Disaster with new powerheads

tencwhiskey · Feb 2, 2014

I have had a complete disaster. I am not sure if it's coincidence or something to do with my powerheads. I upgraded from a 25
To a 72 gallon tank about three weeks ago. In my 25 I had two koralia 240's. I moved everything over life is good. I used the 240 until a couple of days ago when I finally upgraded to two 850's. I also added 30 pounds of dry rock from Reefcleaners. Ok so I add the Ph two nights ago, when I woke yesterday mornjng I noticed my blue hippo tang was breathing hard, I had to go to work so I could do much. I also noticed my torch was completely sucked in. So I moved it to Lower flow. When I came home
Last night my Torch still sucked in. My Tang dead and my sand sifting Goby breathing hard, (he is still alive this am). So I checked levels immediately. I have a API kit. Which I don't trust and I'm going to LFS to get a salifert today. Test results are this. Possibly 0.25 ammonia Ph 8.1
Nitrites 0 nitrates 10 again hard to read for sure.
I forgot too mention my powerhead fell off and landed on my Zoa, and basically blew all my sand into a big pile on one end of the tank.
So is this my powerhead? Stress from new powerhead? The detritus being blown around with the new power?im at a lost. I did an immediate 10% water change and I'm doing another today. I know a long story but any help would be awesome. This is getting pricey now.

WhoKnew · Feb 2, 2014

Wow. Had a bad day. The debris. Floating around and trauma certainly did not help. Do you have a quarantine tank? What us your parameters now?

tencwhiskey · Feb 2, 2014

The parameters that I have were from last night. I am going to recheck after I buy a new test kit.
I don't have a quarantine tank but I think that may be on the list today as well

definitionofreal · Feb 2, 2014

It cycling again because you added to much new rock at once.

tencwhiskey · Feb 2, 2014

Even though it's not live rock?

mike007 · Feb 2, 2014

What do you mean by adding ph? Also if you have only had tank setup for 3 weeks I suspect that tank has not cycled yet.

CastAway · Feb 2, 2014

Something is generating the ammonia i.e. there's decay without sufficient bacteria to process it. Most likely the rock, or, the disturbed sand bed perhaps. Any bad smell?

tencwhiskey · Feb 2, 2014

ph = powerhead. Sorry was a long message.

As far as cycling goes. I had my 25 for 6 months, was over the cycle. I took the live rock which was 30 pounds added that to the 72 gallon. I transferred the water and sand. I added 30 pounds of sand. I then bought ten pound of live rock and 30 pounds of Dry rock. Would that have caused another cycle?

WhoKnew · Feb 2, 2014

Did you put new sand over old sand? The new rock has sent it back into cycling again. Does it smell like " Dead Sea"

tencwhiskey · Feb 2, 2014

Ok, the general consensus is I am having a new cycle. I have two goby and two clowns a peppermint shrimp and variety of clean up crew.
Any suggestions so they don't die?

JMSKI333 · Feb 2, 2014

Test for ammonia and nitrate and let us know what you get.

Did you rinse the New rock and Powerheads before adding to your tank?

Reefing Madness · Feb 2, 2014

I believe that the powerhead falling into the sand, and it blowing all the detritus around the tank did it to you. Adding dry rock won't throw you into a cycle.

gcrawford · Feb 2, 2014

definitionofreal said:
It cycling again because you added to much new rock at once.

+1 on the rock. Adding dry rock in that quantity without cycling it in its own container will certainly begin an in tank cycle. The ammonia measurement is proof of that.

Diesel · Feb 2, 2014

I would say the new cycle process, too much changes all at once.
The symptoms you gave us looks like a nitrate and ammonia spike in a short time.
It's helpful if we knew if there's a sump, skimmer, how big is your livestock?
Let us know the new # after you got yourself the new test kits.

evan.lundberg4 · Feb 2, 2014

If that was dry "live" rock you added then it most likely had all sorts of dead dried out things on it which are now decaying and causing your ammonia spike.

CastAway · Feb 2, 2014

evan.lundberg4 said:
If that was dry "live" rock you added then it most likely had all sorts of dead dried out things on it which are now decaying and causing your ammonia spike.

+1 Clead dry rock would not result in ammonia spike. Between the ten pounds of new live rock, and the stirring of the sand, lots of change in too short a time perhaps. Water changes, and maybe pull that new live rock out to cure separately.

evan.lundberg4 · Feb 2, 2014

JeffBowlin said:
+1 Clead dry rock would not result in ammonia spike. Between the ten pounds of new live rock, and the stirring of the sand, lots of change in too short a time perhaps. Water changes, and maybe pull that new live rock out to cure separately.

+1 I definitely agree.