adding a sump

[woodzy128]

I have a 47 gallon bow front that i have been using a canister filter on. I had a 75 gallon beast of a tank that i decided to make into my sump. After putting in the glass and buying a pump, doing all the plumbing (1" pvc) and mixing all the water. I thought i was finally ready to add it. Yesterday was the day. this morning i have three dead chromis and the rest of my fish dont look happy! Corals have not opened and I have not seen my coral banded shrimp or my wrasse. Help!!! I didnt want to add all that water at once but didn't really have a choice because I cant run my sump with a little bit of water in it. Is there anything I can do to save the rest of my livestock??

 

[JMSKI333]

It sounds like you may have added water to your system that didn't match your existing water. Test your water and report back. Your salinity or temp might have been off.

Did you let the salt water mix for 24 hours? Usually when you're adding volume like this, you do a large water change from your main display and hold onto the water, keeping it heated and flowing in a tote or something. Wait a couple days, then add your sump and the old saltwater with new water to match existing as needed.

 

[Mike J.]

Adding more water shouldn't have hurt anything. Was your new water's salinity way off or the temperature of the new water?

 

[woodzy128]

Salinity and temp were right on the money. tested water for everything yesterday all was fine. I will test again today and post results.

 

[JMSKI333]

What are you testing salinity with?

 

[woodzy128]

refractometer

 

[JMSKI333]

I would run some carbon in your system as well as a skimmer (if you're not already) to remove anything that is irritating your fish and corals. There may have been something residual in your new sump or plumbing.

Has your refractometer been calibrated recently? I'm just trying to cover all the bases. Something drastic must have happened to kill off 3+ fish.

 

[woodzy128]

All parameters are right in check, Am-0 Ni-0 Na-0 Ph-8.2 Phosphate-.5 temp is 79 in sump and DT. I calibrated my refractometer it was also right on the money salinity 1.025. I not sure about the glue I used for the pvc. I did a lot of research before I used it but I still dont trust it. didn't say anything on the label about using for drinking water. Is there a certain type of pvc glue to use?

 

[woodzy128]

On the up side my wrasse came out but does not look like himself.I also saw my serpent banded star fish for the first time in 6 months. that cant be a good sign but it was cool to see him.

 

[JMSKI333]

Very strange. Do you have carbon and a skimmer running right now?

 

[woodzy128]

I took my skimmer out to clean it and found parts of the impeller everywhere! great time to be without a skimmer I know but what can I do? playing the waiting game with the mail on that on. As for carbon I am not but am looking into it.

 

[JMSKI333]

Yeah I would get carbon and a skimmer in there ASAP. If your new water was indeed perfect then I'm guessing whatever was in you new sump or new plumbing killed off your fish. Plan to do a 20% water change soon.

 

[woodzy128]

thanks Jordan. I'll do that today.

 

[thatbikeguy]

You didnt happen to do what my buddy did I hope. When he put the glass in the sump and silconed it, hes used water/soap mix to smooth out the silicone and never cleaned it out. The soap residue devistated his tank by the next morning. Nothing left untouched. It was a bummer.

 

[woodzy128]

I did clean the tank out but I rinsed it out as well as I could. then rinsed with vinegar then rinsed again. Can't imagine that would be the problem but I'm not ruling anything out. Lost my sand star, serpent star and another chromis! All that is left are my pair of clowns and my bleu headed wrasse. Ordered carbon and gfo reactor but waiting another week for delivery. Don't think the others will last that long. should I break the whole thing down and start over and if I do can I use the same rock? Not happy about all this all I was doing was trying to get rid of cano and algae outbreak, and add water volume! Should of just left well enough alone.:yield:

 

[JMSKI333]

Woodzy,

I don't think it's worth breaking down your whole tank. Running some carbon, a solid cup of skimmate and a healthy water change should get you back on track. How is everything looking?

 

[woodzy128]

everything is looking ok?? My wrasse actually ate some missis tonight and my green star opened about 25%. I just hope they last while I'm waiting for that reactor.

 

[JMSKI333]

Woodzy,

You can run carbon without a reactor. If your have any laying around, throw some in a media bag or a filter sock in a high flow area. You can get carbon anywhere. Even Walmart I believe. A reactor isn't 100% necessary although it is efficient.

Glad to head your wrasse is eating. Something odd is going on though.

 

[woodzy128]

just regular activated carbon?

 

[JMSKI333]

just regular activated carbon?

Yep. Throw some in a media bag in a high flow area in your new sump and that would be fine. Nothing is wrong with a carbon reactor, they're sweet. So don't return your new one or anything.