Major issues with fish and corals

[Reefqtr]

Hello guys I have a 190G tank (160 display and 30sump) I am running the tank for 4 months now

Recently I had an ich out break and very sadly I lost 2 of clown fish and my silver belly yellow wrasse . They were doing just fine the first month until everything started getting out of control.

Parameters I am checking them daily and everything seems to be just on the acceptable number.

The only thing I noticed is my nitrate level rose up in the past week to 5ppm.

Also i am noticing today something very strange with my brain maze coral which now getting me very concerned because I can't keep watching living things die

I am attaching few pics of my tank and what I spotted on the corol and excuse me if the pics are bad I only have my phone camera

 

[Lewbo]

What am I looking at here, its hard to tell from the picture? What are you water params, incl temp?

 

[Lasse]

Did you treat the fish "in the tank" ? And if so - what drug did you use.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Reefqtr]

What am I looking at here, its hard to tell from the picture? What are you water params, incl temp?

Hello Lewbo

Temp 24.6C
Ph 8.4
Amonia 0.25
Nitrite .01
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0.080
Salinity 1.026
Alk 7.8
Calcium 408
Magnisum 1260

These are from 2 days ago

 

[Lewbo]

Hello Lewbo

Temp 24.6C
Ph 8.4
Amonia 0.25
Nitrite .01
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0.080
Salinity 1.026
Alk 7.8
Calcium 408
Magnisum 1260

These are from 2 days ago

and what are you seeing on the coral, flesh pulling away and skeleton? or is there a worm or something in there? Is your tank a new setup?

 

[ScottieB]

Looks like your still cycling? four months old? I don't see any algae or anything, tank looks brand new.

 

[Cell]

Anmonia is prob false positive, pH definitely too high.

 

[Reefqtr]

and what are you seeing on the coral, flesh pulling away and skeleton? or is there a worm or something in there? Is your tank a new setup?

I see something moving in a contraction movment . Its hard to tell . But its like gape.

And yes a new setup 4 months old

 

[Reefqtr]

I will recheck amonia again . The seachem is giving me below 0.02 reading but when I check with the testing kit it reads high

How can I lower my ph and what is an ideal parameter for ph ?

Anmonia is prob false positive, pH definitely too high.

 

[Cell]

Vinegar dosing would be an option, but research first. You could sit at 8.4 I guess as long as it stays there but it doesnt give you any cushion if it were to raise for whatever reason.

 

[Reefqtr]

Looks like your still cycling? four months old? I don't see any algae or anything, tank looks brand new.

I have no algea very little forming and I clean it all the time.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Those type of corals (pineapple brains) need a mature tank with lots of nutrients and feedings. In the picture it looks a bit bleached. My guess is you have some worms/snails taking the spots where skeleton is exposed. May not be visible to us.

To get the tank ready for more animals, leave it with no fish for 80 days and let the cycle finish. You can add bottled bacteria if you can get it.

Good luck.

 

[Reefqtr]

Vinegar dosing would be an option, but research first. You could sit at 8.4 I guess as long as it stays there but it doesnt give you any cushion if it were to raise for whatever reason.

It never rose over that it fluctuate between 8.3 and 8.4 never went over 8.4

 

[Lewbo]

PH is a little high but I wouldn't worry on that personally. Would suggest the tank isn't cycled fully. Would advise buying some good bacteria for the tank (such as evolution aqua pure reef balance) which will help kick start the cycle forward a tad. Don't add anything until ammonia and nitrites are 0, you should then see nitrates increase whereby you do water changes to reduce.

Re the coral, google this: chaetopterid worm - does it look similar to this?

 

[Cell]

4 month old tank no way it's not cycled. Sounds like ich killed fish, not ammonia. Coral deteriorating undetermined.

 

[Lasse]

I will recheck amonia again . The seachem is giving me below 0.02 reading but when I check with the testing kit it reads high

How can I lower my ph and what is an ideal parameter for ph ?

It never rose over that it fluctuate between 8.3 and 8.4 never went over 8.4

Do not touch your pH - IMO is not so very high. I have had swing between 8.2 and 8.5 - never a problem. I ask again - did you use any chemicals in the tank when you had the ich outbreak?

Sincerely Lasse

 

[ca1ore]

Coral is not a maze …. favia of some kind. They are tricky and not really recommended for a new tank. Agree on knowing what meds you used. Years ago I used Dr. G anti-parasite caviar and wherever it landed on a coral the polyp died. Never used it again.

 

[Reefqtr]

Those type of corals (pineapple brains) need a mature tank with lots of nutrients and feedings. In the picture it looks a bit bleached. My guess is you have some worms/snails taking the spots where skeleton is exposed. May not be visible to us.

To get the tank ready for more animals, leave it with no fish for 80 days and let the cycle finish. You can add bottled bacteria if you can get it.

Good luck.

Thanks for the input I think you might be right about the snails or worms because its in the exposed Skelton I will try to dip the coral . And I did add Dr.Tim beneficial bacteria in the tank a whole bottle its been added 4 weeks ago .

 

[Lewbo]

If fish were added before the cycling concluded, with feeding, it can cause the tank to never fully cycle and ammonia levels remain even 4 months on. I would expect 0 ammonia in a tank your size with little to no fish once cycled.

Lasse's question is very important.

 

[Reefqtr]

Do not touch your pH - IMO is not so very high. I have had swing between 8.2 and 8.5 - never a problem. I ask again - did you use any chemicals in the tank when you had the ich outbreak?

Sincerely Lasse

I used dr.tim first defense only i will attach a pic .