Need help something's wrong

CableGuy86 · Apr 30, 2015

Ok I have the 14 gallon biocube running for a little over 6 months. Just recently I bought I skunk and it died the second day. I was told it was probably due from stress bc I basically got it off he truck. Anyway that's the start of it. I have a few snails that just keep falling off the walls and will die if I don't flip them back so noticing that I have been testing my tank daily and it been pretty good. I'm due for a water change tomorrow. Anyway I NOW HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM I have a green stripped shroom that looks like it's breaking apart. Idk what's going on. Oooooo I do want to add I have been trying to figure out why my cap coral leather I went from purple to brown. I was told this was due to calcium so I tested it and I was at 340 so over 2 days I added 6 mill of liquid calcium and now I'm at 440. I really don't know what's going on?

Tahoe61 · Apr 30, 2015

What lighting type?
Are you adding/dosing anything at all to the tank.
Are you doing routine water changes?
Do you have an Alk and Mag value, more importantly alk value?

Junkie · Apr 30, 2015

Check your alk. Also make sure you're checking your Salinity with a calibrated refratometer.

CableGuy86 · May 1, 2015

No I don't have those values but I'll get the test tomorrow. I try and do a water change every week but Ive slacked off and changing ever 2weeks. Levels seemed good so I wasn't to worried about it. Everything is stock (14glbiocube lighting) besides the powerhead fan. I have not put any supplements in the water besides the liquid calcium. I do use a hydrometer and I've been very consistent with 1.025-1.026. I do use a gallon of distilled water for my top off. Also I get my saltwater from my lfs.

Is it possible for the shroom to pull through wants it starts the process? If not should I get it out before it causes more issues?

Eienna · May 1, 2015

A temperature of 79's a bit high. Can you keep the room any cooler? Somewhere around 76 is much better.

that Reef Guy · May 1, 2015

CableGuy86 said:
No I don't have those values but I'll get the test tomorrow. I try and do a water change every week but Ive slacked off and changing ever 2weeks. Levels seemed good so I wasn't to worried about it. Everything is stock (14glbiocube lighting) besides the powerhead fan. I have not put any supplements in the water besides the liquid calcium. I do use a hydrometer and I've been very consistent with 1.025-1.026. I do use a gallon of distilled water for my top off. Also I get my saltwater from my lfs.

Is it possible for the shroom to pull through wants it starts the process? If not should I get it out before it causes more issues?

What kind of Hydrometer are you using?

Plastic Swing Arm

Or the Glass Bobbing Type?

CableGuy86 · May 1, 2015

Just the plastic swing. I do make sure that I have no bubbles and it isn't stuck etc... Eventually I will get another

Mike in CT · May 1, 2015

Eienna said:
A temperature of 79's a bit high. Can you keep the room any cooler? Somewhere around 76 is much better.

I respectfully disagree, I think 79 is fine.
If your having problems, the last thing you want to do is throw temperature changes into the mix of its holding steady at 79.

glb · May 1, 2015

Agreed. I think 79 is fine too. I run mine at 78. The stability of the temp is more important than the actual temp, within reason of course.

saltyphish · May 1, 2015

Agree! 79-81 is fine for most species imo. My tank runs consistently at 80 degrees year round now with no problems. Consistancy is the key here. When the temp starts to have big swings then things go wrong.

Mike in CT said:
I respectfully disagree, I think 79 is fine.
If your having problems, the last thing you want to do is throw temperature changes into the mix of its holding steady at 79.

evolved · May 1, 2015

What kind of snails? (some coldwater species are routinely sold for reef tanks - they don't last)

What are you doing for topoff water and new water for water changes? A home RODI system or do you buy it from elsewhere?

that Reef Guy · May 1, 2015

CableGuy86 said:
Just the plastic swing. I do make sure that I have no bubbles and it isn't stuck etc... Eventually I will get another

That is why I ask those things are worthless.

They should stop making them.

They are always off.

I once did an experiment and got 5 of them.

Every single one of the 5 read something different.

One was off by 5 Points!

Get the Glass Bobbing Type they are lab grade and accurate.

I tested many of them and they all read exactly the same.

CableGuy86 · May 1, 2015

Top off water I use gallon distilled. I am curious if that could have done it bc I got a diff name brand this time. I buy my water from the lfs. I' am currently looking into buying my own rodi so I can do more water changes and not be at the mercy of the pet store. Anyway I had them check the alkalinity, magnesium, and all the basics. He said it sounds like stress I had a slight bit of ammonia and nitrate but everything else looks fine. So I took the advice and actually did a 5 gallon water change. Is it possible for the shroom to make it at this point? It's color is still there but it's almost in half?

Thoughts on a cheap rodi system? I am basically clueless to where to start .

Also any thoughts of tossing the bio balls and adding a protein skimmer in there?

Mike in CT · May 1, 2015

Bulk reef supply has good deals on RODI's.

Eienna · May 2, 2015

Some water is distilled on copper coils, which can cause abnormally high levels of copper in your tank. Copper is highly toxic. I'd recommend changing your water with RODI from a local fish store and see if things don't perk up.

Tahoe61 · May 2, 2015

Topping off with distilled is probably dropping you pH, especially if you're topping off all at one time rather then using an ATO.
In that tank you should not need to dose Ca. You really have no stony corals and the rocks looks to be manufactured rather than collected rock with real coralline, therefore your utilization of Ca should not be to the point that you have to add extra. If you're only dosing Ca than you're probably driving your alk value down.

Water changes to a 14 gallon should take care of your ca needs at this point. Get your other values, a refractometer if able and do one round of testing in the am and pm before the lights come on and before the lights go off to see what kind of swings in parameters you're seeing.

redfishbluefish · May 2, 2015

I am highly suspect of the swing-arm hydrometers. They tend to be consistantly inaccurate. That is, they will give you the same wrong result over and over again. Ideally you should get a refractometer, but as a minimum, calibrate the swing-arm to a known salinity (test a friends tank who has a refractometer), so you can know the correction of the swing-arm. As an example, you might find that 1.019 on your swing-arm is actually 1.026.

that Reef Guy · May 2, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
I am highly suspect of the swing-arm hydrometers. They tend to be consistantly inaccurate. That is, they will give you the same wrong result over and over again. Ideally you should get a refractometer, but as a minimum, calibrate the swing-arm to a known salinity (test a friends tank who has a refractometer), so you can know the correction of the swing-arm. As an example, you might find that 1.019 on your swing-arm is actually 1.026.

Make sure you Calibrate your Refractometer with Salinity Solution NOT RO Water.

I know tons of people using RO Water to Calibrate and their Salinity was off by 5 Points!

I always recommend Lab Grade Glass Bobbing Hydrometers as they are Accurate and you do not need to Calibrate them.

glb · May 2, 2015

that Reef Guy said:
Make sure you Calibrate your Refractometer with Salinity Solution NOT RO Water.

I know tons of people using RO Water to Calibrate and their Salinity was off by 5 Points!

I always recommend Lab Grade Glass Bobbing Hydrometers as they are Accurate and you do not need to Calibrate them.

Really? Oh dear. Where can I get salinity solution?