 3yrs. Someone mentioned about my furnace emitting small amounts of carbon monoxide that has made it into the tanks water column. I DONT have the first clue how you even test for that.
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Other parameters:
> my Calcium and Mag have always been a little high (calc 420-500) mag (1400-1500) due to having a calc-reactor dripping into the tank. but the reactor has been giving me those numbers for the last 12mos.
> only recently have tested for nitrates: around 2-5ppm but mostly leaning towards 2ppm
> i tested for phosphates today: 0 maybe a little towards .25 as the the test solution has a tiny hint of green in the mostly yellow solution.
> i do a 10-20% WC every week. I use SeaChem Reef Salt. The salt is about 2-3 yrs old. I dont know if salt that sits around goes bad.
> i use a 250w MH 20,000k bulb. the bulb is about 3mos old. this type of bulb has never given me any trouble for the last 5+ yrs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyone have an idea of what's going on in my tank?
I'M LOSING MY MIND watching corals I've had for 3-5 years just slowly die! I'm extremely P.O.'ed.
Please assist me in stopping me losing my sanity. Ask any questions you have to help find the reason this is all happening.
Week of 2/17 noticed this on my largest chalice. chalice later died from all kinds of skin falling off about 7-9days later:
then later that week around 2/20/14, this happened to two other chalices I had:
Lost two more chalices but managed to work quick and moved all 15 chalices into a 30gal QT tank.
Now...........This morning found this on one of my acans:
Later today found this on my largest acan:
I am LOSING MY MIND and about to quit this hobby unless I can figure this out.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theory #1:
Ive been keeping track of water parameter for the last two months. the only parameter to note is my ALK changed:
12/1/13: alk 8.3
12/7/13: alk 10.2
12/15/13: alk 13.1
01/01/14: alk 16
01/15/14: alk 7.7
1/21/14: alk 8.6
rest of January: alk bounced around 7-8
rest of Feb: alk bounced around 7-8
today 3/1/14: alk 6.7
So theory #1 from other local reefers is I'm suffering from that ALK spike from 1/1/14 of 16.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theory #2:
I started in early January to spotfeed my chalice and acans for the first time ever. I either fed them too much or the extra food caused a NO3 spike. I was feeding them crushed-up Fauna Marin LPS pellets into a paste and then squirting on the chalices and in the acans mouths. I also would do the same thing with Reef Chili making it into a paste that could be squirted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theory #3:
I have a Hoeven Wrasse in the system and since they are "verocious eaters" maybe I'm not feeding it enough and its taking bite right out of the acans. I'm to the point of yanking him out of the tank just bc he"might" be a suspect.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theory #4
Maybe a have some mystery crab or pest attacking the chalices and acans. I have no idea how you determine its a pest. All i got to go on is theses pictures.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theory #5
I have some sort of bacterial infection running rampant in my main system. The chalices in the QT seem to be stablizing. Dipping acans in Rx tonight and placing them in the QT tank.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Theory #6
Tank is in the basement and has been down there for around 3yrs. Someone mentioned about my furnace emitting small amounts of carbon monoxide that has made it into the tanks water column. I DONT have the first clue how you even test for that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other parameters:
> my Calcium and Mag have always been a little high (calc 420-500) mag (1400-1500) due to having a calc-reactor dripping into the tank. but the reactor has been giving me those numbers for the last 12mos.
> only recently have tested for nitrates: around 2-5ppm but mostly leaning towards 2ppm
> i tested for phosphates today: 0 maybe a little towards .25 as the the test solution has a tiny hint of green in the mostly yellow solution.
> i do a 10-20% WC every week. I use SeaChem Reef Salt. The salt is about 2-3 yrs old. I dont know if salt that sits around goes bad.
> i use a 250w MH 20,000k bulb. the bulb is about 3mos old. this type of bulb has never given me any trouble for the last 5+ yrs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyone have an idea of what's going on in my tank?
I'M LOSING MY MIND watching corals I've had for 3-5 years just slowly die! I'm extremely P.O.'ed.
Please assist me in stopping me losing my sanity. Ask any questions you have to help find the reason this is all happening.
