Instant toxic water

[Dreamreefer]

This is my first visit to this site. Referred by KevinPo. I have a 75 gal. reef/fish marine tank that has been up for about a year. I recently had a cyano-bacteria issue which I remmedied with phos-loc in my canister filter, increased water flow, new power compact bulbs, and a protein skimmer. After the bacteria problem was cleared up I changed out my phos-loc with chemi-pure bags that I had taken out originally (to put in the phos-loc) and saved in air tight zip-loc bags (I think I was told to do this by a local marine shop owner). About a 7-10 days later my Yellow Eyed Kole Tang started to peel scales off of 2 spots on its face, the next day much of its skin/scales were peeling off, his eyes were cloudy, then he died. The next day, my Lawnmower Blenny died. The day after that, my Coral Beauty died. And today my False Percula died in the same way, peeling, and most of his fins were erroded as if he were swimming in acid. I have a couple Shrimp that are fine, a few Hermit Crabs that are fine, all of my snails are fine, all of my corals are fine, and I have an adolecent Goby that is yellow (I can't remember what he is called) that is showing no ill effects. This is terrible to watch and I don't know what I really did wrong. I can't find any issue with my water accept for a slightly low PH.
Did putting a slightly used Chemi-pure back into my canister filter do something to my water? And what can I do?

Brent-Pargman

 

[daytonaconnecti]

hey brent, frist off welcome, iam new here too , so i wont be of much help, but i know the people on here will be...they have been great to me..

 

[CarlaW]

How low is slightly low Ph???
I have never used either product, so no help there, but if you have other critters that are surviving, my thought is that it isn't the chemicals. Have you removed the canister filter?

 

[Dreamreefer]

Well, the PH measures about 7.5. Also the fish that died were all scaled fish, the goby doesn't have scales I'm told. I have not removed the filter, I was waiting to see some responses.
In reference to my original message, KevinPo was not the local shop owner that I thought had recommended that I should replace my previously used Chemi-Pure.

Brent

 

[wrightme43]

Well if the chemipure had a nice bio coating, and you sealed it away from oxygen, it could of grown a population of anarobic bacteria, then if the flow rate was slow in your cannister filter it could of made hydrogen sulfide gas.

 

[CarlaW]

I think you need to raise your ph to at least 7.8 - 8.0.
That would be a minimum!! The thing is, don't raise it to fast. What is your alkalinity sitting at?

 

[CarlaW]

Well if the chemipure had a nice bio coating, and you sealed it away from oxygen, it could of grown a population of anarobic bacteria, then if the flow rate was slow in your cannister filter it could of made hydrogen sulfide gas.

Good point!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Terry B]

Your pH is very low, not slightly low. Raise it slowly with a couple of water changes using well aged and aerated saltwater. A pH that low can kill the fish. How much water circulation do you have? Do you have a lot of water surface agitation for good gas exchange?

Terry B

 

[Dreamreefer]

Thank you for your input. I will raise the PH. The water circulation is strong with 4 pumps one of which agitates the surface and nearly splashes.

Brent

 

[MikeS]

Well if the chemipure had a nice bio coating, and you sealed it away from oxygen, it could of grown a population of anarobic bacteria, then if the flow rate was slow in your cannister filter it could of made hydrogen sulfide gas.

I'd tend to think somewhere along these lines as well....have you tested your water for ammonia? There could potentially be all kinds of nasties in the used Chemi-pure media...if you haven't already, I'd remove it immediately and use some fresh carbon...

BTW welcome to RF....

MikeS

 

[NaH2O]

Wanted to Welcome you to Reef Frontiers!!! Can you list out your water parameters (salinity, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, alk)? Hang in there!

 

[morgan]

i dont think ive ever used carbon how important is that stuff seen it for sale cheap dont know where to put it or what it dose anyone?

 

[Boomer]

I agree with Wright and Mike to a point. Never store a used media in a air tight bag. That is an accident looking for a place to happen. The real issue was how long was the chemipure in the bag ? The toxins so generated in the Chemipure bag, if any, would be immediate, par the remark Mike made on Ammonia. That may be the issue, fish can often go for days in ammonia. If that is the issue raising the pH will be even more deadly. It may just be that low pH is what has allowed them to live this long. BUT there is the other issue that charlie brought up, so I also do not buy bad chemicals or ammonia.

It sounds more like you have a disease., more than anything, maybe brought about by stress from x, y and x being released from the chemipure lowering the pH . Something lowered that pH. Make sure you still check for ammonia, to be safe. I would think about some multi water changes days ago.

I also agree with Mike on get that stuff out and replace with carbon.

Your fish sound has if they have Brooklynella or Oodinum. Scaless fish are often unaffected by them as their skin is often toxic to them.