One beauty down- Newbie needs help!

skidoctor

skidoctor

New member
I'm somewhat new to the sport and site, and I'd hate to come in *****ing and crying, but I just lost my coral angel. My creepy brittle star seems real lathargic and all of my corals are retracted. The fish seem fine- a fairy wrasse, a domino (who I want out but can't catch), some damsels, and 2 pajama cardinals. I had just set up my sump/ fuge tank, I've tested over and over and all of my parameters are normal. Along with pumbing and redecorating, I added carbon and phosban, and undoubtedly there was strerss involved. Probably a lot more than necesary. The beauty was a recent addidtion, whereas the others have been prone to my stupidity before. I've isolated the star for now. Is this all stress or is there something else I'm missing? Is there something I can do to nurse everything back to health?
 
Welcome to the URS Forum :wave:

How long did you have the Coral Beauty? Did it's body have markings? What kind of brittle star... is it one of those big green serpent stars?
 
I had the coral beauty maybe 2 weeks. last night he was out and swimming around, looked good- better than the other fish who were in hiding). Can't remember seeing him this morning though. And its a green brittle. I've had him for over 18 months and he's been through hell and back. I forgot to mention that I added some dry rock while redecorating. From a reputable lfs, Rinsed with ro/di water.
 
specs are as follows-
nitrate 12
nitrite .1
alk 2.1
phos .5
amm .1
ph 8.1 i know it should be higher
calcium 475
 
just a guess

just a guess

(because that's the best anyone can do with the given information):

the Angelfish was new. Stress caused it's demise and the serpent star did it's job.
 
skidoctor said:
specs are as follows-
nitrate 12
nitrite .1
alk 2.1
phos .5
amm .1
ph 8.1 i know it should be higher
calcium 475
Click to expand...
pH is fine. Ammonia should be undetectable in a reef aquarium. Must always give units of measure in addition to numbers. (alk 2.1 dKH or meq/l?)
 
ha-hi.
I did just add mixed, aerated water. I did'nt take any out. But I had just changed the water in the display last week. The sand and rock in the fuge was from an old tank- rocks were dry, sand wasnt. Thats why I am so surprised my levels are normal. I ran the sump by itself for a while before introducing it to the display tank. Added a sock of carbon and a sock of phosban. Redecorating was a bit rough on everyone.
 
nitrate 12ppm
nitrite .1 ppm
alk 2.1 meq/l
phos .5 ppm
amm .1 ppm
ph 8.1 i know it should be higher
calcium 475
 
Salinity is at 1.025. It definitely spiked last week when I did my last waer changed, but I had hoped we made it past that once I diluted. Everything ecovered well and was out and healthy before I added the sump.
Now the star is moving around in quarintine. Earlier when I found him he was balled up in the corner of the dt- he comes out a lot during the day, especially feeding time, but this time he just seemed weird. Wouldn't eat. Should I try again now that he's alone and moving?
 
Just a thought- could it be that I have to much carbon or phosban? I just added these- 2.5 cups of carbon rinsed with ro/di water for 60 gallons, 30-40g phosban.
 
That is a LOT of carbon. I use 1 cup in my 57. Check the Bulk reef supply calculator to verify the amount you should use.
I cannot comment on the phosban, I have never used it.
 
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