Zoo Problems...stat's and pics below

[staticxtreme]

Here's the deal, I got back 2 weeks ago from vacation, and had a buddy(a fellow reefer mind you)take care of my tank, I had a Sea Pen die in there while I was gone, I'm wondering if this is where it's gone wrong. Are they poisionous? BEcause now after multiple water changes, the zoos still look crappy, which makes no sense because everything else is doing fine as you will see below....here's my tank parameters.

55 gal
220 pc
15 sump
Salinity 1.026
Amonia 0 to .25
High Ph 8.4
Nitrates 20-40
Nitrites -0

and here's the pics.

THESE ARE THE ZOOS TO WHICH I AM REFERRING

As you can see, there are also green zoo's by the last one, but they too are not doing so great, the others are out a little, but not like they were.....Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Hoggn]

I've read somewhere that the sea pens are hazardous if they die in your tank... I would do a big water change and run some carbon just in case they are....

 

[staticxtreme]

Will do that then.....that is kinda what I was thinking, I'll get me some carbon in it today and change out a ton of water......anyone else have some ideas.

 

[EDGRAY]

Well i second that a big water change will help alot and also will help to lower your nitrates they are kinda high... ill consider doing like 80-90% of water change ..just remember to put water at same temperature & same PH as the tank water and everything is gonna be ok... A new fresh carbon in order and also a poly filter will help too if any chemicals or poison in the water

 

[staticxtreme]

I put some carbon, and some amonia stuff in yesterday and changed out 15 gal's....I will do another 15 today, then again tomorrow....the zoos are already looking a little better.,

 

[EDGRAY]

Those are great news glad that zoos are getting better maybe what they needed was a new freshsaltwater bath :lol: :lol:

 

[staticxtreme]

THey are still alive, but the red's and greens, still look like they have seen better days....the greens are almost gone....

 

[IBASSFSH]

Zoas

Zoas

I had a problem with my zoas not opening up for days. It turned out to be low alkalinity. It was down around 4.0 DKH on a Salifert test kit. If yours is low, then doing water changes will bring this up and make the zoas feel better. My water became to acidic I believe. Your tank may or may not be suffering from this, but it is my understanding with out water changes (frequent), two part additives, or a calcium reactor (not a kalk reactor) alkalinity has a tendancy to drop, especially if calcium is high.

Try getting a test kit and checking that if you have not already.

 

[Reef Junkie]

That was going to be my words of wisdom, Alk.
Water changes don't nessecarily increase alk.

It looks like your coralline algae died off in a few spots, that could mean you have low alk.

Like Bass said, test your alk and your calcium) and raise them to appropriate levels.

Here is an excellent article on appropriate alk levels.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[IBASSFSH]

Additives

Additives

I believe additives are the best, and fastest way to bring the Alkalinity levels up. In my opinion water changes will help.
Freshly made salt water should have a alkalinty of at least 8 DKH. If he was to do a few water changes a week of 15 gallons it would slowly raise it up, as long as the tank and inhabitants were not using it up faster.
The tank is 55 gallons so changing out 15 gallons every other day for a week or two should bring levels up to a more comfortable level for the corals and fish. This would also get any other contaminates out that he mentioned, but I don't think thats his problem.
Good eye on the coraline algae ReefJunkie!! I didn't notice that until you pointed that out.