confused n need of help

[doug onion]

So i upgraded my lights a month or so, and a week ago i got brown algae flaotin on the surface. So big water change a week ago. Its back but yestureday before work my clam was disinagrating and this morning when i got home the clams toast. Everything seemed good,why did it go so fast? Did i mise the signs it was unhappy? Are the rest of mu stuff doomed?

 

[blk822822]

Not enough info.......what lights did you have?,what did you switch to?, water parameters? Is the tank new or has it been up and running for awhile? Clams just don't die for no reason. They have special requirments such as lighting and water quality.

 

[doug onion]

My calcium was real high, about 500ppm, but the ph,nitrites,n nitrates where good. I had a t5 and i basicly doubled the light. Thats y i thought i was gettn the algae growth. My tanks comin up on a year. I knw things don't just die but i didn't see any signs

 

[user 26995]

Yes, additional info will be necessary.
ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, pH, Calc, Alk, Mag, temp, salinity, all that good stuff.
And the other info that blk822822 mentioned.

 

[doug onion]

Thats the only tests i have no mag, or alk, info avalible. My temps at 78 and salinity is 1.026. Ph was 8.2 and the amonia, nitrites n nitrates didn't regrstet? Unless mu kits nogood, thats what confuses me it seemed so fast without showing signs it was unhappu

 

[user 26995]

Check for pyramidal snails. They could have caused the death of the clam. I dont think anything else would have caused it.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Doubt it was snails, they reproduce slowly and the clam gradually wanes. Poor water quality is the likely culprit since brown algae outbreak. Do a large water change and get some good test kits such as Salifort or Elos.

 

[doug onion]

Thank u, would they take him out that fast? Or did i mise the signs. U think the new light could of caused the chaos? But o dnt notice any change besides algae growth? Somtimes i think i should give up. If i have them snails will they go after other things n thanks for all the patient help with my bad info

 

[doug onion]

Yea, prolly have to be the water. Dang i feel like a fool. Im doing a big water change now n i'll do anouther soon till my water looks right. Yea im gonna get new test kits. Its normaly my problem overlook the basics and trust things even tho it dnt make sense i shoulda asked earlier about the algae lesson learned.

 

[kpiotrowski]

Thats the only tests i have no mag, or alk, info avalible. My temps at 78 and salinity is 1.026. Ph was 8.2 and the amonia, nitrites n nitrates didn't regrstet? Unless mu kits nogood, thats what confuses me it seemed so fast without showing signs it was unhappu

alk is more important than calcium. your calcium may be at 500 cuz there is no alk available for it to be able to be used. mg also has to be in balance. off the top of my head with calcium of 500 you would need a about 14dkh alk for that balance. 8-12 dkh is what you should shoot for with calcium around 420.

 

[doug onion]

I dnt think i had to test other then the ones i did. The guy i got it from jus told me to add calcium n the clam would filter the rest it needed. As long i got the right light. I always do things the hard way. Im going to be allot more conciesntious with my tank in the future

 

[NanaReefer]

I dnt think i had to test other then the ones i did. The guy i got it from jus told me to add calcium n the clam would filter the rest it needed. As long i got the right light. I always do things the hard way. Im going to be allot more conciesntious with my tank in the future

Your doing the most important thing you can now just by coming here and asking for help. Keep up the good work! We all want you to succeed

 

[kpiotrowski]

Real sorry for your loss btw! Don't give up...just work overtime or get a second job lol because unfortunatley success in this hobby is much easier when you can afford all the right stuff like testing and monitoring and flow and lights and enough water volume to be stable etc etc. and then there is the cost of loss of livestock.

clams are up there with the most difficult things to keep. some get lucky with minimal equiptment and knowledge and then there are those that have $20,000 systems and tons of knowledge and they loose clams too. there are parisites, infections, fish that pick at them to deal with and then the right light and flow and water chemisty...the clam could be doomed from the start if it's foot was damaged when removing it from the previous environment.

hang in there! and btw, take NOTHING you read on forums as the absolute truth. always research all opinions to death! like my statement that alk is more important than calcium. it is! period and end of story...I will argue it to the end. but what if I'm just and idiot who only "thinks" I know something?

 

[blk822822]

So after kpiotrowski's post that makes me ask....tell us about your tank and equipment? And what fish do you have? And if you have pics we LOVE pics around here.

 

[doug onion]

I try researching, i read my couple books till the pages r fallen out. I finally got internet, so i can read here easier. So i did a 1/3 water change yestureday, how long till i can do anouther? I guese i been neglecting my tank and its shown. My equipment i have a urchin protien skimmer, e heim return pump, two koralia pumps, and a 6 bulb nova extreme t5 light. So is the rest of my corals doomed, after carfull examination their lookn not how they should. I have pulsing xenia, mushrooms,ricordias,an acan, kenya tree, lobo,zoas,pink flower pot,a couple leathers idk,a brain, and a couple more idk the names of. Fish i have a banghi cardenal, big eye soldier, a couple emerald crabs, tuxido urchin,and a lobster. I will read how to do pics and get them up when i can.. thanks i feel bad for makin such a bad mistake, an with all your help my tank can be right again

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Don't sweat it pal, with the water changes everything will be heading back to good before you know it. Do not add any new fish nor coral, and allow the tank to stabilize. Nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank and time is on your side. If the water is less than crystal clear, keep up the frequent small changes. Make sure the saltwater has had a day to fully dissolve and get aerated before adding it to the tank. If your previos water changes were done too soon, that too is ok and nothing to sweat.
Keep it simple and keep it clean.

 

[doug onion]

Thanks for the positive reassurance!! Yea im not gonna do anything but maintain and read for awhile before adding. The only thing im going to get is new tests. I thought maybe cause my tank was aging and the light thats why things where looking different. Man i was wrong. Im gonna get a new batch of water circulating now so i can replace a little at a time till its right.

 

[Peppie]

Did you say you had a lobster in your tank??

BTW all of the above has been great advice. You are on the right track reacting in a positive way to all the advice given.
You dont know how many people ask for advice, then dont follow it.

Pics, any time soon???

 

[blk822822]

What are you using for water.....? Are you using RO/DI water or tap?

 

[doug onion]

Yea, the lobster was my first ocreature peppie. But he's had many meals from my poor choices. My flower pots not puttn its tentecales out.. should i be alarmed? I prolly should calm dwn an jus keep doin what im doing with crossed fingers. False pride keeps me from askn ?'s so when i do its prolly to late. Im not tech advanced so im still working on photos