Tank spiked, trying to save zoa's/anemone

[Deftec]

Recently my tank had a terrible spike(ammonia, nitrates, etc) and the only thing I can think of is: 1) I had an Anemone die due to starvation. 2) My filters needed changed in my RO unit. I got the anemone out as soon as I saw it, and changed my filters. In the past week I've changed about 25 gallons of water, but my zoa's are closing up, and my other anemone isn't really eating at all. Is there anything special I should do aside from water changes? Everything else in the tank is doing great, it's just the zoa's that are not happy at all lol.

Before(about a month ago):
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/Deftec/Anemoneold.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/Deftec/Zoaold.jpg

Now:
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/Deftec/anemonenew.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/Deftec/Zoanew.jpg

[Deftec]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l258/Deftec/zoanew2.jpg

Water checks as following(as of today)

Salinity: 1.022
PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0
Phosphate: .5
NitrAte: 10>
NitrIte: 0

I haven't tested for alkalinity, and don't have a kit for calcium/etc...

I run my t5's for about 9-10 hrs/day(from lunch,till I go to bed) and I turn my halides on when I get off work(6pm to about 10-11) if that makes any difference.

[Sasquatch]

Admitedly, things don't look super healthy right now.

Two things that pop out to me - your pH is way too low. Saltwater tanks should be around 8.2. I'd slowly raise the pH of the tank.

The second thing is you nitrate reading. >10 is a little vague. If it's 15, that's relatively good, but if it's 150 ...

I'd recommend doing water changes with a good pH/alk buffer added to the salt mix. They'll get your nitrates (and phosphates) down and boost your pH.

[Deftec]

Less than 10. I was also told to change the carbon out in the sump, so I may try that also.

[sheamurai]

I think your salinity is too low too. I keep mine at 1.025, 1.022 to me seems too low to keep corals in.
Defintily change out the carbon, if the anemone dumped any toxins in there the carbon may be used up and fresh needed to filter out any remaining toxins.
One last thing - sw tanks are less tolerant of nitrate than fw. A saltwater tank ideally ought to have 0 nitrates, with 5 being the maximum, IMO. Over 10 is away too high. 0.5 for phosphates is also a very high reading. Should be zero as well.

keep doing those water changes, and good luck

[labnjab]

I don't think you nem starved if you have the correct lighting. I haven't fed ours in 6+ months and they are extremely healthy.

[Deftec]

He got to the back of the tank and I hadn't seem him for months(you could see his foot from the bottom of the tank) but I couldn't reach him to feed him with a baster. One day I came home and it was floating around out in the front of the tank. I'll try upping the salinity/PH with the next water changes also

[BigMac]

Change you salinity and PH slowly.. you want this to take days..not hours..

[Spardas]

Also, please test your GH & KH. At least go out and get a calcium test kit to test those levels as well.