Give me a reason not to give up!

[ReefNeck]

Something is going on and it makes no sense to me. I am about ready to tear the tank down and break it with a hammer!

I got a Yellow Watchman Goby and a Japanese Pistol Shrimp over a week ago. The YWG jumped into the overflow 3-4 times and spent 2 days in my fuge to relax. When I put him back in the tank he hid. I had egg crate over the top and rigged a mesh on the overflow so he could not jump in it again. He hid all night but the next morning I saw him when the Actinics came on. He has not been seen since and the rocks have all been removed to check. No fish, No body. No Carpet surfing either. The Shrimp is still fine.

Now, I started using R/O water for my water changes and top offs this week. I bought a Gold Headed Sleeper Goby. He was very active from the start and sifted my entire DSB in 4 days time. He never hid during the day but slept in his burrow he dug at night. This morning I found him darting about like he was having a seizure and acting like he was trying to jump out. He can't because of the eggcrate. This afternoon his body drifted to the front of the tank....He was dead with his mouth wide open like he had a heart attack. He was not picked on by anyone in the tank. I am sure of that. No marks on him either.

Also, Last night a Kenya Tree shriveled up and died. It's in the main tank. I have another small Kenya Tree in the fuge and it's fine.

My BTA Anemone has been shriveling up during the day everyday for the last week like he is pooping and opening in the evening. So far today, He has not opened up and I think he is dead too.

Lost 2 peppermint Shrimp that I had just bought and the Blue Linkia I bought for my wife also in the last 2 weeks. I have a Green Bubble Coral doing great! Kenya Tree in fuge is great, Xenia is fine, Clove Coral is outstanding, Mushrooms bigger than ever.

All the fish I have had from the start are perfectly fine! a Blue Damsel, A Neon Velvet Damsel and my Gold Striped Maroon Clown. 2 Cleaner Shrimp are fine as well as a Brittle star. No Snails or crabs have died.

I have struggled and pinched pennies since I got hurt to build this reef to help me get through the months of recovery that I may still be facing and all I get is money down the toilet on everything I do except for the things I started with. I can not afford to replace these animals again.

Now before you ask all the animals were Drip acclimated according to the species. The Blue Linkia for almost 3 hours.

My Tank shows the following test results:

Ammonia 0
Nirites 0
Nitrates 5
PH 8.2
Temp 81.5F

Recent changes are the addition of the Fuge with Chaeto & Caulpera & Coral Feeding with Liquid Life Bio Plankton & Marine Plankton. Also added 1 bottle of TiggerPods to the fuge.

No other changes. Not even food or feeding times. Lighting on timers at the same times as before.

So, Can someone tell me why I should stay in this blasted hobby when everything I want and spent my last dime on keeps dying? They are not even from the same LFS either. Before I will settle for a clown and 2 damsels I will tear the tank down and sell it. I have lost what amounts to alot of money for me being on Workman's Comp only to have it wasted.

[davejnz]

That sucks to hear about your losses.This hobby can be frustrating at times,watching your animals die and not knowing why makes you feel helpless.Don't give up though,you got to take the good with the bad sometimes.Check your alkalinity,salinity, have your new source for RO water tested.Start useing carbon filtration in case a chemical toxin is causing all this.

[ReefNeck]

Oh yea....Forgot about SG: It's 1.024

[Sweetpea]

I am SO sorry to hear about all of these strange losses... it's obvious that you are extremely frustrated (and with good reason), but please don't give up. You've got so much invested in your tank (not only the money), and it would be a shame to just walk away from all that.

I wish I could give some advice on what might be happening, but I'm still too new at this to be of much help. Hopefully, some other folks can help you track down the problem. I just wanted to let you know that you've got lots of people here who care and will stick with you when things are going badly. :color:

Hugs!

[Fally]

It sounds like your tests are really good. Can you think of anything else that could have gotten into the tank? Maybe you had something on your hands? Carbon is a really good idea if you didn't start with RO water and also if some chem got in there accidentially.

