Crash happening on skimmer less 55g

[chizerbunoi]

Tank is 2.5 years old. Rock is mature and closer to 10 years old. Shallow sand bed. Two days ago I stirred a smaller section and noticed bubbles. Hydrogen sulphide poisoning?

no dead fish, anemones or snails. But they are not moving and are gasping.

Currently mixing 10 gal WC. Haven’t tested parameters yet. Temp is fine.

I am juggling this during work hours. Very hard to get away. Will run fresh carbon. No skimmer but I can put it on if needed.

two days ago

just now

sorry but my response will be slow.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Sounds like you have a plan.. maybe try to increase your surface flow to increase gas exchange and help with oxygen levels in tank also be ready to do more water changes over the next few days if necessary. Good idea on the carbon also.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Thank you for the advice. I have the skimmer running now for 20 mins and lots of surface agitation. 6/7 fish are swimming around normally. Invertebrates (snails/shrimp) are moving now.

Haven't done testing or water change yet. anemones are bouncing back as well.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Tested parameters. Some trace of ammonia. Will dose extra Seachem Prime with WC. Phosphate level over 0.2 pmm but its always been high as a norm.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Water changes should help with phosphate levels but you may want to run something like phosguard or similar.. adding a little prime is probably also a good move if you have detectable levels of ammonia.

 

[SMSREEF]

That’s a gorgeous tank you have. It sound like things are turning around quick so that’s good to read.

how often do you stir the sandbed? Do you have any snails or fish that stir it? Or would your beautiful anemones just eat them?

 

[BeejReef]

Hope it turns out to be a great save

 

[chizerbunoi]

I siphon the sandbed once a month, but its only half the tank each time. There are lots of sand bed snails. Plus the haddon/LTA anemones move around as well and stir things up.

I do have phosguard but its run passively with carbon in a bag. Used to have the skimmer on all the time but didn't find a need for it. I found that anemones dont' care about phosphate and color up nicely when the levels are higher. Also hard to manage when the gigantic carpets eat large prawns each time.

carpets still have gaping mouths. Sebae is still on the ground gasping. Will do a WC now.

 

[ApoIsland]

Tank is 2.5 years old. Rock is mature and closer to 10 years old. Shallow sand bed. Two days ago I stirred a smaller section and noticed bubbles. Hydrogen sulphide poisoning?

no dead fish, anemones or snails. But they are not moving and are gasping.

Currently mixing 10 gal WC. Haven’t tested parameters yet. Temp is fine.

I am juggling this during work hours. Very hard to get away. Will run fresh carbon. No skimmer but I can put it on if needed.

two days ago

just now

sorry but my response will be slow.

10 gallon water change is only 20%. That will do almost nothing if you have a real problem with your water. I would change 66% of that water at the very minimum.

 

[JoshO]

I would test the parameters asap, at least then you know what you're dealing with

 

[Katrina71]

I'd change 40%, drop in an airstone too if you have one.

 

[chizerbunoi]

10 gallon water change is only 20%. That will do almost nothing if you have a real problem with your water. I would change 66% of that water at the very minimum.

I don't have larger storage containers than 5 gal buckets.

 

[ApoIsland]

If to can make a run to the store and and get at least 2 more you can do a couple of 20 gallon water changes back to back.

 

[ApoIsland]

I don't have larger storage containers than 5 gal buckets.

If it is not possible to do more than 10g water change you could do 3 of those back to back to back and would have effectively reduced the original water by almost 50%. That falls in line % wise of what Katrina71 was suggesting.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Thanks. I will give the back to back 10 gallons a try. My city is on major lock down and I live with vulnerable people, so don’t want to risk bringing something home to them. Haven’t been out for a month now.

Would this not essentially happen again the next time I siphon the sand bed?

 

[ApoIsland]

Thanks. I will give the back to back 10 gallons a try. My city is on major lock down and I live with vulnerable people, so don’t want to risk bringing something home to them. Haven’t been out for a month now.

Would this not essentially happen again the next time I siphon the sand bed?

I have never siphoned a sand bed so can't answer that. Pretty sure your tank will be fine without ever cleaning the sand though.

 

[chizerbunoi]

Okay night two now. Everything in the tank was clear from the poly filter and carbon in the skimmer. That was until lights out. Then within 1.5 hrs it gets massively cloudy. I think I have some major spawning event happening. I don't see eggs shooting out as I didn't catch it, but I doubt it is hydrogen sulphide.

The one saddle/sebae clown is still struggling but is able to swim in and out of its carpet now. I hope it makes it through tomorrow.

 

[ApoIsland]

Glad everything is still alive. How many gallons did yo end up changing?

Every time I do a large water change my 1 snail thinks its the end of the world and spawns as well.

 

[chizerbunoi]

I'm up to 25 gallons now of WC. But the saddle clown is missing. I'm wondering if one of the anemones ate it. Big diatom bloom. I think the crash is just beginning. Anemones are not happy.

 

[Katrina71]

You'll be amazed how well most things recover. I hope you find your clown.