Corals dying

goingcrazy · 02/05/2018, 08:28 PM

here in Georgia we had a hurricane Irma and I lost all my corals do to losing power and when power came on I lost one light and the return pump.

i went ahead and removed the old sand clean the rocks with a lot of tap water clean the tank to start over since i was having issues lowering the nitrate in my tank.

basically i started over. The issue I am having now is that every corral that I add to my tank not life. for example, frag of monti bleach in 24 hours, acopora white in 24 hours, zoas wont open, Duncan head wont open but fishes are fine. Any help on what could be please let me know my name here said it all. Also all the water parameters are good. i have taken the water to different places to get tested and all parameters good

monkeysee1 · 02/05/2018, 08:57 PM

Yep. I would remove all the corals immediately because I don't think you can save them. The dying corals could release toxins in your tank if you leave them in there they could kill your fish.
Get a bag of carbon and put it in your sock. I would also get a reactor with some sugar pellets to get ( or keep) the nitrates down.
Keep a close eye on your fish. Have some Ammonia X on standby if your tank develops a spike. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to add some kick start bacteria to your tank since you replaced a lot in it. Instant Ocean Bio Spira has some. Google them.
Wait a few months before adding anything, after that you can add corals again one at a time.

goingcrazy · 02/06/2018, 12:10 AM

Thank you Monkeysee1. I added two bottles of the bio Spira before I added any fishes in the my 90 gallon after adding the new sand and water. Then I added two days later the 2 clown fish. Waited couples of days and added my wrase fish and then the following week I added one yellow tang and by the next Monday I added the other three fishes. But if I put a snail it will died, some of the crab fish still alive.

What the carbon will do to my tank?

heathlindner25 · 02/06/2018, 05:34 AM

Maybe when you cleaned the rocks you added copper to the system? I would try a polyfilter.

crawlerman · 02/06/2018, 07:41 AM

The carbon will help clean any toxins the dying corals released when it crashed. my guess is those toxins seeped into your rock and are now in the water. A polyfilter is a good idea as well. If there is some kind of metal in the water it will change colors to let you know. Buy better quality carbon, they say the cheap carbon can cause HLLE.

goingcrazy · 09/23/2018, 10:56 PM

I found out my issue. I guess I used a brass fitting on my return pump after the hurricane. I removed the fitting and replaced it with a pvc one.

I have been running Red Sea activated carbon now for a month but no success. Corals still dying. I also added a reactor running activated carbon now for 2 weeks.

How long will it take to remove the contamination from the tank?
What you guys suggest? Also I order the poly filter should arrive Tuesday and also will add that. Where should I place the poly filter!

Thank you for all your help.

mcgyvr · 09/24/2018, 06:47 AM

It can be difficult to remove copper from a tank..
A polyfilter placed anywhere that it gets a decent flow of water across it along with water changes is a good start..
A copper test kit would be helpful too..

In the end depending on the level of contamination you may need to scrap all the sand/rock and start it over..

goingcrazy · 09/24/2018, 09:05 AM

I hope I don’t have to buy new rock cause I paid $7.99 for pound and it came out really nice. If this happen that I cannot get it right I guess this hobby will end for me. 😔😔

02/05/2018, 08:28 PM	#1
goingcrazy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 4	Corals dying here in Georgia we had a hurricane Irma and I lost all my corals do to losing power and when power came on I lost one light and the return pump. i went ahead and removed the old sand clean the rocks with a lot of tap water clean the tank to start over since i was having issues lowering the nitrate in my tank. basically i started over. The issue I am having now is that every corral that I add to my tank not life. for example, frag of monti bleach in 24 hours, acopora white in 24 hours, zoas wont open, Duncan head wont open but fishes are fine. Any help on what could be please let me know my name here said it all. Also all the water parameters are good. i have taken the water to different places to get tested and all parameters good

02/05/2018, 08:57 PM	#2
monkeysee1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: MERRIMACK NH Posts: 423	Yep. I would remove all the corals immediately because I don't think you can save them. The dying corals could release toxins in your tank if you leave them in there they could kill your fish. Get a bag of carbon and put it in your sock. I would also get a reactor with some sugar pellets to get ( or keep) the nitrates down. Keep a close eye on your fish. Have some Ammonia X on standby if your tank develops a spike. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to add some kick start bacteria to your tank since you replaced a lot in it. Instant Ocean Bio Spira has some. Google them. Wait a few months before adding anything, after that you can add corals again one at a time. __________________ Your "fair share" is not in my wallet; it's in my fish tank!! Current tank info: 90 Gallon saltwater 10 fish with a few inverts; NO CORALS! Tried to go reef; didn't work out so hot; FOWLR's for me!

09/23/2018, 10:56 PM	#6
goingcrazy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 4	Coral Dying I found out my issue. I guess I used a brass fitting on my return pump after the hurricane. I removed the fitting and replaced it with a pvc one. I have been running Red Sea activated carbon now for a month but no success. Corals still dying. I also added a reactor running activated carbon now for 2 weeks. How long will it take to remove the contamination from the tank? What you guys suggest? Also I order the poly filter should arrive Tuesday and also will add that. Where should I place the poly filter! Thank you for all your help.

09/24/2018, 06:47 AM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	It can be difficult to remove copper from a tank.. A polyfilter placed anywhere that it gets a decent flow of water across it along with water changes is a good start.. A copper test kit would be helpful too.. In the end depending on the level of contamination you may need to scrap all the sand/rock and start it over.. __________________ Who me?

02/06/2018, 12:10 AM	#3
goingcrazy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 4	Thank you Monkeysee1. I added two bottles of the bio Spira before I added any fishes in the my 90 gallon after adding the new sand and water. Then I added two days later the 2 clown fish. Waited couples of days and added my wrase fish and then the following week I added one yellow tang and by the next Monday I added the other three fishes. But if I put a snail it will died, some of the crab fish still alive. What the carbon will do to my tank?

02/06/2018, 05:34 AM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Maybe when you cleaned the rocks you added copper to the system? I would try a polyfilter.

02/06/2018, 07:41 AM	#5
crawlerman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 503	The carbon will help clean any toxins the dying corals released when it crashed. my guess is those toxins seeped into your rock and are now in the water. A polyfilter is a good idea as well. If there is some kind of metal in the water it will change colors to let you know. Buy better quality carbon, they say the cheap carbon can cause HLLE.

09/24/2018, 09:05 AM	#8
goingcrazy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 4	I hope I don’t have to buy new rock cause I paid $7.99 for pound and it came out really nice. If this happen that I cannot get it right I guess this hobby will end for me. 😔😔