[ReefNeck]

It sounds like your tests are really good. Can you think of anything else that could have gotten into the tank? Maybe you had something on your hands? Carbon is a really good idea if you didn't start with RO water and also if some chem got in there accidentially.

Well, As I said before.....All my original livestock is fine. Even delicate corals are fine. 2 Cleaner Shrimp and the pistol shrimp are fine. Crabs are fine. Feather duster and even the delicate Electric Flame Scallop is fine.

That's what has me baffled and today just may be the day I take a Hammer to the %^&* thing.

[EQCM2B]

Could it be possible for you to have a stray electrical current that occaisionally zaps through the tank from a pump or light that is starting to go down hill?

[ReefNeck]

Could it be possible for you to have a stray electrical current that occaisionally zaps through the tank from a pump or light that is starting to go down hill?

Of course anything is possible but I have my hand/arm in the tank often and I think I would have noticed this if so. The hard way I am sure.

Also, From everything I have read.....Electricity in the tank will not hurt anything in the tank unless it's an arm of something else that is grounded to the floor.

The Kenya Tree that looked dead is alive again today. No further losses but as I said, I don't want to keep a tank going with only 3 fish.

Anybody have any nice fish (YWG or Mandarin) you want to sell really cheap and ship to Florida?

I am still very frustrated with this thing. Sit and stare at all morning and it is making it worse.

[Reptoreef]

CHALLENGE!!! As discouraging as it may seem, for me, it's quite frankly my own personal world and I am God. My task includes making the proper conditions for creating life. If it were easy(as I have seen time and again with some who have the $$$ to dump into a whole, complete, well equiped system) and there were no challenge nor stumps such as yours, the whole endeavor may become boring. My suggestions: ground your system, no more additions for a while(then add some slowly as the tank becomes"healthy" again), and take things slowly... PATIENCE. A great many of us feel your pain and have dealt with similar frustrations... some have quit(maybe this hobby isn't for them... is it for you???), some have enured far more than us, and some have a successful aquarium. I hope you don't quit and encourage you to relax as much as possible to let things just grow as they are and enjoy what your efforts are creating naturally. Slowly add thing here and there as the system looks like it may benefit from a new resident or addition. Good luck and happy reefing.

Jason

[jerryc]

:goodpost:

Rapto will stated and i total agree with the no $$ challenge

[ReefNeck]

The only reply to that I can make is that I have been patient! I was not quick to add anything. Since the death of the Coral Beauty Angel from Ich I added nothing for a month to be sure the Ich was dead. No other fish ever showed signs of it.

None of the recent losses were from Ich so that is obviously gone. But I have taken my time and not gotten in any hurry at all. I understand "grounding" is something I should do but don't see how that relates to the current issues.

The Animals that died recently from what I can tell died for no known reason. The rest of the tank is fine and all tests are good. I acclimated properly too. I have no predators.

I would love to say "Somebody tell me exactly why these fish died" but I know that is impossible. In my current situation, Unable to work and with Doctors telling me to relax all the time I have tried to make my reef my escape from reality by getting it where I can really relax and enjoy sitting on my bed and watching it for hours. That gets ruined when things are dying for no good reason. I can not afford to replace these animals and I know it's not a tank problem since so many other animals are 100% fine in the same tank.

Grrrr, This is just adding fuel to the fire.

[carpenterwrasse]

Kerri,
I sat by for weeks watching the same 4 fish...Make that months...My finances are slim but I hold on to what i got and am thankfull that I can keep going ,there has been days the wife told me to get rid of it since its bare but i held my ground.....One day it will be better just remember it is always darkest before the dawn...I had a spell when i put fish after fish and anemone after anemone in my tank I waited for a time and tried again so far so good so keep your chin up and enjoy your tank

[ReefNeck]

Ok, I have come to a decision thanks in part to carpenterwrasse.

The Reef will stay and I am going to try and concentrate on the smaller/less expensive things that I want to add to it until my health improves.

