My tank is crashing

[stingythingy45]

And I don't know why.
My alk was low at 6 dkh so I raised it slowly to 8.
Calcium is 450 ppm
Mg is 1500 ppm.
Temp. 79 deg.

I'm wondering if some chlorine didn't get in my top off water from when we had the boil water alert.
Everything went south from the point of when I changed my actinic lights.
Even the anemones are dropping off the rocks.The tank is really cloudy as well.
I plan to do a big water change when I get home.
But,i'm not thinking this is going to do much at this point.

 

[SteveDola]

start water changes!! and run carbon. do you use RODI water?

i doubt changing actinics would have done anything.

 

[JohnK]

When in doubt, Poly filter. Also check for a broken heater or anything along those lines.

 

[stingythingy45]

start water changes!! and run carbon. do you use RODI water?

i doubt changing actinics would have done anything.

Yes,I use ro/di.I'm going to do a big water change.
I'm leaving work early.
Wife said over the phone the tank is so cloudy,can't see through it.

When in doubt, Poly filter. Also check for a broken heater or anything along those lines.

I checked that last night.
I'm going to try water changes and carbon.

 

[stingythingy45]

It's in rough shape.
I noticed corals were bleaching 2 days ago.
But went slow on raising the alk that was low.
This morning everything was closed and even noticed an anemone had fallen of the rock.
Wife says even snails are dropping.
I must have ammonia.I can't believe how fast things went bad.

 

[stingythingy45]

This is the first time I have had anything like this happen.
I even went 3 days then agian 3 days without power and everything came through just fine.

 

[SteveDola]

get some poly filter too! something big died in there and its killing the tank...did you have an anemome or cucumber?

 

[stingythingy45]

No cucumbers,but anemones.
3 of them.

 

[JohnK]

Also polyfilter because if there is a toxin of some sort the filter will tell you via color change.

 

[dz6t]

may be one of them walked into a powerhead? Do you have clam?

 

[Turbosnail]

Sounds like an ammonia problem you should grab some amquel (spelling?) it will help bring it down.

 

[stingythingy45]

I think I have ammonia now.
Wondering if my serpent star died.
I'm leaving soon.I'll let everyone know how I make out later tonight.
But,it doesn't look good.

 

[cstmpprl]

Hey, Chris do you need any thing ? Do you have enough RODI??? LMK

 

[PSU4ME]

Sorry to hear. I think the advise above is the only thing you can do. Although alk swings can be bad i wouldn't expect things to start dying at that rate.

 

[wrassefan]

Bob, I have about 20-25gal of water ready if you need it...won't be home 'til after 5 tho..

 

[mchartier]

Bob if you need anything let me know, I have plenty of water if you need it

 

[stingythingy45]

Found it!!!
I inspected the heater yesterday and it looked ok.
I was just doing a water change and decided to pull the heater out again.
The cord came off the element.Talk about nearly electrocuting myself.
Just did a 30 gallon water change and running carbon and a poly pad.

 

[cstmpprl]

Good catch, and Good luck

 

[stingythingy45]

So far,all snails are dead,yt damsel is missing,green chomis missing.

 

[PSU4ME]

well glad you caught it....hopefully your critters come back (if they are hiding).

Carbon is your best friend now.