Recently I came into possession of a dream pair of spotted drum juveniles. A friend from the Keys caught them and rushed them to my door where I painstakingly prepped and introduced them into my quarantine system (well, one of my 2). Within hours both of these gorgeous little fish were munching on blood worms and wiggling their way deeper in my heart.
In my other Q tank, I had a plethora of Caribbean beauties including a Black cap Basslet, Royal Gramma, Swissguard Basslet and many more going through a cleaning before the found home in my 125 Atlantic reef.
The process was proceeding flawlessly...water was good, medications administered on time and accurately...fish kept eating and thriving during the period...then it came time to start water changes after the treatments...
I have a sizeable ro/di and storage system as we also have 1000 gallons of saltwater ponds...definitely helps with water change costs.
My system is outside by our pool within a screened enclosure.
Well, I went about changes on my Q tanks and ponds in the evening before bed. Matched PH, Salinity and temp before changing. Got everything set and headed to bed.
The next morning as I woke to get ready for work, I discovered a nightmare. Half my fish in the Caribbean Q tank were dead...Even worse, one of my 2 beloved Spotted Drum had died in its Q tank and the other one was not looking good. I checked my ponds and many of my fish were stressed and struggling.
What the heck could be wrong!?
I quickly pulled put my API and digital test kits and went into emergency mode. As the tests matured I took the living fish out of the Q tanks and put them into the sump/refugium of one of my other systems. Something was very wrong with my water.
All of my tests came back level. All, that is, except Ammonia. The levels were through the roof. I immediately went to my ro/di system and noticed on my large water tank, the screw on lid was on the ground...Then I remembered the Helicopter the day before. Mosquito Control had been spraying.
I called our local Mosquito Control office and asked them if their pesticides contained Ammonia...Ammonia Bicarbonate was the response.
I was devastated.
I was forced to take apart and scrub my containers and cross my fingers that my remaining drum and Caribbean friends would pull through in my refugium.
It was touch and go for a bit but the remaining fish including the drum pulled through.
Such a horrible lesson to learn...and costly as I have looked for spotted drum for the last 10 years with only a few places that have even heard of them.
I will certainly make sure my water storage is buttoned up tight and to test ALL aspects of my water, not assuming that because it is supposed to be clean that it is clean.
Cheers!
In my other Q tank, I had a plethora of Caribbean beauties including a Black cap Basslet, Royal Gramma, Swissguard Basslet and many more going through a cleaning before the found home in my 125 Atlantic reef.
The process was proceeding flawlessly...water was good, medications administered on time and accurately...fish kept eating and thriving during the period...then it came time to start water changes after the treatments...
I have a sizeable ro/di and storage system as we also have 1000 gallons of saltwater ponds...definitely helps with water change costs.
My system is outside by our pool within a screened enclosure.
Well, I went about changes on my Q tanks and ponds in the evening before bed. Matched PH, Salinity and temp before changing. Got everything set and headed to bed.
The next morning as I woke to get ready for work, I discovered a nightmare. Half my fish in the Caribbean Q tank were dead...Even worse, one of my 2 beloved Spotted Drum had died in its Q tank and the other one was not looking good. I checked my ponds and many of my fish were stressed and struggling.
What the heck could be wrong!?
I quickly pulled put my API and digital test kits and went into emergency mode. As the tests matured I took the living fish out of the Q tanks and put them into the sump/refugium of one of my other systems. Something was very wrong with my water.
All of my tests came back level. All, that is, except Ammonia. The levels were through the roof. I immediately went to my ro/di system and noticed on my large water tank, the screw on lid was on the ground...Then I remembered the Helicopter the day before. Mosquito Control had been spraying.
I called our local Mosquito Control office and asked them if their pesticides contained Ammonia...Ammonia Bicarbonate was the response.
I was devastated.
I was forced to take apart and scrub my containers and cross my fingers that my remaining drum and Caribbean friends would pull through in my refugium.
It was touch and go for a bit but the remaining fish including the drum pulled through.
Such a horrible lesson to learn...and costly as I have looked for spotted drum for the last 10 years with only a few places that have even heard of them.
I will certainly make sure my water storage is buttoned up tight and to test ALL aspects of my water, not assuming that because it is supposed to be clean that it is clean.
Cheers!
