no microfauna after 4 months???

[nemofish2217]

What gives?? I have seemed to have problems with this tank from the get go. I started it in January. The fish are all doing fine, and the crabs and snails are too, but some of the corals have died, the others are starting to look like crap, and i have literally seen no microfauna since I set up the tank. I have tested all of my levels multiple times and every time everything comes out normal, aka calc 420-440, alk 9-9.5 dkh, nitrate 0, nitrite 0, ammonia 0, pH 8.3, salinity 1.026.

Does anyone know what could cause the die off (or I guess non growth of microfauna? My sandbed does not look like any organisms are growing and I don't even see any typical "bacteria splotches" in the sand against the glass. They only thing that has happened to the tank is that when I first set it up I used the wrong type of Silicone for the sump. GE silicone type II. This was before I had any corals and only 1 or two fish. I took the entire sump out, and put a new one in in which I used perfecto silicone. I'm pretty sure any residue from the first silicone should have been removed by water changes by now.

I am seriously about to give up on this one. I have always had success with my tanks and I haven't done anything different with this one. algae is running amuck and one by one the corals are shrinking away. I already lost two millis and the other acro I have is starting to look weak ( It had been showing growth). My monti cap still looks good but I'm afraid it will start to fade soon. It almost seems as though something is slowly building in the water that would attack the most sensitive inhabitants first. i don't think copper is the issues because the snails are all fine.

I'm open to any ideas as I am very desperate at this point, and if anyone needs any more info I'll answer any questions at all... thanks guys

 

[29reef]

Maybe do just that? Start over...refine the tank. Fix the things you want to change and start over, same tank,equipment, etc. Just start with new water and sand.

 

[nemofish2217]

I should also add that I religiously do 10 gal weekly water changes and always run carbon. I use 1 tablespoon per 10 gallons and I have chaeto in the sump

 

[nemofish2217]

I would like to do that, but I guess the problem is that I have no idea what is causing this so who is to say that the exact same thing wont happen again??

 

[29reef]

There isn't but IMO every time a tank is setup a "new" tank is created. I'd also check your lighting for uv maybe. Have you had algae growth?

 

[nemofish2217]

yes, tons of algae.... super annoying... what would I be checking for? I will admit that I bought the bulbs used but the person I bought them from said that they had only been used for 4 hours a day for about 6 months or so...would I be better off getting new bulbs to be on the safe side?? That could explain why the higher light corals (sps) are struggling but the lower light ones (leather, ricordea) are doing better.

What could explain the lack of microfauna though?

 

[29reef]

Actually I'm getting more at the point that in a natural enviroment when you create food a predator will show up to eat it. This creates a balance that we see in most marine enviroments. So in say an empty tank with just a light you'll get an algae bloom, followed by a bloom of "pods" to eat the algae. So my point is if you find a way to get pods you'll solve your problem, or why you don't have pods. I'd guess it's from a poison or predator. Starting over should eliminate the problem(s) you can create a pod farm with an air stone SW and and empty 10 gal tank outside (in socal) you may need a heater and artifical light. I'd say it's your water that's killing stuff. Snails won't be affected the same toxins that kill some other inverts.

 

[reefD]

sounds like nutrient issues..aka going to fast...overstocking..feeding too much...lack of filtration....
algae feeds on nutrients...u said they are all zero...that is cause algae is eating it. scientific fact...algae needs nutrients for survival...so ur levels read low cause algae is eating it...no levels would mean no algae. u got algae so u got nutrients..aka ammonia nitrites or nitrates

 

[reefD]

reduce waste aka nutrients and reduce algae and give natural bacteria a chance to establish and do what the algae is doing now. feed less ..increase filtration..skimmers...are u over stocked? all questions u need to ask urself

 

[sanababit]

maybe copper fell in, check for stray current, chemical warefare between corals...

sana

 

[the_rider]

The possibility that you have a lot of algae, can be the cause you cannot keep corals, I have algae and I can keep SPS and LPS, not a lot yet but it's getting there, so im not sure this is the reason.

What type of coral are you trying to keep ? Maybe is the placement, or the flow, or you have some nudi ...

 

[ludnix]

What are you using for water? RO/DI? Tap water?

 

[Whys]

Have you added liverock? JK

You don't have nitrates, but you do have algae, so you must have phosphates. You can run GFO (phosban) for that.

It's possible the toxins from the bad silicone are still in your sandbed. It's also possible it's now in your display tank's silicone as well. I know copper can do that for example.

I hope that's not the case. That would truly suketh.