What happened to my tank!?

[Hannahmunt]

I am currently on holiday arrives yesterday and get a call to say all my fish are gasping tank water is cloudy, corals are closed and three of my fish have died.

before I left I cleaned the tank checked water parameters and made sure everything was fine.

I called someone out who did a big water change, he noticed my skimmer wasn’t working and said this could be the reason as the skimmer is what give the tank oxygen.

if the skimmer wasn’t working for two days could this be the cause of the fish dying and the rest gasping for air?

the tank is 160litres (40gallons)

I’ve attached a picture of parameters two days before I left for holiday.

 

[PlumbTuckered]

The cloudy water suggests an bacterial bloom, which would deplete oxygen in the tank. And yes, the skimmer does (among other things) oxygenate the tank.

So yes, the skimmer failure is a contributing factor.

 

[Hannahmunt]

The cloudy water suggests an bacterial bloom, which would deplete oxygen in the tank. And yes, the skimmer does (among other things) oxygenate the tank.

So yes, the skimmer failure is a contributing factor.

The skimmer is back up and running now and have done a big water change. Will see how things are tomorrow

 

[SPR1968]

It could be the skimmer but I doubt it. You get air exchange on the surface as well

I sometimes turn the skimmer off, or rather Apex does, if the water level in the sump changes if Ive been altering down flow pipe settings. 2 days has been fine without issue

You mentioned 3 fish deaths, I would check for ammonia levels asap to see if thats the cause

 

[AydenLincoln]

I’m just wondering what app this is?

 

[Hannahmunt]

It could be the skimmer but I doubt it. You get air exchange on the surface as well

I sometimes turn the skimmer off, or rather Apex does, if the water level in the sump changes if Ive been altering down flow pipe settings. 2 days has been fine without issue

You mentioned 3 fish deaths, I would check for ammonia levels asap to see if thats the cause

I had someone check the tank and they’ve removed the dead fish. I’m surprised the chromis died as they are really hardy.

Im just so confused as to what could have caused this

I lost my flame hawkfish, a chromis, a goby and possible my dwarf angel

 

[Hannahmunt]

I’m just wondering what app this is?

It’s smart reef. I just use to it keep track of my readings. I do my tests using salifert and hanna then put the results in the app

 

[snorklr]

i have a 40b and i shut the skimmer off when i went to florida for a month in february as i had no one to empty it...

 

[Hannahmunt]

i have a 40b and i shut the skimmer off when i went to florida for a month in february as i had no one to empty it...

I have people to watch the tank and keep an eye out for me.

something I forgot to mention, I cleaned the filter and skimmer before I left, could this have caused a bacteria bloom then with the skimmer not working cause a massive decrease in oxygen that caused the fish to die?

 

[fish farmer]

How many fish did you have in the tank to begin with? It sounds like you lost 3 to 4 fish, but you have others.

I'm going to say skimmer shutting off with an overstocked amount of fish for a 40 gallon caused die off.

 

[MaxTremors]

How old is the tank? It sounds like a bacterial bloom, if your skimmer was off this could be why your fish are having trouble. The bacteria consumes a lot of oxygen which can asphyxiate the fish. You need to ensure lots of oxygenation (skimmer, airstone, point powerheads at the surface, etc). It will go away on its own within a week or two (UV sterilizer will speed the process up), just maximize oxygenation and everything should survive.

 

[amazongb]

You sure you didn't have a power outage, overfeeding or something? This sounds like power outage in between your tank sitter visit (unless he/she is staying at your house).

 

[Hannahmunt]

I

How many fish did you have in the tank to begin with? It sounds like you lost 3 to 4 fish, but you have others.

I'm going to say skimmer shutting off with an overstocked amount of fish for a 40 gallon caused die off.

had nine I believe. And lost four

 

[Hannahmunt]

How old is the tank? It sounds like a bacterial bloom, if your skimmer was off this could be why your fish are having trouble. The bacteria consumes a lot of oxygen which can asphyxiate the fish. You need to ensure lots of oxygenation (skimmer, airstone, point powerheads at the surface, etc). It will go away on its own within a week or two (UV sterilizer will speed the process up), just maximize oxygenation and everything should survive.

Yeah I think it was a bacteria bloom as well. Everything is fine now but before I went away I cleaned the filter and skimmer so think that caused a bloom along with skimmer not working and increase in temperature

 

[Garf]

Yeah I think it was a bacteria bloom as well. Everything is fine now but before I went away I cleaned the filter and skimmer so think that caused a bloom along with skimmer not working and increase in temperature

How did you cool the tank when the temp hit 40C last week? You got air conditioning?

 

[gbroadbridge]

How

I am currently on holiday arrives yesterday and get a call to say all my fish are gasping tank water is cloudy, corals are closed and three of my fish have died.

before I left I cleaned the tank checked water parameters and made sure everything was fine.

I called someone out who did a big water change, he noticed my skimmer wasn’t working and said this could be the reason as the skimmer is what give the tank oxygen.

if the skimmer wasn’t working for two days could this be the cause of the fish dying and the rest gasping for air?

the tank is 160litres (40gallons)

I’ve attached a picture of parameters two days before I left for holiday.

How hot did the tank get over the last week?

 

[Hannahmunt]

How did you cool the tank when the temp hit 40C last week? You got air conditioning?

With many fans I went through around 20 litres of evaporation in like 5 days. Weather is much cooler now.

 

[Hannahmunt]

How

How hot did the tank get over the last week?

Was around 32c

 

[gbroadbridge]

How

Was around 32c

Well, I'm pretty sure that's what happened to your tank.

Even here in Sydney, Oz, I never let the tank go over 28 even if it means putting bags of ice in the sump.

 

[nvcheeko]

Well, I'm pretty sure that's what happened to your tank.

Even here in Sydney, Oz, I never let the tank go over 28 even if it means putting bags of ice in the sump.

I agree in Queensland my chiller running flat out in summer i think 26 or so my limit