We had an anenome get sucked into our filter. He was there for maybe 2 days we arent sure because he always hid. The tank water is tested daily and everything had been fine until last night. 1 day after the anemone was found. We tested and nitrates were elevated and we did the water change. Tank was normal again. We lost 3 fish and everything seems stressed (coral & fish) after the water change things perked back up until tonight. Now we have lost another clown fish and our other 3 look severely stressed out. Breathing is elevated and they are hovering by the filter. The clam has its mouth open which is not good I was told. Our other coral looks like its dying also. The torches are the only ones happy rightnow. We have done everything. What is going on? Help please..... I will attach picture in comments.
Everything is dying!!!!! Help
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ReeferNtraining
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Have you tested all your parameters? Test everything and post it here. You may have an ammonia spike with the die off. I would get another water change ready. Make sure the new water parameters (salinity, temp, ph, alkalinity) are close to the tank water. I would also add carbon to suck out any pollutants from the deaths.
Ammonia .25 (before water change
Ph 8.1
Calcium 465
Alkalinity 3.2
Nitrates 2.5 (before water change)
Dkh 16
Phosphate 0
DKH is high, not sure why when calcium and alkalinity seem to be average.
Last test of all parameters at 215pm today
MERKEY
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I could be wrong on this one but isn't dkh the level of carbonate hardness measured for alkalinity? So I'm confused on the alk 3.2 and dkh at 16. Is this 2 different kits?
I could be way off on that..
DSEKULA
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Did the nem die in the filter or get chopped up? If so it could have released toxins in the water. If so larger daily wc and carbon might help. A nem dieing in a small tank can potentially nuke the whole tank so if that's what happened you definitely don't want to wait.
ReeferNtraining
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The ammonia is likely causing the stress/deaths to the fish. I would do another big WC to bring that down.
What is 3.2? You say alk but then you have a dkh reading at 16. That is crazy high. I would bring that down. Not too fast...
MERKEY
Cronies
The only way to bring your dkh down is RODI water change with a salt mix at a level you want....like red sea blue bucket mixes at 7.7 and others mix at other levels.
If you remember what you dkh was before the spike it would be best to try to mix it to that level if possible.
If you remember what you dkh was before the spike it would be best to try to mix it to that level if possible.
MERKEY
Cronies
+1 that's why I'm confused on his 3 reading in alk...was this ppm or something else perhaps
Greg P
Valuable Member
+1 that's why I'm confused on his 3 reading in alk...was this ppm or something else perhaps
3.2 converts to 8.6 dKh, so why did you post 16?
DSEKULA
Well-Known Member
But... Given the stock and the fact that only the euphelia is looking ok I wouldn't focus on alk yet. Get that ammonia in check, assuming that test result is correct (Not to be insulting, some ammonia tests are quite inaccurate though). But it does sound like a dieing nem poisoned that tank to me.
Raege
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Wish you luck hopefully carbon water changes will get things turned around.
Let’s see if get some #reefsquad suggestions a well
Let’s see if get some #reefsquad suggestions a well
Crabs McJones
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^^^this. If your nem got chopped up it likely experienced die off in the parts that were chopped. And when an anemone dies, especially by means of shredding from a powerhead, it releases toxins in the tank that can wipe out a whole tank in days. Water changes and carbon and I'd personally pull the nem.
GoldeneyeRet
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Not much more to add. Water changes to get parameters in check and carbon to remove toxins.
I would slow down stocking . I'm guessing this is a newer setup and you have some difficult to keep animals.
Get tha ammonia in check first. It needs to be and stay at zero
I would slow down stocking . I'm guessing this is a newer setup and you have some difficult to keep animals.
Get tha ammonia in check first. It needs to be and stay at zero
Same kits, API, I've been dosing alkalinity almost daily to keep it up. Hardness has always been a little high but cant figure out why. Best way I've been able to lower it is to blow through a hose directly into the water. Carbon dioxide seems to help, but not definitive. I've always used RO/DI water with crystal reef salt. I have an order of Marine Pro pharmaceutical grade salt that cant get here quick enough.
