colts down for 9 days! What should I do?

partobe · 10-10-2006, 08:36 AM

Hi Everyone;
I have a 150 with 20 gallon sump. 9 days ago I did a water change (20 gallon). I was a bit rushed so didn't add the salt the day before added the day of the change. I also added a new seio 1100 pump for flow. Since then one fish has died and my colt corals have closed up. I chatted with a few of you and you said give it a few days. It's been 9 days should I be concerned? No other fish deaths the rest of the corals seem fine frogspawn mushrooms leathers candy canes. My clam is also doing fine. It's only my two colts.
I did a test the am and here are the result
Calcium 550
alk 11.2 dkh
nitrate 20
ph 8.3
temp 79
sal 1.022
Should I do another water change? Should I leave it be?
I plan on doing another water change this sat.
Thanks
Patrick
Ps.
on a side note my cucumber isn't opeing like it has in the past. Id doesn't seemed streesed at all and it's not moving around like I read they do when they are not happy. I'm thinking it may be just getting older. Ive had it now for about a yr. It's also nice and plump so it's not starving.

Geoff · 10-10-2006, 09:35 AM

do you have a pic of the cuc? it sounds more like a Sea Apple. they need to be target fed.

maybe try lessoning the flow around it? what are you feeding the tank?

G~

partobe · 10-10-2006, 09:44 AM

I have a mix food with formula 1 and two along with freez dried shrimp once a week I feed cyclopeeze. here is a pic of my cuc. What do you think of the colts? have to run to the store but will check post when I return
Thanks for your help

Hardhead Cat · 10-10-2006, 09:47 AM

Patrick, did you check your pH, salinity, etc. in the tank before you did the water change? Sometimes if there's too much of a difference it will cause fish and livestock to shock. Colts can be very persnickety in my opinion. Are you using RO/DI water or tap water for your water changes (sorry I forget)?

HHC

partobe · 10-10-2006, 11:45 AM

Thanks HHC yes I am using ro water but not di. The ph was the same I did incress the salinity but only a little. I only added extra salt to the 20 gallons. I really didn't see much diffrence in the tank as a whole. One thing I did think of is since Ive cut back on the feedings I have noticed my hippo nipping at the colts every now and them.
Thanks
Patrick

Fly Guy · 10-10-2006, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by partobe

Thanks HHC yes I am using ro water but not di. The ph was the same I did incress the salinity but only a little. I only added extra salt to the 20 gallons. I really didn't see much diffrence in the tank as a whole. One thing I did think of is since Ive cut back on the feedings I have noticed my hippo nipping at the colts every now and them.
Thanks
Patrick

hmmm.....i wonder if at night when you arent looking if that hiipo is nipping at them more than just a little??????

I wondered for the longest time why my purple gorgonia was looking so rough around the edges......i finally cought my clown one night thrashing him........he does it every night when the lights go off. Hes not even eating it.......just kind of beating up on it for fun.......

partobe · 10-10-2006, 11:57 AM

Thanks fly I really don't think thats the case. Ive been observing my tank at night thats how I found the peanut worm. He puts himeself to bed right before the lights go out and stays put all night. Now what he doest while I'm out or at work thats a diffrent story he could be going to town on them I have no idea. What can I do about this? If I feed more then the nitrates go up. If I keep feed like I am now he nips. Ive had him for several yrs so I don't want to find him a home but I also dont want to lose my colts. Ive been puttin g nori in later in the day in hopes he would nip on that and he has but the colts are still not open.
Patrick

Wiskey · 10-10-2006, 12:15 PM

What do you use to test salinity? Why do you run it so low?

I don't think that is the problem if you always did it, but just curious.

The colts don't look like their about to die, they just look mildly unhappy, it still could have something to do with the added flow, softies are tempermental.

Whiskey

partobe · 10-10-2006, 12:24 PM

Thanks Whiskey
I'm trying to raise my salinity I'm incressing it a little each time I change the water. I don't want to do it quickly and throw everyone into shock. I hope it's the flow but I moved the seio the next day. Now it's nowhere near the colts it's on the other end of the tank away from them. Has anyone ever had then stay closed up for that long? Nine days just seem a littl long but I'm new to reefing maybe it's not?
Thanks
Patrick

Wiskey · 10-10-2006, 01:35 PM

I have had leathers stay closed for longer, I have a sinularia who has still not opened fully since moving 1.5 months ago. It puts off some pylops, opens a little, some days more than others. Look at night too, I have a finger leather that only opens at night since the move for some reason, didn't always, but now it does.

Whiskey

partobe · 10-10-2006, 01:53 PM

Thanks Whiskey
I geuss theres not allot I can do but wait and hope

BLEEZY · 10-10-2006, 08:26 PM

my leather deals with all my changes fine, its the sun coral that doesnt open after changing flow around.
hope it pulls through!

Geoff · 10-10-2006, 08:49 PM

that looks like a filter feeding cuc. not the normal detrital eating ones. has it gotten any longer/shorter?

G~

partobe · 10-11-2006, 07:41 AM

thanks Mike and Geoff Ive had it for about a yr now and sometimes it shorter and fatter then sometimes its a little longer and thinner. It really hasn't moved. I put it in the tank it crawled to where it is now and has stayed there for they whole year. The difference is it seems to have slowed down on its feeding. It use to continuously be stuffing it's tentacles into it's mouth where as now it still feeds but much slower. It's no thinner no fatter just slower.
Patrick

Hardhead Cat · 10-11-2006, 11:00 AM

Patrick, how is the colt coral today? Sometimes when they don't require the food they stay in hibernation, so to speak, I hope it's okay - -

HHC