Taking a Turn for the Worst

[golfnllama]

Hi all,
I have a BioCube 29 that I have had going for about four months. It is stocked with two Clowns, a Goby and an assortment of LPS corals. A few weeks ago I decided to add some Chaeto to the refugium and it has been growing like crazy. It was shortly after adding the Chaeto that I noticed my Acans beginning to retract and my fish started acting strange (hiding in the rock work more and not actively going after food). Below are the tanks parameters, and everything looks good to me. I'm wondering if something is going on with dissolved oxygen or carbon dioxide because of the Chaeto. Anyone ever experience something similar? It could very well be just a tank phase too I guess.

Temp: 77
Salinity: 1.025
PH: 8.1
dKH: 9
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 1 ppm

Orbit Marine Pro lighting (running at 70% 9 hours a day)
One Aqua Medic Eco Drift 4.0 pump
Fuge light running on reverse cycle

Thanks!


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[Rybren]

I doubt very much that the addition of chaeto is the cause of your issues. How soon after adding it did your acans and fish develop problems? Hours, days, weeks?

 

[rocsec1]

Maybe something hitch hiked in it?

 

[dallen2233]

Maybe something hitch hiked in it?

I'd have to agree. I once had ich hitchhike on a coral frag.

 

[golfnllama]

It was within a few days after adding the Chaeto that I noticed. Any good images or descriptions of what to look for in terms of ich on corals? I know lionfishlair.com is a good resource so I'll start looking there. I don't see anything noticeable on the corals or fish though.


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[Sk8r]

corals don't 'get' ich. Something else could have come in ON the cheato---or it could be a situation totally unrelated to the cheato. Describe the origin tank of the cheato. Did it have fish? Did you make any adjustment in the sump that could have brought electricity in contact with the water---like a cracked heater, or a bit of metal?

 

[golfnllama]

Thanks Sk8r! The Chaeto came from Live Aquaria, so I'm not sure of the origin tank. I have not made any sump changes that would have brought electricity in contact with the water. I'll do a thorough review of the equipment when I do a water change this week.


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[golfnllama]

An update on my tanks' status:
Unfortunately lost my two clown's and one of my acan colonies during this unknown outbreak, but everything is showing signs of improvement now. I removed the Chaeto from my sump and did a thorough cleaning of the equipment checking for any broken items. All of the basic water parameter tests show no signs of concern, so I'm still curious what might have caused this. It is very likely that something hitched a ride in on the Chaeto, but I'm at a loss for how I could have tested/identified what. Any suggestions for more specific tests I should perform besides the common ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, calcium, and dKH to catch any issues sooner in the future? Thanks!


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[ericarenee]

where did you get the chaeto ?