Phosphate Problem???

[Holyreefer]

Its funny you said that though because yesterday when i got home i noticed my Mandarin fish's tail had looked like it had been eatean at until i also noticed HEAVY breathing from him.

I tried to remove him but it moved behind one of the rocks

But the phosphate spike-It couldn't of been that because all my fish are still active.

The mandarin fish situation just happenend yesterday

The fish i have are 2 cleaner wrasses and 1 kole tang & 1 rabbit fox fish.

I also know that the dry fish foods hold higher phosphate levels than the frozen do and because i have not been home recenlty i have been feeding all dried foods

 

[dolt]

don't forget about the snails and such though as a potential cause if they died - also if you use filter floss make sure you don't have old stuff in there - it should be changed frequently

 

[johnfluevogs]

My phosphate reactor empties the water into the filter sock in my sump. The filter sock does an excellent job at catching "loose" media; and I have never seen any floating around in my tank.

I must be doing something terribly wrong with the whole system, now its a matter of figuring it out.

 

[johnfluevogs]

So for sake of argument...if a large mexican Turbo Snail dies and you do nothing about it will the tank ever corret itself? How long would it take in a smaller (30g) size tank? Does this require a water change to correct?

 

[dolt]

if that happens the best thing to do is get it out - the smaller the system the more important this is - water changes will help but it will continue to decay until it is gone - this may take weeks - hermits will expedite this by picking at the carcass - if you have ever smelled a rotting dead snail you will understand how much garbage it is releasing into your water - it smells horrible

 

[Radicaljbr]

I have a snail die and all the crabs, shrimp and fish eat it within minutes.