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mashfan 
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Joined: March 01 2010
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 Topic: help! things are dying in my tank
Posted: March 07 2010 at 8:26am |
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I have a 50 gallon tank and I've tried to put snales and they keep dying and today a sand sifter starfish died after a year. What am I doing wrong?
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kody72
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Location: west haven
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 8:56am |
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what are your levels? What kinda livestock?
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Shane H
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Location: Brigham City
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 9:00am |
Really, the first thing you need to do is check all your water parameters. Hopefully that will tell us something.
As a first reaction - I would recommend a significant water change. (20 gallons) Please keep us posted.
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Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish. - Mark Twain
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 9:16am |
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Everything is fine except nitrates r up to 20 and can't get them down. Going to do a major water change today. Will a protein skimmer help?
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bugzme
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 9:29am |
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feeding less will really help!
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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downhill_biker
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Location: Avenues SLC, UT
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 9:43am |
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you need to list your water parameters. telling us they are fine will not tell us. if you are new you may not know what is desired, or you may have forgotten. please check and list these measurements:
Temp:
pH:
Salinity:
Nitrates:
Ammonia:
have you changed anything lately? added anything new? do you have a sump? refugeum? i would recommend that over a protein skimmer right now. we need more info and we can help you figure this out? is this a fish only tank? or is there coral is well? how do the fish/coral look? or are you just losing inverts?
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The friendliest giant you'll ever meet.
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sanddune600
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 11:16am |
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more than once I we hear they are fine then to find out they are not downhill biker is right we need to know the parameters he listed to help you further if it is only inverts that you are losing a copper test may be needed
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 11:37am |
See my signature line. My phone number is there so you can call me. We can do a lot over the phone and a lot faster than here on the MB. Feel free to call anytime, even right now! 
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:11pm |
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I've been working on the tank and this is what's going on. My ph is 8.2 my ammonia is 0.25 my nitrate was 80 then after 25 gallon water change its 20 and has been 20 the week before. I hade snails die and starfish die today. Nitrite is 0 and has been since started tank and temp I keep at 76. Now what? I cleaned out cannister filter and put new carbon in. I add to the tank kent marine calcium iodide essential ellements and just started adding coPper free probiotic marine formula.
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:21pm |
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Been working on tank and cleaned out canister filter added new carbon bags did a 25 gallon water change with ro water and then tested the water again.
Before water change
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 80
Nitrite o
Salinity 1.10
Ph 8.2
Temp 77
After 25 gallon water change
Ammonia 0.25
Nitrate 20
Nitrite 0
Salinity 1.20
Ph 8.0
Temp 77
I had snails die and a star fish die within all within the last three weeks. My fish seam to be doing fine I have a clown fish blue tang and that's it. Now what?
I'm adding kent marine calcium iodide essential ellements and selcon vitamis and copperfree probiotic marine formula all within the last month I started them all hopping that would help keep invertebre alive
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:25pm |
Was your salinity really 1.1????? 
If so , that is the culprit right there. You shocked everything by going from 1.1 to 1.20.
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40 Gallon Breeder, 4x24w ATI Sunpower, MP10w ES, Bubble Magus NAC6, Vodka doser
801-915-6958 Call Anytime
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sanddune600
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:28pm |
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your salinity is really low at 1.010 and still low at 1.020 assuming this is what you ment to say and not 1.10 and 1.20. I how fast did you bring it up to 1.020 and I would try and stay between 1.022 - 1.025 personally
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sanddune600
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:29pm |
Ryan you beet me to it 
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:29pm |
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I forgot the 0's in my post as well. LOL
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40 Gallon Breeder, 4x24w ATI Sunpower, MP10w ES, Bubble Magus NAC6, Vodka doser
801-915-6958 Call Anytime
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MadReefer
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:32pm |
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I would suggest S.G. of 1.024-1.025. And stability is important. Match water change water before adding or add it very slowly.
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:35pm |
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sorry forgot the other 0 it was 1.010
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:36pm |
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yes that what i ment to say sorry brain overload today how do i bring it up and how do i get my nitrate down?
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:40pm |
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You bring it up by adding salt and nitrates can be brought down by water changes and macro algae. If you haven't already, I really recommend calling Mark.
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40 Gallon Breeder, 4x24w ATI Sunpower, MP10w ES, Bubble Magus NAC6, Vodka doser
801-915-6958 Call Anytime
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:49pm |
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ok thanks for the help i really dont know much and still trying to learn what i need to do to get the tank where i want it. i will find his number and call him
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mashfan
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Posted: March 07 2010 at 2:49pm |
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would you recommend a protein skimmer?
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