Fazio92 January 13, 2010 January 13, 2010 Hey All, Ok so i just moved my tank this past weekend, by the way not the best time when its 18 degrees outside. Anyhow, so i had all the coral sitting in stock tanks on sat and sun and everything looked great only loosing 1 piece, not bad out of 150+. Monday i finally got eveything moved into the tank, but then the next morning evrything looked pretty bad, i.e. exterior membrane disappearing, but coralites still inside skeleton (almost all SPS). The clams, fish, hermits, all good though. I recalibrated my pH probe and it still averaged about 7.8-8.0, and yet i did almost 75% new water and turned off CO2. What could be going wrong. I am really scared that i may loose a bunch on my best colonies, if they havent already gone! Any advice?? -Anthony
Brian Ward January 13, 2010 January 13, 2010 Hey All, Ok so i just moved my tank this past weekend, by the way not the best time when its 18 degrees outside. Anyhow, so i had all the coral sitting in stock tanks on sat and sun and everything looked great only loosing 1 piece, not bad out of 150+. Monday i finally got eveything moved into the tank, but then the next morning evrything looked pretty bad, i.e. exterior membrane disappearing, but coralites still inside skeleton (almost all SPS). The clams, fish, hermits, all good though. I recalibrated my pH probe and it still averaged about 7.8-8.0, and yet i did almost 75% new water and turned off CO2. What could be going wrong. I am really scared that i may loose a bunch on my best colonies, if they havent already gone! Any advice?? -Anthony Have you done a traditional chemical pH test instead of relying on the probe? If the probe got dry during the move, then it could be damaged and need to be replaced. Did you move the tank to a place where there is less fresh air? Try cracking a window near the tank to see if the pH comes up. Have you done any water changes to try and bring the pH up?
Fazio92 January 13, 2010 Author January 13, 2010 No i havent done a chemical test yet, i'll do that when i get home. Also, i use to have my skimmer inlet outside and now its inside, only because there's no window that close, i might have to drill a hole to put it outside again. Yes, I did another water change yesterday. Thanks for your input. I just hope everything will stop recessing! i already lost a chalice mother colony, cali tort colony and others may be on their way out with only thing remaining are the colorful coralites inside the skeleton!!! Have you done a traditional chemical pH test instead of relying on the probe? If the probe got dry during the move, then it could be damaged and need to be replaced. Did you move the tank to a place where there is less fresh air? Try cracking a window near the tank to see if the pH comes up. Have you done any water changes to try and bring the pH up?
Coral Hind January 13, 2010 January 13, 2010 What temp is the tank at? What time of day are you taking the pH readings? Have you checked the pH in the evening after the lights have been on? What about the other params like ammonia or nitrate? A pH of 7.8 will normally not cause all the corals to RTN.
Fazio92 January 13, 2010 Author January 13, 2010 Tank temp runs from 80-82, and the pH is running on the ACIII so i can see it whenever. I guess its time to check ammonia and nitrate then, never had a problem with that before so we'll see. What temp is the tank at? What time of day are you taking the pH readings? Have you checked the pH in the evening after the lights have been on? What about the other params like ammonia or nitrate? A pH of 7.8 will normally not cause all the corals to RTN.
Coral Hind January 13, 2010 January 13, 2010 After you move a tank there can be die off which may cause a spike in the ammonia. Did you reuse the sand bed? If the sand bed was stirred up it could have released stuff into the water when it was set back up.
Fazio92 January 13, 2010 Author January 13, 2010 Yeah, i resued the sand, man that was stupid on my part. i really didnt even think of that, though i did spihon all the detritus off after i put it back in the tank and before all the coral and rock was put back in. The sand was only in a bucket for about 1/2 hr at the most with water. Oh well more water changes. After you move a tank there can be die off which may cause a spike in the ammonia. Did you reuse the sand bed? If the sand bed was stirred up it could have released stuff into the water when it was set back up.
Brian Ward January 13, 2010 January 13, 2010 agreed.. 7.8 doesn't usually cause RTN. And if the corallites are still there, then it sounds like bleaching and not tissue necrosis. moving your skimmer intake line from outside to inside - esp in the winter - will definitely cause the pH to drop like you've described.
Fazio92 January 13, 2010 Author January 13, 2010 I do agree with you that it looks more like bleaching, but the halide is about 2ft off the tank now and again, they started looking bad the next morning (so no lights on over the night). I think i will drill the skimmer line back outside though. But have you seen bleaching where only the corallites are left? and if so, is it too late? agreed.. 7.8 doesn't usually cause RTN. And if the corallites are still there, then it sounds like bleaching and not tissue necrosis. moving your skimmer intake line from outside to inside - esp in the winter - will definitely cause the pH to drop like you've described.
Coral Hind January 13, 2010 January 13, 2010 I am guessing that the stress of new water parameters and probably low temps during the move caused the bleaching event. They can recover so I would not give up hope. I know you are really busy right now but some pics would be helpful.
epleeds January 15, 2010 January 15, 2010 anthony, how is it going. were you able to stop all the damage? Your tank was looking great before the move. Hope it all turns around... post up some pics... eric
Fazio92 January 15, 2010 Author January 15, 2010 Ok, so the die off has stopped i think, with the exception of my undata colony (which really really sucks). I have been doing 20gal water changes every day, also i have drilled my skimmer inlet outside which stills shows the pH running from 8.01 - 8.15, but i havent been able to chemically test it yet (i do believe that the probe went dry at one point during the move). I tested all other parameters and they are inline and great. Everything did go from awesome color to brown though, and then the few big guys that are now solid white skeletons :( I'll post some pics in a bit. -Anthony anthony, how is it going. were you able to stop all the damage? Your tank was looking great before the move. Hope it all turns around... post up some pics... eric
Fazio92 January 15, 2010 Author January 15, 2010 Also, if anyone would like to come over and see first hand to give an opinion that would be great. Thanks -Anthony
Coral Hind January 15, 2010 January 15, 2010 (edited) Wow, sorry to see those pics. Some other things that might have happened. Corals damaged from the move might have gotten infected which led to the RTN event. The aggrevated corals could have slimed and played warfare with each other in the tank after they were re-introduced. Just two ideas. Did you happen to share some frags around before the move in case something like this happened? Edited January 15, 2010 by Coral Hind
epleeds January 15, 2010 January 15, 2010 Man that is bad. When the frag you sold me starts to grow, I will get you back a piece if your undata does not recover.
Fazio92 January 15, 2010 Author January 15, 2010 Thanks. It really sucks, i'm just going to keep doing water changes and hope for the best. Man that is bad. When the frag you sold me starts to grow, I will get you back a piece if your undata does not recover.
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