Ph dropped like a rock...

[Big Dave]

Hi everyone-

I had a bad experience yesterday. I had recently move my fish from my 135 to my 45 so I could re-plumb and start over on the 135. I made up new water for the 45 but used an existing canister I had on the 135. everything was great for the first 3 days, all levels looked great. I got up to go to work and my 4 fish were all dead. My Ph dropped super low and I don't know why it would do that. All other levels were ok except the Ph when I checked them. Does anyone know why this may have happened? I feel crappy about it, and don't want to let it happen again. I had trouble when I had a FW tank with low Ph but I just put some crushed coral in one of the filters and it stayed perfect after that. I never had Ph trouble for 7 months on the 135 either. Please help me if you can!!

Thanks!

-Big Dave

[FishDaddy]

Dave,
I really hate that for you. What kind/size fish were they?
There is a lot going on in your situation; new water; different filtration and circulation, etc. If the fish were large and there wasn't enough surface agitation for good oxygen exchange, this could account for the pH drop or the pH drop could be secondary to something else. Maybe one of our more chemistry expert members has a better idea.
Again, sorry about losing your fish.
Dick

[Allyson]

Being a newbie I don't have any advice for you but had to reply to say it sucks reading posts like this ....I'm sorry for your losses and good luck!

[Big Dave]

I still can't figure it out. I had a pair of percs, a Koran, and a sailfin, all fairly small. I had an overflow for the filter so I got a little airation. I don't know, it just plain sucks! Well, I guess I'm really re-doing my whole system over again. I'll get some damsels for now. Which would be the calmest? Blue/yellow tail? That's what I heard. Any other suggestions for a very calm fish - that wont turn too aggressive? Thanks again!

-Big Dave

[Fishaholic]

If Damsels were the size of sharks none of us would ever dive again.

I would get something a lot less territorial, I love my Citron Goby, fire fish are nice, Lawnmower blennie, I am sure there are more suggestions.

Really sorry about your losses.

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by Big Dave
...I had a bad experience yesterday. I had recently move my fish from my 135 to my 45 so I could re-plumb and start over on the 135. I made up new water for the 45 but used an existing canister I had on the 135. everything was great for the first 3 days, all levels looked great. I got up to go to work and my 4 fish were all dead. My Ph dropped super low and I don't know why it would do that...

Any number of problems could have occurred, from contaminants in the plumbing system (ie solvents, cleaners, etc) to a sudden rise in the ammonia levels and a resulting catastrophic drop in pH as a result of an increase in organic material decomposition. It would help to know:

• Did you use the same live rock you had before?
• If you did, how long was it without circulation?
• If you used new rock, how and when and for how long was the rock "cured'?
• What was the source of your water to make your new seawater?
• Did you run any tests on the system prior to adding the fish/inverts?
• Was the seawater thoroughly mixed, and if so, for how long? Was it fully aerated prior to the intro of organisms?
• Was there a stabilization period for the tank after filling it with the new seawater?
• If you tested before and after, it would be good to see the actual values and the parameters that you tested for
• How old are your test kits?
• What was the temperature of the system before and after the event?
• What filtration do you specifically use, and do you use skimming?
• Do you use charcoal, and if so, what brand?
• What materials did you use for your new plumbing?
• Do you use a Grounding probe?
• What brands and types of circulation pumps/powerheads do you use?
• Did you have a sand bed, and if so, was it disturbed, or was the circulation for the system interupted for any length of time?
• Do you keep macroalgae, and if so, what genus (and spp ID if possible)?
• Do you use a buffer additive or Kalkwasser? If so, how much or to what extent?
• How do you measure Salinity in your system? What have the values before and after been?
• How do you control your top off replacements?
• Do you use any additives?
• What is your feeding regimen, and were you feeding the tank before, during, and after the event?

I realize this is a lot to ask, but there could be any number of causes, and to a large extent, we will still be giving you our best guess at what really happened. Give as much detail as you can, sometimes things that may seem insignificant can be the difference between knowing what happened and our best guesses. Even with this large list, we will still need to know more, but this will be a good start to give direction to further questions.

Hope this helps...

[HOT CORAL]

i have 2 damsels in my tank, a blue and a yellow tail

they never give any trouble as long as you have other fish larger than them in the tank