Emergency!! Tank almost dead

[abiilou]

hi! I just started my tank this month, and have loved every moment of it.

Although today when I came back from work my tank was at 83 degrees and everyone looked dead!!

My blue spot puffer wasn’t moving and was laying against my flipper. I decided to poke him and he’s moving again, albeit not much

My hammer coral is not fully out, nor in its “sleeping position” and kind of dark (is it dead?)

Everything seems to be off, my pulsing Xenia’s have some polyps out, so I think it is fine:/

I’ve been floating some ice packs and have the lights off, I also put some colder water I was preparing for a water change with.

This seems to be lowering the temp, but rip Zoanthids and my gorgonians. Puffer is swimming normally again, with my wrasse and lawnmower blend discolored.


INKNOW THIS IS A LOT.

I just need some advice on the viability of my tank. Am I going to lose everything? There was a Redish bristle work swimming like crazy when I came home too.

 

[tupes]

Yes 83 is HIGH for temp. 77 is the highest my tank gets.

I know it sounds crazy but one month is to early to be adding fish for a beginner.

What are all of your parameters?

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

 

[Gonebad395]

Follow reef lovers link

 

[stacksoner]

Corals have a tough time surviving in unstable environments, which is why it's a waste of time and money to attempt to put them in a brand new tank.

Have you tested your water recently? 83 shouldn't hurt your fish. You may want to bang out a 20% water change to be on the safe side.

 

[jsker]

Sorry to here that you are having issues.

I would suggest to let the temp come down gradually. In the worlds oceans the temperature can get as high or higher then 83 degrees. Most likely the temperature change would have and effect with a drastic change. Have you checked you ammonia for die off. It could also be a ammonia spike with die off and water changes would bring the ammonia down with also using carbon.

There could be other factors besides the temperature increase, for example was there anyone clean around the tank in the past day to two?

A good tool to have is an aquarium controller. Set right the controller will turn off the heater and keep your aquarium are the right temperature and warn it the temperature is to high or low also. This is one of the main reason I have a controller

 

[JerseyReefer]

I use this instead of a controller. Much cheaper. High heat can kill faster than anything else.

Inkbird ITC-306T Pre-wired Electronic Heating Thermostat Temperature Controller and Digital Timer Controller for Aquarium, Seed Germination, Reptiles, Hatching ect, Without Cooling Controlling https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01486LZ50/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fTWvCbMHPH57P

 

[rob safron]

83 won’t kill things alone, not that terrible at all. Oxygen does drop with heat and maybe that’s why the fish are acting funny. Make sure you have plenty of aeration. Open the window. Agree let the temp drop slowly, nothing good happens fast.

 

[madweazl]

I would suspect the issues are more related to the age of the tank as 83° isn't something that would concern me at all.

 

[Salty Lemon]

Follow reef lovers link

Ditto

 

[tgp4274]

I would suspect the issues are more related to the age of the tank as 83° isn't something that would concern me at all.

i agree
middle of summer my tank has gotten this warm with no ill affects.....

where are you located???
middle of winter and got to 83 seems odd...
do you know how it got up to this temp??

 

[abiilou]

Yes 83 is HIGH for temp. 77 is the highest my tank gets.

I know it sounds crazy but one month is to early to be adding fish for a beginner.

What are all of your parameters?

I realize it’s a bit early to add for a beginner. My manager has had the tank for aehile so I just took it over, and I’ve been asking him for help.

My parameters
Salinity: 1.206
Temp:81
pH: 7.8
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0

32g biocube

 

[abiilou]

As for my location. I am in Wisconsin, so we had the polar vortex, and the temps outside just raised by 80. I bet it is my apartment fluctuating in heat that is causing this.

As for the age of my tank, it’s actually older, I inherited it from a friend.

Should I be concerned for my fish turning sort of white? They have gotten better overnight.

Thank you everyone for offering your help!!

 

[Salty Lemon]

.

 

[tupes]

You stated you took it over. Did this tank get moved when you took it over?

 

[tupes]

A fish turning white that is not white to begin with is not a good sign.

 

[BestMomEver]

I realize it’s a bit early to add for a beginner. My manager has had the tank for aehile so I just took it over, and I’ve been asking him for help.

My parameters
Salinity: 1.206
Temp:81
pH: 7.8
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0

32g biocube

Your parameters look ok. Did you test ammonia today? That should tell you if you’ve had any die off. I would look other places for the cause of this. I live in south Alabama and my tank usually stays around 80.5 degrees. When I go swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in the summer, the water temp is typically in the mid to upper 80s (I can’t wait!). If you kept the temp in your tank in the low 70s and it suddenly zoomed to 83, you might have a problem but I can’t imagine you’d have a huge die off.

Also... I assume your Salinity is 1.026 and not 1.206. If what you typed is correct, then you might as well drain the tank and start over. I don’t think you could dilute that to get it low enough.

Good luck!

 

[Dom]

I would suspect the issues are more related to the age of the tank as 83° isn't something that would concern me at all.

I agree.

I once had an issue where I thought I had a problem with my temperature controller. Turns out, it was a bad thermometer. It was telling me that my temp was 74 degrees when it was actually 84 degrees! It was like that for almost a week. During this time, nothing seemed to mind.

So yes, I think it's more an age issue.

 

[Scurvy]

Biocubes getting up to and over 83 degrees isnt out if the norm if the hood is being used. Typically a summer problem though and not really in winter.

Ive been reading rcently about that ink bird being a bad choice for a slatwater tank unless you shrink wrap the temp probe. Dont thinks it the cause of your issue here however something to consider.

You mentioned things looking better. If heat is still a concern you can prop the hood open a couple of inches to vent it. I use a small 4” fan in summer to prop the hood and blow air across the top of the water for evaporative cooling.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

hi! I just started my tank this month, and have loved every moment of it.

Although today when I came back from work my tank was at 83 degrees and everyone looked dead!!

My blue spot puffer wasn’t moving and was laying against my flipper. I decided to poke him and he’s moving again, albeit not much

My hammer coral is not fully out, nor in its “sleeping position” and kind of dark (is it dead?)

Everything seems to be off, my pulsing Xenia’s have some polyps out, so I think it is fine:/

I’ve been floating some ice packs and have the lights off, I also put some colder water I was preparing for a water change with.

This seems to be lowering the temp, but rip Zoanthids and my gorgonians. Puffer is swimming normally again, with my wrasse and lawnmower blend discolored.


INKNOW THIS IS A LOT.

I just need some advice on the viability of my tank. Am I going to lose everything? There was a Redish bristle work swimming like crazy when I came home too.

I’m in Florida and my tank stays at 79-80 year round and I do not use a heater or chiller. What I’m saying is your tank could survive at 83 as long as it is acclimated to it. If you think about it, our fish and coral come from typically tropical waters that aren’t always in what we consider ideal parameters.