fish dying (long Post)

[pinhead]

If they are fine during the day but are dead in the morning it is not your water parameters.

I would think that the oxygen levels are too low at night as the Corals and Macroalgae switch from photosynthesis to respiration. During the day they are using Carbon dioxide and producing oyxgen and at night the reverse occurs. The carbon dioxide produced at night is the reason pH also fluctuates between day or night.

Without an easy way to measure oxygen levels, the simple solution is to run an airstone at night or point some extra powerheads at the surface of the water for better gas exchange and into the rocks to prevent areas of low oxygen.

Try these simple solutions before you worry about your water.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

I will have to agree on this one.
Your ph is way low,so you are creating very high co2 in the evening depleting the oxygen from the tank,killing your fish.
Place an air stone for the evening or have an airline running from the intake of one or more of your power head simply to add lots of oxygen back into your tank.
Do you run a calcium carbonate reactor check for a leek into your tank of co2.
If it's not the case It would simply not enough aeration or agitation of your water surface.

Originally Posted by pinhead

If they are fine during the day but are dead in the morning it is not your water parameters.

I would think that the oxygen levels are too low at night as the Corals and Macroalgae switch from photosynthesis to respiration. During the day they are using Carbon dioxide and producing oyxgen and at night the reverse occurs. The carbon dioxide produced at night is the reason pH also fluctuates between day or night.

Without an easy way to measure oxygen levels, the simple solution is to run an airstone at night or point some extra powerheads at the surface of the water for better gas exchange and into the rocks to prevent areas of low oxygen.

Try these simple solutions before you worry about your water.

[pirate]

Ok I found a large dead snail in my tank still no yellow tail. I have no co2 tank at all. Its a very simple system. PH right now is 8-8.5. is it still to low? How do I raise it?
For my fresh water dip I get the temp the same as my tank and put the new fish into the water ( water stands for a day or more, taken from my ato tank) And he stays for approx 5 mins.
I've aimed a power head from the bottom of the tank to the surface.

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

how did you raise your ph so fast and what did you do.just to have a better understanding that the ph was the problem.
try testing your ph in the morning before the lights come on and then a couple hours before lights out.

[MitchM]

So a few things going on here - I think all advice given so far is correct.
Measuring at 3:30 A.M. is probably when your PH reading is at it's lowest. For comparison purposes, try to take readings at the same time each day.
If you're only using IO without any other supplements, you don't have much buffering capacity to keep water parameters relatively stable when things decay or deaths go undetected.
Combine that with low gas exchange and that's the right combination for the deaths you're seeing, plus possibly some swings in PH, depending on the accuracy of the PH test method you're using.
Are you treating your tap water before you mix and add your new salt water?

I would suggest so far:
-Increase surface water movement
-Invest in some additional kits mag, cal, alk and test for those parameters
-Test at the same time of day each time you test
-Remove dead animals and detritus buildup as soon as possible

You might want to do a large water change (20% or so) to help get that ammonia number down to zero.

[pirate]

Well Ive moved some power heads around hoping to have more surface agiation. I usually treat the water with prime. I've noticed that when I have the tfl reactors running everone seems more freaked out, does not mater what I seem to run in them Carbon or rowaphas. Is there some thing that I can do if I start seeing other fish doing the same thing?

[MitchM]

If the fish are already stressed from ammonia being present, low gas exchange and PH swings, seemingly little things can set them off.

[larishowen]

Pirate dont be so angry on the fish.I hope it will be a good in sometimes.There is nothing so much worried about the fish.I need to suggest you that you should call the doctor for these purpose.They will give you all information regarding your fish.

[Oxymoron]

Originally Posted by larishowen

Pirate dont be so angry on the fish.I hope it will be a good in sometimes.There is nothing so much worried about the fish.I need to suggest you that you should call the doctor for these purpose.They will give you all information regarding your fish.

Some solid advice there ^^