This is where I would like to ask you all for a little help. I don't want much....Just if you have any mushrooms or Ricordias that you can part with to let me know and be gentle on the price.

I have one Red and one Purple mushroom now. I would like to have a neon Green or any greens and other colors that are available. As for a Ricordia, Nothing fancy, Just a nice, small one to start out with.

I would also like a small frag of Frogspwan. Actually, One of both color variants.

Again, PM me with your price and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks to those that helped me calm down again after the strange happenings.

Keri

[cq28]

I have a 20 gallon that has not caused me any problems at all. I guess I'm just lucky, but if it makes a difference I don't think you really need a whole lot to make a tank beautiful. I gave my tank color by selecting 3 different variety of rocks. I have zoos and shrooms to add to the color and that's about it for coral. The mushrooms are spreading like wildfire, the zoos are spreading slow, but spreading. I have sunburst polyps that have been giving me trouble but still doing good. I also have some alveopora that is like flower pots but way easier. It looks like an anenome so it makes a great addition. I've read these are one of those things that are difficult to keep, no one knows the real trick. I've kept mine in a low flow area and with the lighting I have (not to much) I think they like it. I havent had any problems and it seems to be growing. It's about 5 months old now so plenty of bacteria to go around. I have a hang on filter to keep it simple and it works. I have two pumps which do the job for flow. I clean everything every 3 months to make sure nothing brakes, but you never know. I got a bad feeling something is going to go down soon since it hasn't happen yet...hopefully not. I have 4 simple fish so all I have to do is feed them. I ordered pods and amphipods because my 6 line loves them. I read the small tanks are real tough with stability, but mine does pretty good. I have the salinity around 1.024 so when the level goes down it won't go higher then .025 or when water level goes up to refill the tank it won't go lower then .023 Remember, beauty doesn't mean it has to be complex. I think the more enjoyable things in life are the simple things, like sitting on a lawn chair @ night looking at the stars.

[ReefNeck]

cq28: I like your analogy! ;)

That's exactly the way I looked at life before I had my accident. Since the head injury.....I can't think straight at times and have fought with depression.

Thanks for bringing me back around and reminding me what it's really like. My reef tank is something to enjoy, admire, Be Proud of and not get all worked up over.

In Other words, Don't sweat the petty things & Don't pet the sweaty things! :lol:

[dakar]

Keri, just hang in there for a bit longer, when the spring weather arrives for the rest of the country, when we can actually start shipping again without the need for multiple heats packs and emergency runs to UPS or where ever to get last minute overnight deliveries ($$$). Everything is gonna work itself out in time.

[Sweetpea]

In Other words, Don't sweat the petty things & Don't pet the sweaty things! :lol:

Eww, definitely not! ;)

You didn't mention this in your posts above, but would you want any xenia? I've got a little frag growing right now that I'd be happy to send you when it gets a little bigger...

[ReefNeck]

In Other words, Don't sweat the petty things & Don't pet the sweaty things! :lol:

Eww, definitely not! ;)

You didn't mention this in your posts above, but would you want any xenia? I've got a little frag growing right now that I'd be happy to send you when it gets a little bigger...

Thanks, I've got lots of Xenia. Both the Red Sea Xenia and the Pom Pom Xenia. ;)

I have a feeling I will have WAY too much in a few months. lol

Thanks for the offer. Be warned, Even in warm weather, Xenia does not ship well.

[carpenterwrasse]

Come Kerri I thought we on First name basis.

[graphixx]

Kerri, like everyone said, just hang in there buddy, I dont know how many times I have wanted to put my foot through my tanks!!!. but that is wht I love about this hobby is that there is never a dull moment. what does not kill you makes you stronger!!
and not to mention if you gave up I am pretty sure everyone here would line up to kick you in the rear!!!!

[ReefNeck]

Hey, Thanks all. I think it was a breif bout with depression that I get sometimes since the accident.

