Why are they dying?

[Brachyanax]

- Tank Size = Saltwater 20 gal. / Wall Hanging / (4'L x 3'H x 6"D)

- Lighting = T5 Coral Life Dual Bulb 10K Actinic

- Filtration = SEN IPF03 Submersible/Filter Pump - 263GPH. Prizm 100GAL Pro-Skimmer (runs 1-2x's per week for 12-16 Hours).

- Inhabitants = (1) Coral Beauty, (1) 6-Line Wrasse, (1) True Percula Clown, (1) Saddleback Clown, (1) Brittle Starfish, (1) goby, (1) Cleaner Crew; Snails, Dwarf Hernit Crabs & Shrimp.

- Water Parims = All within normal range. SPG 1.024, Phosphates 0.5, Ammonia 0, Nitrates 0-20, Nitrites 0, Akl 300, pH 8.4, Temp. 78-80 degrees.

- And any other helpful information according to your question =
Sand Bottom, 15lbs. Fiji Rock, Using RO water only.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We have had out tank for 1/5 years. We have made every mistake that that can be made. College was cheaper b/c each mistake cost $$$.
But - we are hooked (started going to AA - Aquarists Anonomous) and it's not helping.

In all seriousness. We just started getting into poloyps and soft corals.
So, we purchased (1) Hammer, (1) Frogspond and (1) Cat-Eye Poloyp.

Over the last 2 weeks, we stripped it of all trace particulars (filter pad) for 2 days. Then we started adding Stronium, Calcium and Iodine on a every other day basis for starting from the day we put them in to current. In addition, we started adding Liquid Plankton every 3 days.

The poloyp died in 3 days. The frogspond hung on for 5 days - died. The Hammer has been thriving, but today took a turn for the worse.

NOTE: The dwarf hermits crawl all over these little guys.

My question is: Why are they dying? Can anyone suggest a more durable poloyp, mushroom, soft coral, or any other type reef organism that would stand a better chance at surviving?

 

[bertoni]

Corals can be much more demanding in terms of certain water parameters. This article is a good place to start:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

The phosphate, nitrate, and alkalinity parameters listed are out of the recommended range.

The Coral Beauty might be eating the corals. Almost all angelfish will do that. For a 20g tank, I think the fish load is far too high. I'd return the Coral Beauty as a first step.

 

[joekr]

This is just my opinion, but I really did not use a lot of additives in my tank when it was up..Routine water changes using reef crystals and left it be.

Are you getting good skimmate out of the skimmer? 4 fish for a 20 seems a little high, I am assuming they are small?

I'm not sure why your corals would be dying so rapidly, unless something chemical was going on. I'd do a couple of water changes over the next couple of days to try and stabilize the tank and then see how it runs for a while before adding anything new.

Also, I'm not familiar w/ the filter/pump combo. I think most folks will agree they tend to be more problematic in terms of trates than good. I think Prizm skimmers only get average marks as well. I would run the skimmer 24x7..that's what I have always done.

Hope this helps!

 

[alexb518]

The only thing that comes to mind right off the bat is that you may be over dosing. what are your calcium, strontium and iodine levels? calcium should be between 380-450. in nature, iodine is found at .06ppm and strontium at 8ppm. you want your molyblendum to be at .01. have you checked these? i would be less concerned about the calcium, but you can easily toxify your tank by over dosing iodine. if you have a skimmer hooked up, then run it wet(ter) so it can get skimmed out--that is, if you tested high on those.

 

[craig813]

I agree with some of the comments listed above. It seems that you are overloaded and probably dosing too much.

The biggest problems I have ever had happened when I tried to dose various things.

A lot of people agree that less is more. The salt mixes today are much better than 10 or 15 years ago.

I would stop dosing and do 3 or 4 25% water changes over the next couple of weeks. Also, make sure that the information you are reading is up to date. Some books and articles written may be old and out of date.

You should also run your skimmer 24 hours a day. There are some modifications for that skimmer that will help it perform better. Check the diy or filtration forums on this website.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Besides the above comments, that lighting may be somewhat on the low side. You might consider adding another T-5 tube into the hood.

 

[Randall_James]

the time period is really short for such a decline and loss.

A tank that small is REALLY hard to dose and so I would really shy away from dumping anything in it except water changes.

I would venture either the Iodine got them or they were weak to start with and the stress of the move got them.

I would still ditch the additives, step up the water changes and get at least an Iodine test kit to see where you are. If you do not get the Iodine test kit, I would get on some largish water changes just in case the level is high (it is highly toxic btw)

 

[Captain Amazing]

4 foot wide, 3 foot tall, and 6 inches deep?? Thats kinda neat sounding, but do your fish have to do a 3-point turn to go the opposite direction?

 

[buoymarker28]

two things
1...everything Randall said
2"Over the last 2 weeks, we stripped it of all trace particulars (filter pad) for 2 days."

I dont' know what #2 means but i would guess that add that to the equation....with that small a tank all u ever really need to do is water changes..

 

[Brachyanax]

Thank you to Everyone who replied....

This is an incredible website and message board. I was told about 8-9 months ago, (the recommendation came from a guy who used to be in charge of the Chemical Division of "Kent" - now he owns his own tropical store in Atlanta with a 650 gallon display tank as you come through the door and a huge variety of everything Aquatic) that I would be here one day.

I remembering him saying that if I stayed with the hobby at some point I would be on this site searching for answers and that I would be surprised at both the knowledge and willingness to help. Needless to say, he was right.

So - I think I got the answer to my question. I also learned a little about chemicals and a 20 gallon tank. Water changes will probably do more to help than anything.

I laughed my *$%#& off about the 3-point turn comment. I will have to use that when I have company. It is a very cool tank - very ergonomic if you will. If ANY of you would like a picture - just send an email to:

itsanman@yahoo.com

...and I will be happy to forward you one.

2 quick things;

1). the 4 fish I have equal a total of 10 inches. Is that a big overload?
2). i cannot run the skimmer 24x7 as it has to hang off the front of my tank - not real pleasing to the eye.

Last question:

What poloyp, mushroom, coral, etc., would be a strong and harty addition to my tank? Anything to add color and variety - and something to spice up the rock?

Thanks again -

- R

 

[cragganmore]

The best suggestion I can make is to let the tank stabilize before you add anything else new. I'd do weekly 10-20% water changes for a month or two and let things settle down.

I know that probably sounds boring, and it's probably not what you wanted to hear. But without spending a lot of money on analyzing your water, metering your lights, etc, it's going to be nearly impossible to know exactly what's been going wrong. The next best thing is to just let the process of time work its magic. Patience and all that.

While you wait, you can always plan what you'd like to add to the tank later on. There are some amazing mushrooms and polyps readily available and fairly inexpensive that should do well in your system. Ricordea florida are some of my favorites. I've gotten some great ones from Ken Nedimyer's site http://www.sealifeinc.net, for example. But soft (false) corals are available all over the place.

Small tanks are hard, alas. The ultimate irony is that people starting out usually don't have the space or the money for anything except a small tank. But stick with it, and with the amazing source of advice that is RC, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Jon

 

[alexb518]

1) the bioload depends largely on the kind of fish you have too, and not just their size.
2) i would leave that skimmer on all day, at least for now. iodine gets skimmed out rather easily.
3) both of the corals you suggested are hardy. it is nearly impossible to kill mushrooms. i've had one out of water for over an hour before and it's still alive (i ididn't realize it had attached itself to the bottom of a rock).