Tank dying off

[kryan13]

Does anyone know what these white spots are on this crab? This is the second crab that has them. The other one was covered and is now missing (presumed dead as I see another crab now living in his shell). I only had one fish (watchman gobie) in the tank and he died suddenly a few days ago. My levels had been fine until this all started and now I have low levels of ammonia (<0.15) and nitrites (0.1). I’ve been doing water changes to try to get it down but it’s not really moving. I guess my questions are 1. Is this a parasite killing my crabs? And 2. Why are my levels suddenly up when they’ve been stable?

 

[SlugSnorter]

Does anyone know what these white spots are on this crab? This is the second crab that has them. The other one was covered and is now missing (presumed dead as I see another crab now living in his shell). I only had one fish (watchman gobie) in the tank and he died suddenly a few days ago. My levels had been fine until this all started and now I have low levels of ammonia (<0.15) and nitrites (0.1). I’ve been doing water changes to try to get it down but it’s not really moving. I guess my questions are 1. Is this a parasite killing my crabs? And 2. Why are my levels suddenly up when they’ve been stable?

sounds like the tank wasn't fully cycled.

Tank age? do you use RODI or tapwater? do you have an ATO? Do you have proper aquarium lighting?

 

[kryan13]

Tank since December. I cycled without fish and did see the levels spike and drop and I was pretty confident had cycled then but am now second guessing everything so who knows. I use nutrisea water and top off with distilled. I don’t know what ATO means and I don’t have any lighting yet because I haven’t gotten to the point where I feel my tank is stable enough for corals.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Tank since December. I cycled without fish and did see the levels spike and drop and I was pretty confident had cycled then but am now second guessing everything so who knows. I use nutrisea water and top off with distilled. I don’t know what ATO means and I don’t have any lighting yet because I haven’t gotten to the point where I feel my tank is stable enough for corals.

an ATO is an auto top off. It keeps salinity from changing by automatically distilled/RODI adding water as it evaporates.

 

[fishface NJ]

ATO is auto top off - for adding water to system. I have been adding water by hand for years.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Tank since December. I cycled without fish and did see the levels spike and drop and I was pretty confident had cycled then but am now second guessing everything so who knows. I use nutrisea water and top off with distilled. I don’t know what ATO means and I don’t have any lighting yet because I haven’t gotten to the point where I feel my tank is stable enough for corals.

what do you mix your salt with? tap water?

 

[Timfish]

I wouldn't worry about them. WHen your crab molts they'll stay witht he old molt and won't transfer to the new exoskeleton. To reiterate @SlugSnorter comment your tank still looks pretty new. You definitely need to add lighting to establish the ecosystem beneficial for corals and I'd add sonme easy corals also like ushrooms or zoas. Here's an article on establishing healthy micribiomes and a couple links explaining the roles of microbiomes in coral health or disease and a couple additional links you may find informative:

Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock

Studying the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium shows that high-quality live rock promotes the rapid establishment of an effective biological filter and a microbial community similar to those found in mature reef tanks.

www.reef2reef.com

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas" This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title (Paper back is ~$20, Kindle is ~$10), both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC in reef ecosystems. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)

Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"

 

[kryan13]

an ATO is an auto top off. It keeps salinity from changing by automatically distilled/RODI adding water as it evaporates.

I just top off myself with distilled water when it goes below a marked off spot on the tank

 

[SlugSnorter]

I wouldn't worry about them. WHen your crab molts they'll stay witht he old molt and won't transfer to the new exoskeleton. To reiterate @SlugSnorter your tank still looks pretty new. You definitely need to add lighting to establish the ecosystem beneficial for corals and I'd add sonme easy corals also like ushrooms or zoas. Here's an article on establishing healthy micribiomes and a couple links explaining the roles of microbiomes in coral health or disease and a couple additional links you may find informative:

Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock

Studying the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium shows that high-quality live rock promotes the rapid establishment of an effective biological filter and a microbial community similar to those found in mature reef tanks.

www.reef2reef.com

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas" This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title (Paper back is ~$20, Kindle is ~$10), both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC in reef ecosystems. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)

Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"

I'd wait on the corals. Uglies with a dry rock tank will prob really mess with them

 

[kryan13]

what do you mix your salt with? tap water?

I used pre-mixed store bought salt water

 

[kryan13]

I wouldn't worry about them. WHen your crab molts they'll stay witht he old molt and won't transfer to the new exoskeleton. To reiterate @SlugSnorter comment your tank still looks pretty new. You definitely need to add lighting to establish the ecosystem beneficial for corals and I'd add sonme easy corals also like ushrooms or zoas. Here's an article on establishing healthy micribiomes and a couple links explaining the roles of microbiomes in coral health or disease and a couple additional links you may find informative:

Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock

Studying the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium shows that high-quality live rock promotes the rapid establishment of an effective biological filter and a microbial community similar to those found in mature reef tanks.

www.reef2reef.com

"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas" This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title (Paper back is ~$20, Kindle is ~$10), both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC in reef ecosystems. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)

Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"

Thanks. I will def look at all of this. Now that I have no fish should I try to re-cycle my tank or something? Is that something I can do? I really want fish and coral but I don’t want to add more just for them to die

 

[Timfish]

I'd wait on the corals. Uglies with a dry rock tank will prob really mess with them

There are certainly a host of corals I wouldn't add to a new tank but corals are influencing the microbiomes (aurabiomes) in the water around them. Corals are needed to help establish beneficial microbiomes.

 

[fishface NJ]

Get a clown fish, zoa/mushroom. I bet you will be fine. Are you using a refractometer?

 

[SlugSnorter]

There are certainly a host of corals I wouldn't add to a new tank but corals are influencing the microbiomes (aurabiomes) in the water around them. Corals are needed to help establish beneficial microbiomes.

yes, but I would still say to wait till the worst of the uglies are over.

 

[Timfish]

Thanks. I will def look at all of this. Now that I have no fish should I try to re-cycle my tank or something? Is that something I can do? I really want fish and coral but I don’t want to add more just for them to die

If you haven't set one up I would encourage you to set up a quarantine tank, personally I just use UV sterilizors and some established rock in my quarantine tanks.

You've esatblished the basicc nitrogen cycle so there's no need to try to cycle your system again. I would add some quality maricultured live rocj as outlined in the article by Aquabiomics. Add some fish, clowns are a good choice, to provide nitrogen and phosphorus for corals and add some easy corals to help promote the microbial stuff they prefer. And be patient.

 

[kryan13]

Get a clown fish, zoa/mushroom. I bet you will be fine. Are you using a refractometer?

I am.

 

[kryan13]

If you haven't set one up I would encourage you to set up a quarantine tank, personally I just use UV sterilizors and some established rock in my quarantine tanks.

You've esatblished the basicc nitrogen cycle so there's no need to try to cycle your system again. I would add some quality maricultured live rocj as outlined in the article by Aquabiomics. Add some fish, clowns are a good choice, to provide nitrogen and phosphorus for corals and add some easy corals to help promote the microbial stuff they prefer. And be patient.

Thank you so much. I would love start with a clown and some easy corals

 

[kryan13]

yes, but I would still say to wait till the worst of the uglies are over.

What uglies? The ugly rocks and sand? When does that stop?

 

[SlugSnorter]

What uglies? The ugly rocks and sand? When does that stop?

Its the nickname for when a tank gets hit by nuisance algae. Its a normal part of a maturing dry rock tank.

 

[kryan13]

Its the nickname for when a tank gets hit by nuisance algae. Its a normal part of a maturing dry rock tank.

Yes I def have that. How do I get rid of it?