Lost the whole tank

[annie p]

Help me figure this out please. With as much detail as possible.
My tang had a scrape above his eye. Just appeared suddenly. Scratch or HLLE?
Tank was due for a WC anyway so I did about 1/3. Used R/O water from another tank we are setting up, nothing in it but live rock. Temp OK. added prime just to be sure. Dosed with marine melafix. Shut off the non- adjustable skimmer and set the seaclone 100 to just water flow, no skimming.
Next day all is fine, it appears the tang is starting to get some coloring back on the scrape. Dose again that afternoon. No odd behavior, all are eating. I did buy some new mysis shrimp, but all other foods they are eating, are ones I've fed before. Come home from work the next day and everyone is dead. Tang, trigger, flame angel, angel, clown, and little scooter blenny. I'm not over it yet. None of these were over 2 inches. I am totally blaming the melafix. I have no other ideas. Anyone?

[labnjab]

Sorry for your losses. What are the tanks parameters? Whats you specific Gravity? How much live rock do you have? If I remember correctly, your tank hasn't been running but a few months (sorry if I'm wrong). That seems like a very high bio-load for a young tank. I don't think it was the Melafix, my bottle says marine safe. I'm leaning towards a parameter spike. A large change is SG, or a big ammonia or nitrate spike.

[annie p]

My nitrates had been high, 20 because I had an emporer 400 on it, but i took it off and my nitrates were 10. I keep my salinity at .1023. This tank has never shown any trace of ammonia. PH stays a little high at 7.2 but is stable. How can a tank suddenly die simply beacuse it's "new"

[AABatteries]

I'm pretty sure and hope you meant 1.023 for the SG. That's okay, Ates are okay, pH is a little low. Is there a chance the temperature could've dropped quickly?

[annie p]

Oh I have 60 lbs live rock and 40lbs live sand. Also have a refactometer and tested the new water when I did the W/C. All my params were norm. I'd like to know if anyone else had a bad experience using this stuff. Also have a temp alarm on the tank. Just ruling out stuff.

[annie p]

Nevermind. Googled melafix killing fish and found my answer. I'm not the only one this has happened to.

[travie]

pH is a little low.

PH stays a little high at 7.2 but is stable.

Your pH is way too low, not just a little low. You pH should be at least 8.0 to 8.4.

Link to Ideal Water Parameters. ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.])

[annie p]

I'm not exactly sure where it is, but using the API test chart I'm at the max and I'm thinking a little off the color chart.

[labnjab]

Are you using the high range ph kit, or the normal range?

[annie p]

Good idea I'll check that tonight. I don't check my PH that often--maybe once a week, I've read on this forum also that it's not a good idea to mess with PH.

[Rue]

So sorry about your tank! I'd be devastated too.:scry:

Another good reason to have a quarantine tank I'm thinking...

[coachfraley]

Wow, that is terrible.

Hopefully the offending chemical did not ruin your liverock as well!

[annie p]

That was my thinking too. I immediately drained the tank and refilled.

[travie]

Good idea I'll check that tonight. I don't check my PH that often--maybe once a week, I've read on this forum also that it's not a good idea to mess with PH.

Correct, not wise to mess with pH. But with SW tanks, you need it close to the acceptable range. Your salt mix should keep you close to the acceptable range, and arragonite sand subtrate will help keep it in the acceptable range.

I haven't read anything on Melafix, but I doubt it was the only cause of the tank crash.

[labnjab]

I just did some reading and melafix can greatly reduce o2 lvls in a marine environment in some cases [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[annie p]

I've been reasearching all day. Fishlore, saltwater.com reef central. etc. Just google it, I'm not the only one to lose the whole tank. Seems to be mostly bettas for FW and all SW needs to be careful.

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Yup, melafix does reduce Oxygen levels in a tank, caution should be used when using it.

So sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you will get it all back up and running. What size tank was it again?

[travie]

Like I said, I didn't look anything up. But what you said reminded me of past research/information I found. You are probably right it was the cause.

There is nothing wrong with Melafix if used in combination with an air pump just for everyone's future reference.

The pH being that low might have sped things along a little though.

Edit: Beat again by ILMGB.

[labnjab]

I think it would be a good idea to get a qt tank going or on standby if you don't already have one. Its never a good idea to dose any type of meds to the whole tank, especially in a reef.

I set mine up only when needed, and it consist of a bare bottom tank with several hiding spots, a HOB filter and small heater. I rely on frequent water changes to keep water quality good. With this set up, once the qt time is over, you can break the tank down and clean everything to kill any diseases or parasites


I hope your live rock made out ok and you can get up and running again

[annie p]

Thanks.. it 's a 54g. Before starting back up we're going to get a sump & get everything under the stand. It was my favorite tank... poor guys I knew I should have stayed home with them, I could have saved them.

[annie p]

I know about the qt tank and I have one, but I jumped to conclusions wondering if the tang was developing HLLE and read where angels are susceptible also. Then reading it's "safe" to dose the tank with melafix is OK. It's my first experience with dosing with anything of any type. Been lucky so far. Ha... til now..

[Rue]

It is devastating. I'm still dealing with an issue from last summer (my tank lights were out for 6 weeks and I didn't know)...almost all my corals died...and some are still dying...

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Thanks.. it 's a 54g. You were in for a rough no matter what. That tank is too small for a Tang and a Trigger. You may want to reconsider your stocking choices before getting going again.

[annie p]

We knew.... They were going to be moved to the 125 that we are starting up. Thanks tho

[AABatteries]

Just read this whole about how the Melafix can lower the o2 levels. Which is a good thing because I dosed one of my tanks 2 days ago I was planning on going another day without a W/C, but now I'm doing it for sure as soon as I get home from school. I have a betta too. She should be fine because she's labyrinth fish.