failure to thrive

[sea gnome]

WELL, NO FISH DIED. THE CORALS LOOKS SLIGHTLY BETTER BUT PALE. MAYBE THINGS ARE LOOKING UP.

[sea gnome]

I spoke too soon. Just noticed that the coraline algae is bleaching. What is going on??? rachel

[Beverly]

Rachel,

I have never heard of such devastation. I wouldn't worry too much if the KH is 12.5. That's just a little over the recommended high value of 11.5.

Have you been running any carbon since this began? If so, how often have you been changing it? If this was my tank, I'd change it daily and be doing at least 30% water changes once a day, maybe twice if possible, with RO, RO/DI or distilled water along with your salt mix. The new salt water should be aerated and heated to tank temps for as long as possible before going into the tank.

[sea gnome]

Thanks, i will try more water changes and carbon as well.

[IslandReefer]

Hey Rachael,
How is your tank fairing. Did the carbon and water changes do the trick?
Or was it something else. Anyway I have a few extra shrooms around if you need some supplimentation.

[Aquattro]

I'd check the alk on newly mixed water before doig any more water changes. If you have one of the old bad buckets of IO, you could be doing more harm than good. Does the water look like skimmed milk after 20 or 30 minutes of mixing? Check alk right away.
And as I told you the other week, feel free to come by with water to check with my kits.

[titus]

Hello,

Wow that is some tank break down. Please let us know how things are now. But I'll be doing what Beverly recommended on the strict water change with RO/DI water aerated and corrected to room temperature.

Carbon is good but relying on carbon when there is serious trouble is not good. Also eyeballing test kit color is definitely a no no.

I am curious also at what type of skimmer are you using. Aeration is very important and a power skimmer can do a heck of a lot, usually better than running airstones.

Titus

[Skimmerking]

maybe you have a stray current coming in from the tank, Or is there any pumps in there that have oil in them to keep lubricated to run. Maybe there is your problem.


mike

p.S maybe its the DSB is the sand from a crappy old tank or that may have a oil bse on it ...

[sea gnome]

Brad, what do you mean, BAD IO SALT!!!!. Now that you mention it, i started new bucket not too long ago. It is one of the buckets from last year when they went on sale and you brought it back for me. When it is first mixed, it looks like milk but it does go clear. Some of the stuff that does not completely dissove at the bottom of the bucket looks pretty cloudy. I am plannng to come by and take you up on your offer. How does 9-930 am on Thrus morning sound??.

Titus, the skimmer I have is very similar to Brads, as I copied it. It is a beckket type on and seems to works very well.

Mike, I have no pumps that have to be lubricated or have oil in them that I know of (powerheads). As for stray current, I jus thave the return pipe from the sump, which I don't thnk is a problem.

John, thanks for the offer of shrooms, I will think about you when the tank is more stable. I am currently still loosing corals but decidedly more slowly and wonder if its a sign that things are slowly turning around??

[Aquattro]

Rachel, there was a bad batch of IO salt that when added to a tank, proceeded to kill most of the livestock. You could tell by measuring the alk of the water after mixing. The level was really high, like 30dKh or something.
Thurs am will probably require me to be at work. PM works though