Tank is dying!

[andreas k.]

Hi,
I am Andy from Germany.
I got major issues with my tank.
It started with stn at some very nice Acro colonies like tenuis. First I thought-ok, they are hard to keep.
But than it goes on and on. Trachiphyllias, Hysterix, some Torches, bounce mushrooms…and at least fresh added fishes are dying.
ICP was great- 99%.
How can I stop that disaster?

Can you please help me across the ocean?

I ve got Amoxicillin AL 750mg and Oxalic Acid at Home.
Any idea how I can save my tank.
The tank is approx 140 gallons.
Thx in advance and happy Easter!
Best regards
Andy

 

[andreas k.]

That was my tank in January…

 

[blaxsun]

#fishmedic - the resident experts will need more details re: the fish.

 

[woodyarmadillo]

I’m no expert but can we get some parameters? Will definitely help us identify the problem. Salinity, temp, alk, ph, cal, magnesium, phosphates and nitrates would be helpful if you have them.

 

[woodyarmadillo]

That was my tank in January…

Oh man that is a beautiful tank hopefully someone can help you out.

 

[andreas k.]

Hello, thx.
Kh: 7,5
Ca: 420
Mg: 1380
Po4: 0.05
No3: 5
Salinity: 34.8ppm
The ATI ICP was at 99%.

Br

 

[MischiefReef]

Hi Andy, hopefully we can help you get to the root of your coral problems and get your tank looking great again.
I see from your parameters that your kH may be a bit on the low side, also what is your pH? For a tank with LPS I would say it is also safe to bump your NO3 up to 15-20ppm. I’ve got acros in with softies and they tolerate this level no problem. Your Calcium is also on the low side for SPS.
What are your lights?
What is the flow like in your tank?
How old is the tank?

 

[MischiefReef]

Just took some more time to scroll through the photos of the current state of the tank. I’m wondering, do you dip your corals prior to introduction? If so, have you ever noticed any pests? If not, I would suggest purchasing some dip products and dipping your coral. That may help diagnose the issue as well.
As for your fish, what kinds were lost?
How many were lost?
What general timeline were they added?
What general timeline and order did they die?
Did you notice fish loss first or coral problems first?
Can you give a description of symptoms and any idea of breathing rate prior to death?
Any photos of sick (but alive) fish?

 

[Kmst80]

As well how often do you do waterchanges, do you make your own water? Do you use RO Water? Can you post the ICP Test results?

 

[Celestion]

It's likely a newer system algae garbage stuff is is swarming , "the uglys" , very much knowledge should help you soon here

 

[Kmst80]

What is that brown stuff in the left of the picture? Could be Dinos/Cyano/Diatoms

 

[andreas k.]

Hi,
I had the same probs in my old tank.
I thougt it got smoething to with a plastic plate which I glued under the rocks.
So I started with a new tank in Oct 2022.
I dipped all corals from the old tank, and if I buy corals I also do. I use the redsea dip.
At least I dipped the corals in my tank-black Bugs-f***.
I got 5 wrasses in the tank.
I started completly with new rocks (Reefceramics and a few pieces Liverock.
Waterchange every day 6 gallons.
In Germany most of the people run the tanks with a Kh between 7 and8.
Ph in my is between 7.9 and 8.3.
Stability is the key, not chasing numbers.
I‘m a reefkeeper since 2001 with a5 year Discus break in between. 2019 I started new.
And I Never had probs like that in the past.
After a 1 week vacation end of february the disease break out. The new fishes which died were 8 pseudoanthias lori.
It least approx4 weeks untill all of them died.
Lightning: 2 Reef Factory Reef Flare Blue in L and 2 Orphek Daylight bars.
Carbon all the time.
Royal Exclusiv Double Cone 200.
Thx

 

[Yazannreef]

How often do you change your carbon since you mentioned it. Also please post your icp results

 

[andreas k.]

How often do you change your carbon since you mentioned it. Also please post your icp results

Every 20 days carbonchange (Fauna)
Rodi Water no Si
Fauna Marine Balling light

 

[Yazannreef]

Every 20 days carbonchange (Fauna)
Rodi Water no Si
Fauna Marine Balling light

This looks good.
How do you test your salinity??

 

[Yazannreef]

Hanna? Apex/ refractomiter?

 

[andreas k.]

Hi, fresh calibrated refractomiter

 

[Wayofthereef]

I had this happen to me, although every circumstance is different. 1 year old tank and everything started dying off, one by one and I was freaking out because everything water chemistry wise was perfect. And 1 morning I was staring at my tank ready to give up and I noticed a powerhead wasn't running. Figured it was dirty and I took it out to clean it. For some reason i removed the rubber over the magnet and it was kinda bulged out. I grabbed a knife and pried it open and it was caked with rust. So I took out the other 3 and it was the same thing with 2 of them. I did a 100% water change as quickly as I could and 20% everyother day for at least a week and a half and the dying stopped and began to regrow.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Hmm, so your ICP looks fine, you are experienced and know not to chase numbers, the die off has affected all corals, from hard to easy to keep species, and this is the second tank that has had a similar progression.

The fact that your ICP looks fine, probably rules out the usual suspects for contamination, corroded metal, etc. For the loss of the anthia's, if it were fish that were known easy to keep, it might be a symptom. However anthia's are notoriously hard to keep without feeding the heck out of them.

So my random thoughts are ...

You mention it starting with the SPS, did you take an active approach to maintain the water quality during the SPS die off, or did you take a more hands off approach and let the tank re-find it's balance (which it has not yet)? Having secondary die offs in the easier to keep corals when trying to let the tank re-balance itself is not unusual.

Are you on city water? If so have you checked with your municipality to see if they have started using any unexpected chemicals? Any similar problems reported by other reefer's in your area? Sometimes municipalities can add chemicals to the water supply for dealing with local issues that can get past our RODI systems and cause coral issues.

The fact that nothing bad shows up on ICP suggests if it is a toxin, possibly something organic. Have you used any unusual adhesives with this build? Any thing that might contain an algaecide or bactericide? (E.g. white silicones, etc.)

Have you considered doing a tank pathogen test, if they are available in your local market? Something like the AquaBiomics TankDNA test.

Have you looked for toxin producing strains of dinos under a microscope? Your space invader looks pretty sick, and those are not easy to kill corals. Though when they do start to go, they go fast. Your's has lost all it's colour and is on death's door. Typically they survive die-offs fine, and almost flourish from the elevated nutrients. The fact that it is also impacted so much again suggests to me that the issue is systemic.

Did you bring anything over from the previous tank that may be the source? Any usual additives or equipment that you have any concerns about?

Sorry I can't provide any concrete help. Everything you have shown so far, as far as your parameters and practices go, suggests your tank should be flourishing, but based on the photos, clearly it is not.

 

[andreas k.]

Thx!
There are no waterproblems in the area.
I do every 4 weeks an icp.
In the beginning there was a little bit copper in the water. Since January it is ok.
In Germany there is no company where you can make a pathogen test.
I checked the whole equipment-everything ok.
No silicon, only reefbond.
Maybe I will change the whole water. But I don‘t know.
I think it s a bacterial infection.
The corals are weak and than black bugs give them the deathblow.
A big green Anacropora died also.
I could not help her. Generelly they are easy to keep.
A big colony of Stylophora is also dying.
This is the easiest coral to keep.
That really sucks.