Came downstairs yesterday to check on the wrasse and feed him. He's been fine for the past week: swimming and eating. I had added some RO/DI water to the tank to top off before going to bed.
Today, he's on his side breathing heavily. I test the water: ammonia! That can't be right. Then I test the RO/DI water: ammonia!! Oh shut! I run upstairs and test the DT: slight ammonia.
I pulled the heater and pump out of the RO/DI bin: slimy to the touch. Arghhhhh!
My RO/DI bin will be soaked in a bleach solution and dried outside. Same with my ATO tank and pump. I'm making new RO/DI water into my smaller 20g Brute bin now. The QT tank will be completely drained and refilled with new water.
The wrasse is in an acrylic box with holes and a lid (part of my acclimation kit) and has been moved to the DT since that is the best water I've got right now.
Prime was added to the sump to clear up ammonia being dumped in from the ATO and the ATO has been shut off. He's still lying on his side breathing heavily.
I'm not worried about disease with this one as he was at the LFS from May 29th till July 12th, eating and acting normal, and they run copper in all of their tanks. He shows no signs of disease that I can see.
I really am kicking myself right now. How did I get so much ammonia in my RO/DI bin? It's a 32g Brute food-safe trash can. I have a powerhead circulating the water constantly and the temp is 79 degrees. It has a lid to keep out dust and cats.
This is the first time that I've ever stored RO/DI water as I always had to make it on demand before. What am I doing wrong?