Random tank deaths after adding coral!

xxkenny90xx · May 26, 2019

Jellyfishmon said:
I used API test
temp: 78
salinity: 1.035
PH: 8
Ammonia: 0.5
Nitrite/rate: 0
I cant test for the others but im having the reef test kit shipped to me soon.
My tank is 2-3 months old (was set up 3 months ago but finished cycling 2).
Im going to say the ammonia has been at that level for a week, but just before that I went a week with a crazy high 80ppm nitrate so im sure that made them stressed.
heres the kind I used

Just a side note, if you used the bottle in your picture that is good, if you used the spray bottle with the same label that's not so good as is has different ingredients

Sarah24! · May 26, 2019

Hello,

Not sure I have seen it, but if your salinity as you posted is 1.035 that’s crazy high and needs to be 1.025. You definitely have ammonia, and I would run some active carbon immediacy and get the ammonia down to zero. I would test all parameters and have a lfs verify them. You should have 0 ammonia nitrates and between 2-5 ppm nitrates depending on what coral you have. You can have higher nitrates if you have softies and lps. Your alk should be between 7-8 and 440 cal and 1340 Mag or 1390 mag if your doing sps.

Api yes isn’t the greatest yet I don’t want exact and don’t want super super stable. It’s been proven scientifically that if there is no fluctuations or minor small changes it makes the fish and coral more sensitive to change or parameter swings. If your small tank any parameter that is off will affect the tank more because it’s less water volume. However with that said, several scientific sources have said that’s it is false and some say true. Most claim it depends on if you keep and chase numbers you can have that problem. Fish and coral both dying is either ammonia in the tank, and or there is a toxin from one of the softies. Which definitely run active carbon to get anything out of the water. I’d probably do a 50% water change today then wait a day or 2 and do another one. Good thinking on moving them to a qt but remeber it doesn’t mean they will make it, sometimes they get too far gone way too fast.

Moving forward, before any thing goes back in the display make sure the water parameters are spot on, and have a lfs verify them (if you have one) a local aquarium can test your water also. Once that is known you can move your items back in. Sorry this has happened and hoping you the best.