poisoned tank

[toolingrl]

Hey everyone,

So this past week, in a matter of 2 days, every fish in my tank including my corals have died. My corals are in quarantine to try and save them but I don't think they will come back. they are slowly shriveling away. I've noticed piles of dead pods and brisleworms. The only things that seem to be ok are the snails. I have no idea how?
Since this all started I have been doing 30% water changes every other day to try and dilute whatever has happened here. I tested my water for everything and all parameters are perfect. I spoke to the LFS guru and had him test my water, he had the same readings as I did. so after a half hour conversation with him we came to the conclusion that it was an aerosol air freshener sprayed in the room. By my wonderful husband. The cat litter is in the same room as the display tank and he hates the smell of the litter so he likes to spray febreeze in there. I have no idea what it could have been besides this. The other option I had is that I was dosing iodine at 1 capfull every 2 days but he didn't think that was a problem. I also bought a product from marineland called "natural nitrate reducer" This may have been the culprit but I have no idea, it says it will not harm anything on it.
So my question is, now that everything in my tank is dead, including all pods, where am I sitting now with my ecosystem? Is my live rock dead too? how am I going to get this tank back up to livable conditions now after this catastrophe? I still don't understand why the snails are alive.. Thank goodness something is. Can you buy pods on their own? Should I buy a new piece of live rock? Should I keep doing water changes. How am I going to know its safe. Maybe I should take out all the sand and start over. I'm so frustrated and upset. I think there is still an aptasia in there that is poking its head out too.. the little buggers never die.

[Original Fin]

Why were you using a nitrate reducer is my question? How high were nitrates before you dosed it, how much did you dose, how often and for how long, and what are nitrates reading now?
Suddenly dropping from very high to very low could shock the system like that. If you had as much death as you say, I'm confused as to how the LFS could tell you that your water tested ok. Lots of dead things in the tank is going to equal high ammonia, and then nitrites, nitrates, phosphates etc, so testing post mortem won't really tell you anything, excluding copper.

Have you been able to rule out:

-Temperature too low/high, possible broken heater
-Stray voltage...any electrical storms, power outages/surges?

[Original Fin]

I should have first said that I'm sorry for your losses! HTH

[toolingrl]

My heater broke around the same time. the temp dropped to 68-70 but they told me that wouldn't have had any effect because it would have been a gradual drop not a sudden one.
My nitrates were off the charts for a while. I dosed the stuff according to the directions once along with multiple water changes over a period of a month. I couldnt get the reading to come down no matter what I did so I decided to try this to see if it helped. The last time I dosed was over a couple of weeks ago so I don't even know if it's a factor at this point. I don't think that the last time I dosed it that the tank really needed it but I thought it wouldn't hurt.

I only had a clown, a peppermint shrimp and a chromis along with a sand sifting star and a toadstool leather and zoo's. They werent dead very long when I took them out so I don't think any ammonia had time to accummulate?
The ammonia reading I got was 0 as was the reading at the lfs. but this was after a 15-20% water change. it Just doesn't make sense. if it was temperature my corals would have bounced back would they not?

[Original Fin]

I think the two of those things combined could have been enough to push the system over the edge. Especially if it's a smaller sized tank. What size is it?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

Lets not forget that excessive amounts of iodine and its other forms can be toxic. At least, I remember reading that some time ago.

If it were my tank, I would do at least an 80%-90% water change and wait a few weeks before adding another fish. Using carbon is a good thing too.
Because you're not 100% sure of the cause, I would stop adding chemicals to the water other than calcium, alkalinity and the occasional magnesuim ( only when and how much is needed as determined by test results).
These systems are fragile as you know and sometimes little things can cause huge problems.

The air freshener is defnately a bad thing as well.

[toolingrl]

It's a 30 gal tank. I was told the iodine wasn't an issue unless I was dumping in huge amounts every day. Can you really overdose Iodine. Ive read so many opinions on this subject. This is the first time I had attempted corals and I'm not sure If I want to do it again after this mess.
Can you buy pods at the LFS? Should they be added to get the tank back up and running?
And why do you think the snails are the only things that are still ok?
I'll keep doing big water changes for a couple weeks and see how things go. I'm also sending my heater back to the manufacturer with an angry letter. The thing is only 3 months old. Maybe ill call them first.
Thanks for your help everyone.

[toolingrl]

I'm also running a canister filter with carbon in it. That should have helped shouldn't it have?

[Original Fin]

I'm also running a canister filter with carbon in it. That should have helped shouldn't it have?

Yes, as long as you changed it regularly. How often did you change it?

