Somebody tell me why my corals are dieng and not opening?

[three90s&125sump]

Test for copper. That's my first thought. Melting corals overnight is ussually a servere reaction to a toxin. Silver is about 100 times more toxic than copper is but I don't know of a test for that.

Its not the PO4. PO4 doesn't affect soft corals too much there is very little if any calcification in softies.

Its also not the bulbs.

Have you or an animal disturbed the sand bed (if its a DSB). It could be hydrogen sulfide. Very small amounts of hydrogen sulfide is very toxic. Ammonia aint got anything on hydrogen sulfide as far as toxicity goes.

Other thing would be other toxins that got into the system. You may have had something on your hand when you put it in there. Or if its the only tank in the room it could have been airbourn.

Have you tested for ammonia? If it is a toxin like hydrogen sulfide or an airbourn toxin (or one that you had on your hand) it would have wiped out your bacteria and you would have an enormous ammonia spike.

[three90s&125sump]

Oh and I agree with the stray voltage in the tank. Do you feel a stinging sensation near your cuticle when you touch the water? If so you need a new pump for sure. You can also take a multimeter and ground it in a wall plug ground and stick the other electrode into the water and check. You will have a small amount of voltage in the system depending upon how many ph you have going but 2 volts is not uncommon. If you are up to 6 or 7 then you need to track which pump it is (prolly your return pump). If you have anything over 15 volts be very careful not to ground yourself when touching the tank or you will get a stout shock.

[Reeftanker3295]

I dont think its anything that comes from the air or my hands im careful about getting things in the tank..

[three90s&125sump]

Oh and the presence of ammonia does not mean a toxin is killing your bacteria it could just be an overload from die off that the bacteria can't handle but it would be a good idea to use an ammonia sponge to reduce ammonia to preventas much die off as possible.

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by three90s&125sump

Oh and the presence of ammonia does not mean a toxin is killing your bacteria it could just be an overload from die off that the bacteria can't handle but it would be a good idea to use an ammonia sponge to reduce ammonia to preventas much die off as possible.

Ive been running a poly filter for a while

[three90s&125sump]

How about copper, hydrogen sulfide, voltage...

Do you have children? A wife? Anyone else in the house? Things can find their way into a system.

Did you test for ammonia?

[ibanez2k]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Yea its deffinetely better than my LFS' water.. Im getting $270 soon so ill get my RO/DI system then but for now ill get my salt and distilled water... Do you add anything to the distilled water?

Nope. I just use it straight out of the jugs into my mixing bucket and mix with IO salt (I know, not the best reef salt but I'm finishing out this bucket before trying Coralife).

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by three90s&125sump

How about copper, hydrogen sulfide, voltage...

Do you have children? A wife? Anyone else in the house? Things can find their way into a system.

Did you test for ammonia?

Haha im only 14 Parents dont use any air fresheners or anything that would be bad for the tank though..

[Reeftanker3295]

And im positive theres no copper, and the water doesnt smell... Only thing ive added was 2 part calcium/KH dose.

[ibanez2k]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

Haha im only 14 Parents dont use any air fresheners or anything that would be bad for the tank though..

Man, I would have LOVED to have a reef when I was 14. I had no idea what to do then though. Brought a bunch of stuff home from the beach once when I was 12, a few crabs I think. It all died within a week. That was 15 years ago when I had no awesome resources like this site though.

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by ibanez2k

Man, I would have LOVED to have a reef when I was 14. I had no idea what to do then though. Brought a bunch of stuff home from the beach once when I was 12, a few crabs I think. It all died within a week. That was 15 years ago when I had no awesome resources like this site though.

Check out my refugium build thats all it is Once i get this tank setup im moving onto my next idea, a replica of a sandy flat with eel grass and baitfish and seahorses, pipefish, and all sorts of baby native fish! Im going to make it in the back of my bed (about 6 feet long and 2 foot wide space available) so i can see it all day!

[Reeftanker3295]

I think stray voltage may make sense.. The return pump died out about the same as my corals closed and my lionfish doesnt come out much.. hmm

[three90s&125sump]

Does your mother understand the importance of not spraying air freshener around the tank?

[three90s&125sump]

Originally Posted by Reeftanker3295

I think stray voltage may make sense.. The return pump died out about the same as my corals closed and my lionfish doesnt come out much.. hmm

Stray voltage can cause LLD in a few days. Any signs of it?

[Reeftanker3295]

Originally Posted by three90s&125sump

Does your mother understand the importance of not spraying air freshener around the tank?

Yup haha she uses candles sometimes but i dont think that would effect anything.. Right?