First serious problem - very mysterious

[NewbReefer]

Originally Posted by daugherty

i would not think that this would be a problem un less all the inverts died.
as for the live sand i do not think that would be a problem either. i would check for stray voltage.

Glad you spoke up forgot that copper is more toxic to the inverts.

[Bifferwine]

Yes, copper wouldn't have killed the fish but left the inverts alive. It would be the other way around.

[kevinsimons]

How does one go about checking for stray voltage??

[Bifferwine]

I'm in the same boat right now, Kevin.

http://www.livingreefs.com/forums/re...y-problem.html

Today I am headed to the hardware store to buy a voltmeter and test the tank by turning pieces of equipment off one by one.

Here's a helpful article:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/librar...y/aa101602.htm

[daugherty]

by a voltmeter and use it to check for current

[Ironman]

It sounds like the fish are dieng pretty quickly. I think you said you did a water change when you added the sand, Is it possible the water you used for your water change could have been contaminated? It is unusual for the shrimp to be alive with most water toxins, but it seems odd to have 3 fish dying so quickly, If you have or your fish store has a POLY Filter pad, it wouldnt hurt to put it in your filter to pull out any posible chemicals that could be in the water, also run some carbon if you arnt already. it probly wouldnt hurt to do another small water change with known good water to help dilute whatever is there, If it is even something wrong with the water? but none of these things will hurt so its worth a try. good luck

[kevinsimons]

I do a 4 gallon water change every week, with my own RO/DI water (that tests .001 PPM). I always checked salinity in the tank and the new mix to make sure everything is square... I just put some carbon in per your (great) suggestion.

I agree - it's odd that the shrimp (both of 'em, I have a cleaner, too) are still OK, but a coral and 2, soon to be 3 fish (all sand dwellers) are gone...

[Altohombre]

you didn't clean anything with soap and put it back in the tank did you?

[fatman]

If you have a friend that does electronics repair or is a mechanic that works on cars produced in the last ten years, ask him/her to bring over their digital milti meter and check out your tank for stray voltage. They should no that all they need to do is stick one lead in the water and touch the other one to a cover plate screw on your house electrical system outlet. If there is a heavy paint applied to screw head he/she will need to use the round third prong hole which is the house running ground. A standard analog voltmeter will work but only if it is a high voltage, meaning in full numbers like one, two, three or more. They are not precise enough to read low levels, but digital meters are.

[kevinsimons]

Well, whatever the problem is - it continues. (there's another thread here about isolating the electrical problem, which I believe is solved - if it existed at all. Voltomer is showing a reading now of about 2 volts).

The remaining 2 fish in the tank (Maroon Clown & Yellow Tang) are stressed and clearly affected by SOMETHING. The Clown is covered with a greyish film; the Tang is hiding. I saw the Royal Gramma yesterday a couple times -just briefly - so it was alive yesterday - nowhere to be seen today.

Did a full range of tests today - got an ammonia reading of .25, but have a zero nitrate reading. My ammonia test has ALWAYS shown .25.... corals and other inverts are looking great. I'm now thinking there's some kind of bacterial disease going on here...