It started yesterday. My wife called to tell me the fish food had tipped over into the tank (4-6oz). Since I had planned a long over due vacuuming of my tank I decided to add a good water change when I got home for work.
When I got home the bubble tip anemone looked stressed (he ended up wearing most of the food initially) and my clown trigger was tucking himself into the rocks like when he sleeps but everything else appeared normal. I vacuumed the gravel bed (very dirty) and added back about 20 Gal of water (55G tank) about half RO, half filtered water from the local grocery store I declorinated as a precaution.
The water appeared cloudy as I turned the pumps back on and the salt level was low. I added salt a little at a time and measured it. By bedtime the salinity was back up to 20-22. There were signs of stress with the corals which I attributed to the water change. I figured the cloudiness would subside over night.
Got up this morning and all the fish were dead. The corals (all softs) appeared highly stressed. I immediately moved everything I could to my 120G. (was in the process of upgrading to it). I salvaged a handful of my corals, the anemone, my crabs and starfish. They are all still touch and go. I pulled my live rock but did not move it to the new tank yet. (I'm worried about contaminating it too) It's under wet newspaper.
I consider myself relatively new at this. My questions:
Could the food itself cause the die off by affecting the chemical balance?
Any ideas what else may have caused it? Stirred up ammonia or phosphate? I have the water and am going to get it tested.
My new tank appears from my testing to be balanced except PH (I did not do it yet) and salinity. In spite of weekly fresh water replacements (5 Gals) the salinity is up around 38. Any way to bring it down short of water changes? Or maybe my manual gauge is off. I have sacrificial fish and snails that have been doing ok and some of my saved livestock responded positively.
Can I add back my live rock or should I rinse it before putting it in the new tank?
I was going to use the gravel bed from the old tank in my sump as a filter bed. Can I and how do I handle it in light of the die off? Do I let it dry out? Do I rinse it and reuse it?
The greatest loss for me was my mated pair of Precula clowns and possibly their anemone if it doesn’t make and my wife’s enthusiasm. She gave me my tank for one Christmas present and had it set up as another Christmas present. She’s been almost excited as me at each turn or new addition. The die off has upset her and now she’s wondering how we are going to manage to replace the livestock or if we should even try. I told her we can nickel and dime and look for deals like we have been doing. I’m not sure that cheered her up much.
I’m not home right now but my wife is. I’m waiting to hear from Matt Donaldson. He helped me set up the new tank. I voice mailed him this morning hoping he could stop by and help. If any one else can help or has a suggestion please drop my a line.
Kevin
412-7836
When I got home the bubble tip anemone looked stressed (he ended up wearing most of the food initially) and my clown trigger was tucking himself into the rocks like when he sleeps but everything else appeared normal. I vacuumed the gravel bed (very dirty) and added back about 20 Gal of water (55G tank) about half RO, half filtered water from the local grocery store I declorinated as a precaution.
The water appeared cloudy as I turned the pumps back on and the salt level was low. I added salt a little at a time and measured it. By bedtime the salinity was back up to 20-22. There were signs of stress with the corals which I attributed to the water change. I figured the cloudiness would subside over night.
Got up this morning and all the fish were dead. The corals (all softs) appeared highly stressed. I immediately moved everything I could to my 120G. (was in the process of upgrading to it). I salvaged a handful of my corals, the anemone, my crabs and starfish. They are all still touch and go. I pulled my live rock but did not move it to the new tank yet. (I'm worried about contaminating it too) It's under wet newspaper.
I consider myself relatively new at this. My questions:
Could the food itself cause the die off by affecting the chemical balance?
Any ideas what else may have caused it? Stirred up ammonia or phosphate? I have the water and am going to get it tested.
My new tank appears from my testing to be balanced except PH (I did not do it yet) and salinity. In spite of weekly fresh water replacements (5 Gals) the salinity is up around 38. Any way to bring it down short of water changes? Or maybe my manual gauge is off. I have sacrificial fish and snails that have been doing ok and some of my saved livestock responded positively.
Can I add back my live rock or should I rinse it before putting it in the new tank?
I was going to use the gravel bed from the old tank in my sump as a filter bed. Can I and how do I handle it in light of the die off? Do I let it dry out? Do I rinse it and reuse it?
The greatest loss for me was my mated pair of Precula clowns and possibly their anemone if it doesn’t make and my wife’s enthusiasm. She gave me my tank for one Christmas present and had it set up as another Christmas present. She’s been almost excited as me at each turn or new addition. The die off has upset her and now she’s wondering how we are going to manage to replace the livestock or if we should even try. I told her we can nickel and dime and look for deals like we have been doing. I’m not sure that cheered her up much.
I’m not home right now but my wife is. I’m waiting to hear from Matt Donaldson. He helped me set up the new tank. I voice mailed him this morning hoping he could stop by and help. If any one else can help or has a suggestion please drop my a line.
Kevin
412-7836
