i need help!!something is off and i dont know what

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by BluePhish, Oct 3, 2008.

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  1. BluePhish

    BluePhish Teardrop Maxima Clam

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2007
    Messages:
    821
    Location:
    Buffalo N.Y.
    so i started a post the other day about my torch stinging my frogspawn, well right after that i started to see my purple coraline algae turn pink then white, and its not stopping. also noticed a spot on my green pocilliapora lost its polyps.(and overall looks like junk). everything else looks ok for now!

    now the coraline dying is what is starting to scare me into think something is wrong with my water.

    so here are my parims


    salin 1.026
    kh 8-9
    cal 420-440
    mag 1285
    temp 79 in the a.m. 80.5 in the pm

    has not changed from this for atleast 6 months

    have not had readable levels of ammonia nitrite nitrate for a year
    unreadable level of po4 running rowaphos in a reactor

    bulbs are t5 uvl last replaced in march or april
    actinic on for 12hrs daylights on for 10hrs fuge lights on reverse cycle

    fish i have is 2 dragonettes, 2 clowns , sixline, yellow clown goby

    please help me start i check list of what could be wrong?




     
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  3. Terror A. Part

    Terror A. Part Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2008
    Messages:
    28
    Location:
    Gainesville, Florida
    Have you checked your pH?

    Also, something often not considered...is your tank grounded? Sometimes there can be an electric current running through the tank that you wouldn't ever be aware of, but can affect the conditions of your tank (especially pH).
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2008
  4. BluePhish

    BluePhish Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    i just checked the PH 8.2

    am i safe to rule out copper since not everything is showing signs

    if a leather was releasing deffense toxins, would this be enough to bleach coraline all around it

    hang on i got pics to help explain my situation better.
     
  5. PackLeader

    PackLeader Giant Squid

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    What about the grounding probe? Have one?
     
  6. BluePhish

    BluePhish Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    here are some pics that shows the bleaching coraline that was all purple on monday and the closed frogspawn with peeling flesh,

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  7. BluePhish

    BluePhish Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    i dont have a grounding probe but will get one tomarrow.
     
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  9. reefnut1

    reefnut1 Spaghetti Worm

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    Not having a ground caused my tank to have a lot of problems in the past. So I 2nd that thought. The other thing besides PH to check is alkalinity. Frogspawn will retract if alk is to high or PH is way off. Either can be deadly to your tank.
     
  10. BluePhish

    BluePhish Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    Location:
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    so yeah that whole section is now white. and i noticed its starting to flake apart and fall off the glass in spots.

    guestion about the probe and stray current, wouldn't you feel it if you stuck your hand in the tank?, or would the amount of current be to low to shock you.?ive also heard about gorunding probes can actully add electrical current to your tank.?

    i usually do 5 gallon water change every saturday, think i should do a large change today?

    oh and alk and kh are kinda the samething. all my parims from what i know are right on natural sea level, so whats going on????????????
     
  11. Terror A. Part

    Terror A. Part Astrea Snail

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    Location:
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    You'd only feel the current if maybe you had a cut on your finger or something like that. If not, then you wouldn't. The grounding probe won't add current to your tank, silly, that's what they're for! Oh, and it doesn't matter where you put it (mine is in my refugium), just make sure it can't float up out of the water (I keep mine in with a zip tie) because I don't trust those little sucker things.
     
  12. plandy

    plandy Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    61
    I noticed you have one or more Hydor Koralia power heads: They are notorious for leaking electricity even when relatively new. Unfortunately I also have two which will probably have to be removed to play it safe. It just goes back to the same old adage - cheap equipment will cost us more in the long run. Fortunately I do have a large Tunze powerhead which I will be putting in to use sooner than later.

    EDIT: Actually I am going to remove them just as soon as the magnet holder for the tunze arrives. Just not worth the risk knowing that it's not "if" but "when" Koralia begins electrical discharging into the tank.
     
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2008