Problem with reef aquarium

[dmy535]

My source water is from my tap, run through a 4 stage RODI system. I’m getting 0 TDS reading after filtering. The fish looked and seemed healthy at the store. It had plenty of energy when I first added it to the tank, but within 30 minutes it started to become lethargic with heavy breathing at the bottom of the tank. No signs of harm or distress. I have 6 hermits, a few trochus snails, an emerald crab, some GSP, a small blue mushroom, and a small GBTA. All of these are doing fine.

How often do you water change? Any other chemical dosing?

 

[sirtreysuf]

How often do you water change? Any other chemical dosing?

I’ve been doing a 20% water change about every 10 days or so for the life of the tank. No chemical dosing.

 

[dmy535]

What’s in each stage of your 4 stage ro system? Sorry for all the questions, trying to eliminate things as you answer

 

[Daddy-o]

Does your water contain Chloramines? If so, do you run a carbon block specifically for Chloramine?

 

[sirtreysuf]

What’s in each stage of your 4 stage ro system? Sorry for all the questions, trying to eliminate things as you answer

No problem at all. Thanks for your willingness to help. It has a sediment cartridge, carbon, RO membrane, an Deionization filter. It is the aquatic life RO buddie system.

 

[sirtreysuf]

Does your water contain Chloramines? If so, do you run a carbon block specifically for Chloramine?

No. It does not contain chloramines.

 

[Pkunk35]

My source water is from my tap, run through a 4 stage RODI system. I’m getting 0 TDS reading after filtering. The fish looked and seemed healthy at the store. It had plenty of energy when I first added it to the tank, but within 30 minutes it started to become lethargic with heavy breathing at the bottom of the tank. No signs of harm or distress. I have 6 hermits, a few trochus snails, an emerald crab, some GSP, a small blue mushroom, and a small GBTA. All of these are doing fine.

Just a guess but it sounds like disease to me with everything else just sounding fine like that and with everything you have said thus far in the thread. If snails can live then fish should be able to.

 

[Phil D.]

I think you jumped the gun on having such a heavy bioload. What brand is the tank? Sounds like you need to have a protein skimmer.

 

[anthonygf]

I have a 29 gallon reef tank that I’m recently having some issues with. The aquarium is around 6 months old. I have two clownfish, two Bangaii cardinal fish, and three trophies snails. All livestock has been in the tank for around 4 months. I’m using an aquaclear 70 HOB filter with filter floss and a 5.5oz bag of chemi pure blue. I change the filter floss every 2-3 days.

I have had diatoms blooms off and on for the past couple of months. About three weeks ago, the diatoms began dying and my rock and sand started to clear up. a couple of days later, I noticed my rock started to turn a brownish green color, as shown in the pictures. Whatever is on the rock is slimy and hard to remove. Around this same time I started seeing protein foam on the surface of the water. I have been doing routine 25% water changes weekly for the life of the tank. Last night, I notice that all 4 of my fish were very lethargic and basically just treading water. I immediate check all levels and everything looked fine. I went ahead and did a 50% water change and hoped for the best. I woke up to the two dead cardinalfish. However, the clownfish seemed to be improving.

I removed the cardinalfish and before I left for work. On my way home I picked up a fresh container of chemi pure blue and installed it in my filter(the current bag was around 2.5 months old). As of now, the clownfish are still somewhat lethargic but seem to be improving through the day. Any ideas what could be going on? My levels are as follows(using API test kit):

Salinity: 1.026
pH: 8.1
Temp: 78
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Get rid of the HOB filter and buy this,

KollerCraft TOM RP90 Rapids Pro Filter with UV Sterilizer for Aquariums​

Great for small tanks with no room for a sump. I have several with and without UV. They work great. Now that I have a 75 gallon tank I use just the overflow with a bigger sump and return pump. Now I have 2 of their overflows and a larger pump.

 

[sirtreysuf]

Thanks for all the input guys. Does anyone have any idea what brown growth was covering my rock and glass?

 

[sirtreysuf]

I’ve installed an Aquatic Life mini skimmer. Rocks are still brown color, but whatever it is seems to be dying and comes off is thin sheets. I plan on waiting it out for a while before I add any more fish.