Yesterday, After giving up on my Yellow Watchman Goby who jumped into the overflow box 4 times and when I last got him out I had not seen him for days, I found him in the overflow box again! Alive too. Little turd is small enough to even get past the mesh screen I zip tied to the overflow. I have officially named him "Stupid"!

He's been on the bottom in a burrow the Sleeper Goby had used prior to his demise all day. I have pantyhose over the entire overflow box now but I may have to take it off before bedtime as it clogs too fast and may overflow the tank.

To get my mind off the bad things I took a new 10G tank I had bought and went to Lowe's and got some baffles cut. I built a refugium for my wife's 29G and installed it today. Worked like a champ other than I had to drain the tank to get the 10G inside the stand. Had to go in from the top. :shock:

So now, My YWG is back, healthy & eating. My Kenya tree has perked back up and is looking better than ever. Built and installed the fuge for the wife. And now have a Wet/Dry Sump to sell/trade and get more goodies for the Reef tanks. :-D

Now, What was I whining about earlier?? :roll:

[Sweetpea]

SO glad to hear things are looking up for you!!! :D

[Reptoreef]

It happens...

[davejnz]

Keri,if you want to take a drive to Daytona Bch. one weekend,I can give you some frags

[dakar]

Glad to see things are looking up. Another suggestion for the overflow is to use some of that plastic canvas they use for crafts and such, most any fabric or hobby store will have itfor around $.50 for 2'x1' sheet.
It'll still require periodic cleaning, but not daily.

Davejnz reminded me another option if you have it hanging around, the leaf gaurd stuff they use for rain gutters works very well too.

Either will keep your critter out of there. We have to employ the same method to keep our snowflake eel out of there.

[m1a1fixer]

If I were a betting man I would put my money on an intermittent stray voltage or shock. I remember my uncle talking about a few stray volts causing cows to produce less milk. Now if a "few stray volts" will affect a cow like that, what would it do to a fish? Maybe your system has progressively been putting more current or voltage into the system over the last couple of months. If so, this is why your established corals and fish aren't bothered by it. I remember reading about people using electric current in accelerating reef growth in some of the areas devastated by the tsunami waves of Dec 2004. Anyway, I digressed, if I were in your shoes I would seriously look at properly grounding the system for 2 reasons: 1) it hopefully will solve the problem, and 2) it can't hurt and will probably help the overall health of the tank.

just my two cents.

[ReefNeck]

David, Might just do that one weekend.

Dave, The first option is what I used....He got past it.

m1a1fixer, As I said.....If this was the case I would know it having my arm in the tank daily. I have read many times the voltage in the tank can not hurt anything in it because they are not grounded as you or I are with our hands in the tank and feet on the floor. If there were voltage, We would know it...the hard way.

I do fully agree that grounding is a good idea, Just not the issue here IMHO.

Thanks for responding though.

Keri

[jerryc]

David, Might just do that one weekend.

Dave, The first option is what I used....He got past it.


I do fully agree that grounding is a good idea, Just not the issue here IMHO.

Thanks for responding though.

Keri

WRONG Believe me not right... water can be its on ground and animals can fill low
voltage we can not . Remember Thea or in water with out anything to insulate them
from it.
The voltage may be or may not be your problem but for your safety don't take
anything for granted invest in a GFI for your tank :roll:

[FILTERED]

did you solve your problem yet (current problem)p.s I'm a marine biol not a newbie

[ReefNeck]

did you solve your problem yet (current problem)p.s I'm a marine biol not a newbie

Yes. Nothing changed but nothing is dying now. Everything seems to be growing well.....Including Cyanobacteria which I am battling now. Grrrrrr This one is NOT going to beat me though. ;)

Also got "Stupid" the Yellow Watchman to stay in the tank. My Wife came up with the idea to put the mesh off an onion bag covering the overflow box. The holes were smaller than anything else I tried. Little sucker can't get out now and is still doing fine. He clings to the box everynight trying though. lol

[FILTERED]

keep us posted man,