Critters Dying! Any suggestions?

[jmoon32465]

here goes... 125gal reef, asm-g1 skimmer/38gal sump, 150lb live rock (8months old) 80lbs live sand(same age).. residents include Blue hippo tang, Scopus Tang, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty Angel, Flame Angel, Mandarin Dragonette, 2 Pajama Cardinals, 3 little Chromis, watchman Goby and a clownfish. (all fish getting along, so no lectures on compatibilities) Ok now the prroblem... all of the snails, crabs, and some of my corals are dying.. all chemical tests are normal.. PH, salinity, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, copper, changing 20percent water monthly, and I am at my wits end! someone please save me! Thanks!

[Melanie]

What were the test results exactly?

[jmoon32465]

ph is 8.2 salinity is 1.023 alk is normal, copper is .05 nitrite is 0...tks

[Xtreme1024]

How about Calcium, Alk, Mag & Iodine levels.

[DrHank]

Has this tank ever had copper in it? Are you dripping Kalk? Have you tested your make up water for copper? Inverts are very sensitive to copper a long term exposure to low levels can kill them through accumulation in the animals tissues.

I'd want copper undetectable. I think but am not sure that you can get it to precipitate out of solution by dripping kalk. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in. It would be helpful if you would list the actual values of all parameters.

[jmoon32465]

have no idea what kalk is, and havent tested for mag or iodine. water is distilled
dont know what the alk level exactly is, cause teh stripo says low, normal or high... it reads normal. Havent tested for calcium.. guess should before asking dumb questions! Thanks!

[Melanie]

It's not a dumb question! We just need all the information we can get to help figure out why your inverts are dying. Do you know what the tank temperature is? What about nitrates? When you do a water change, do you let the water aerate for at least 24 hrs? What kind of water circulation do you have in the tank (powerheads, pump, etc.) Do you use any supplements like iodine?

[jmoon32465]

thank you! I will do more tests in the morning. i let the water areate and tank temp is between 80 and 82..i use no supplements and i have two powerheads on the back wall running across the rocks and corals. they are not taht strong, but they move the water sufficiently. Thanls agian for your help.. i will post again tomorrow with more acurate test results!

[sasquatch]

While were on the subject of test kits, if your using strips I dont think you can count on the actual readings being "true" invest in some salifert kits and get some proper results, are you using a swing arm for salinity? if so take it to your lfs with some of your water and have them check it against theirs for a base line. If your showing copper I would worry also as the kit your using could be way off and its maybe higher than you think, I know all this may sound a little over the top but its the basis for any remedy that may be required, keep us posted! Steve

[flricordia]

Stupid question, but are any of the fish's gills openign and closing fast/hard? any fins clamped?
Does sound like copper poisoning if the fish seem to be breathing fine and not stressed. About the only thing you could do (well, at least what I would do) is stop using the distilled water (I think some distilled water is actually made by using copper tubing) and get an RO/DI unit and start doing large water changes. I probably wouldn't put anymore inverts in untill I had had a x2 or x3complete water turn-over.
Don't mean to leacture but at the cost of corals, shrimp, other invert, fish and all the other livestock we put in out reefs an RO/DI unit really should be one of the most important pieces of equipment we own. Think about all the hundreds of dollars if not thousands we spend in livestock only to have them die when a good RO/DI unit costs just a fraction of that. And now days there are so many good brands and sizes out there and most can be hooked-up easily enough there really is no reason to not own one. Mine is hooked to the washer faucet so I didn't have to tap into a water line. I turn it on by a lever when I fill my bucket and turn it off when full. Simple and pure water. Since I got an RO/DI I have NEVER IN ANY WAY WHAT-SO-EVER had any trouble with my reefs.

[DrHank]

I would recommend trying one or two poly-Filter pads. Here's a link to what you want.

Poly Filter by Poly Bio Marine At Petdiscounters.com

It's the only thing that I know that will help remove the copper from your tank. You will also have to find another source for safe top off and make up water. Your own RO/DI unit is really the best way to go.

Hope this helps.

[lcstorc]

As far as the corals go I would look to the angels or possibly the tangs. I had to give away a "reef safe" flameback angel once I finally saw it eating my lps. It was a suspected culprit long before I finally witnessed and removed the fish.

With inverts though I would want to look at copper and iodine as well as alk etc. or a predator could be at play as well.
The test results are the place to start.
Oh and I think I forgot.
Welcome to RS!

[Anselth]

One thing sort of off topic, but for that size tank and that bioload, I'd really consider upgrading your skimmer. Rule of thumb is you want one rated at twice the size of your system, but ASM rates the G1 at 100 gallons. I'm not sure what kind of effect that would have on your inverts, but it would definitely be beneficial.

[burning2nd]

i vote copper....

any soft of copper is detromently to inverts... and from the sounds of it.. its your inverts that are dieing....

a small amount of copper would kill inverts and have no visable effect of your fish....

also 80 lbs of LR for a 125 doesnt sound so hot.... you might wanna consiter seting up a new tank moveing your fish there. adding new cured rock....

any pictures?

you said .05 for copper... (meaning you tested and it was a possative)
id say thats your problem.....

there should be no copper at all..

[AQTCJAK]

Originally Posted by jmoon32465

ph is 8.2 salinity is 1.023 alk is normal, <b>copper is .05</b> nitrite is 0...tks

I would say that is the issue