Stagnant Saltwater Bad??

[billaweed]

I got my sump and overflow going yesterday. I tried the sunday before but failed because my pump broke, thus leaving a sump full of motionless salt water that sat there for about 5-6 days. When I got it going yesterday I used the 5 day old water in the sump and just added to it. Now some things like my shrooms look like they are in rough shape.

would the 5 day old water be the problem or would it be that the addition of fresh mixed 20 gallons all at once added to my 50 gallon tank kind of a shock to my corals?

I wouldnt think that the water I mixed 5 days ago wouldnt effect anything. Maybe all the fresh saltwater added stunned them?

thanks guys

 

[twilliard]

There are a hundred variables that can affect your saltwater when sitting.
Did you put a powerhead in the sump to keep it aerated or at least keep it mixing?

 

[billaweed]

nope.. I didnt have one to put in there. I didnt plan on my pump breaking. Do you think I should do couple WC's to try and get rid of some of the water? Or should I just wait and do my normal water changes 20% per week..?

 

[burning2nd]

i would have already done the water changes...

one thing about water changes is that if done right... they cant hurt.
so asking if i should have done a water change. (assumeing thats its done right) is kinda a self anwsering question...
since if you need to ask if i should do one... your probly do.

anyway... so super dead water thusted back in 2 your tank?
temp?
salinty?
check any of that b4 you turned the pump on?
the evap was probly miniumal thur that week..... do to the fact that it was still..

the ph of that water was probly way way off....
thats what i would start with... but
like said. hundred variables

 

[billaweed]

I went ahead and bought some premix from the LFS and did a quick WC. I'll chech the water perameters in a couple hours.

 

[billaweed]

i just tested my ph and it was between 8.0 - 8.2. So how can I rais it? do more waterchanges? I do not have any ph buffer or anything.

 

[twilliard]

I would leave your PH right there and just keep doing your normal water changes.
If there was anything bad about the water it has already done its toll.
Your water changes will bring it all back to normal.

 

[billaweed]

ok.. thanks twilliard! I'll do another WC tonight

 

[Sherman]

My guess would have been on the lack of oxygen in the new water, based upon lack of movement. If that's the case, it's long been solved. A 40% WC of very low oxygen level water could have been pretty rough on the inhabitants.

If it was oxygen, you're already in good shape, and a water change isn't needed but won't hurt anything. If not, water changes are the easiest and quickest way to remove stuff from the water.

I wouldn't even begin to worry about your pH.

 

[billaweed]

I did a 20% WC today. I had to use two different brands of salt because I ran out of one and could only get 5 gallon mix of another at the LFS. I should be ok though because I use to use the salt before and have never experienced bad things from switching salts.

I'll check things tomarrow.

 

[matts125]

Hey hows that sump working out for ya?
Post some pix of it in action!!

hope it works great for you..

matt