[Mad Mead]

Think you should go over water change and how to perform it correctly. You Should take a deep breath and morn your loss. As i do for you very sad day. Know that this can be fixed and new life will start again. After your 80 to 90% water change is done. Then go back to the smaller one's. Go to Lee Water change post and read it a few time. I still read it today just to remind my self that ever thing is very important and needs to be done right and with more then the correct amount of time to do it in. with out rushing.. This keep's you clam and also the way you poor things in and move thing around. I do think that your tank is young at 3 months. when you start to add again I would do only one thing at a time for three weeks and then by doing the same step for the first fish do for your second one to make sure your tank can age and so you can see sign much clear.
It is very important to keep any kind of clean product and sprays done to the bare minimal use in the room your tank is place in. all so sweeping near or around the tank down with a shock or hand held vac. Thats my opinion though.
I'm very sorry to here about your loss

[toolingrl]

Thanks mead, I think you misunderstood though, My tank is over 5 years old. I just ran into a nitrate problem a few months ago after I got my new T5 fixture and thats when I started the "nitrate reducer" product.

Fin, about once a month to month and a half. Ive been told that even having carbon in the tank is a waste of time. So many people have varying opinions. Its hard to sift through it all. Thanks for your help

[Mad Mead]

toolingrl Can you buy pods at the LFS? Should they be added to get the tank back up and running? Yes you can buy them at your lFS. I would wait at least one hole month before add anything to the tank. let your water level out which could take longer. then yes place in pods to repopulate them. you well have to add them more then once and turn off the flow when you add them.

why do you think the snails are the only things that are still ok. There could be a few reason for that. plant them self done and sealing there foot. or move in and out of the water. last there just tough little guys

The thing is only 3 months old. I'm sorry that where I got miss lead. I would still work slow again. act like the tank is new. So you can make sure its not a biological thing too and making it easier on the live rock and sand where things can stick around for ever.

Can you really overdose Iodine: yes like anything else you put in your tank. it much been to the right amount as well. Daily dosing is like 8 drops in a 50 gal tank or ever once a week is only 5ml or less for a 50 gal tank.
I dose only 0.4ml ever other week and my tank it 7.8gals and thats it.
If you add anything keep down to routine and measure right just for your tank.
You should also know not a lot of people like to use Iodine ether due to the chance of a overdose. if you don't know that right amount don't do it.

Ive been told that even having carbon in the tank is a waste of time. I have not used carbon my self. So I hope that Fin or FoMoCo Master Tech who I think have used it.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Hope all will work out for you. Please keep posting

[Original Fin]

I run carbon for three reasons...one, to simply polish the water. Two, as a just in case for airborne poisoning. Three, because I have a mix of soft, LPS and SPS corals which increases the risk of chemical warfare.

Is carbon a necessity for a reef system? No, but it can be a lifesaver if properly implemented. It should be changed before biofilm builds up too thick on it though, and for most systems, that's a month or less.

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I use carbon for the same reasons. It's cheap, effective insurance when it comes to water conditions. It removes both the good and bad but I see it as an aid in preventing problems, rather than creating them ( of course, when used properly.) I wouldn't go longer than a month without changing the carbon. I imagine it as a sponge, soaking up stuff. There comes a time when the "sponge" is full or over saturated and its usefulness becomes counterproductive, releasing the stuff it's stored. It may not be completely dependable to remove toxins before causing crashes or deaths but it might just give you enough time to react if something happens.
Ive read that the use of carbon ( both rinsed and unrinsed) causing MHLLE in some fish ( one reason why people don't use it) but I've personally seen the disease start in a QT without the use of carbon, and saw the same fish in the same QT recover from MHLLE while carbon was being used ( not saying carbon was a cure. Just saying it didn't cause my fish's disease). I don't think it's absolutely necessary to use carbon but I see it as one of many tools in helping to keep the water stable ( along with proper monitoring and maintenance).

About the iodine... There are people who swear by the need to supplement it and there are those who never added it and have never had issues.
For example, many say that the correct amount of iodine is necessary for the health and growth of Xenia. I've never added iodine and my Xenia is taking over 1/3 of my tank. My shrimp molt once every 3 weeks or so and algea has no problem growing ( good and bad). In my case, I just haven't seen the need to supplement the stuff. Also, there no completely reliable test kits for iodine and it's other forms so even though you can test for it, the results may not be accurate.
I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other. I'm just telling you my personal thoughts as they apply to my tank and experiences.

[toolingrl]

Thank you all for your input. I greatly appreciate it.

[toolingrl]

on a side note. I have "just moved in" for 2 years now.. how does this forum work, the more you post the more your status changes?

[Original Fin]

on a side note. I have "just moved in" for 2 years now.. how does this forum work, the more you post the more your status changes?

Yup, you got it. But we know you've been around here for awhile

Instead of upping your post count, you can donate $20 (I think it's 20) and get a contributing membership status.