Cloudy water

[jacobcoral]

I had used reef epoxy and it killed my fish, it’s cured in my tank and my levels are all steady. Coral seems to be annoyed because of the chemicals or depleted oxygen. I’ve done 2 massive Water changes the past 2 days and the water is still cloudy and the zoas still seem annoyed. Does anyone know what I can do? I have also replaced the carbon sock and cleaned filter media as well as new filter floss. I’m at a loss and not sure what to do.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Reef epoxy shouldn’t have killed anything. You might have a big bacteria bloom going on and that can very rapidly deplete O2 in the water and kill the fish.

 

[jacobcoral]

Reef epoxy shouldn’t have killed anything. You might have a big bacteria bloom going on and that can very rapidly deplete O2 in the water and kill the fish.

That can happen over night? Reef Epoxy depletes oxygen and releases chemicals when it cures. Everything was great and the day I added the epoxy the next morning my tank was messed up.

Fish dead
Bristle worms dead
Emerald crab dead

Coral fine

 

[Fish Fan]

What brand of epoxy did you use? I agree that a reef safe epoxy shouldn't have killed anything, even when it was curing. Many people use reef epoxy in their tanks.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you have a protein skimmer? Using that stuff makes the skimmer over-foam, and the foam is a good way of getting the 'stuff' out. If you have no skimmer, then I would do more water changes.

How much did you use in what size tank?

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

What epoxy did you use? I don't think I have ever seen any putty that wasn't 2 part and required thorough mixing/kneading before use. The "2 part" can be in a single stick, with the catalyst/hardener wrapping the putty. There will be 2 distinct colors present in the unmixed stick.

I'm still curious about what epoxy was used and how it was used. There would be a lot more people with dead fish otherwise.

 

[jacobcoral]

I'm still curious about what epoxy was used and how it was used. There would be a lot more people with dead fish otherwise.

It was a brand from petsmart, I do have a skimmer. What I’m seeing online is a few things

The only possible outcomes are
1. Epoxy particles caused a huge bacteria bloom
2. Reef epoxy leached chemicles and or lowered oxygen, more significant in my system because I used a lot of epoxy and my tank is only 13.5 gallons.

(Also my skimmer hasn’t foamed at all)

 

[jacobcoral]

It was a brand from petsmart, I do have a skimmer. What I’m seeing online is a few things

The only possible outcomes are
1. Epoxy particles caused a huge bacteria bloom
2. Reef epoxy leached chemicles and or lowered oxygen, more significant in my system because I used a lot of epoxy and my tank is only 13.5 gallons.

(Also my skimmer hasn’t foamed at all)

 

[Lavey29]

If you used it per instruction that didn't kill your tank. Can you post complete current parameters including salinity and tank age.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I didn’t mix it it was from petsmart not sure the brand. It was for saltwater aquariums

That's 2 part epoxy. To activate, you would have pinched off a piece and kneaded it until it was a uniform color, usually light gray. If not mixed thoroughly then you would be placing uncured epoxy into your tank. I think this is what your tank's issues have originated from.

I would try removing the uncured epoxy and do more water changes.

 

[jacobcoral]

That's 2 part epoxy. To activate, you would have pinched off a piece and kneaded it until it was a uniform color, usually light gray. If not mixed thoroughly then you would be placing uncured epoxy into your tank. I think this is what your tank's issues have originated from.

I would try removing the uncured epoxy and do more water changes.

That's 2 part epoxy. To activate, you would have pinched off a piece and kneaded it until it was a uniform color, usually light gray. If not mixed thoroughly then you would be placing uncured epoxy into your tank. I think this is what your tank's issues have originated from.

I would try removing the uncured epoxy and do more water changes.

Will it ever cure? Or should I remove it

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Will it ever cure? Or should I remove it

I don't know what the end result will be if left as is but I don't think it will be a quick resolution. You should remove it to be safe. Only thoroughly mixed epoxy will be inert once cured.

 

[W31Olds]

These epoxies when kneaded properly will cure hard as a rock. If it still soft in your tank today it wasn't mixed and I can't see an easy way to correct it short of removing the rock permanently.

 

[jacobcoral]

These epoxies when kneaded properly will cure hard as a rock. If it still soft in your tank today it wasn't mixed and I can't see an easy way to correct it short of removing the rock permanently.

I’m currently removing all water and rocks and I’m going ti reset.

 

[jacobcoral]

These epoxies when kneaded properly will cure hard as a rock. If it still soft in your tank today it wasn't mixed and I can't see an easy way to correct it short of removing the rock permanently.

Since I’m resetting everything. I have new water, going to be using live rock. I’m assuming my tank will be from scratch and need cycled

I’m currently removing all water and rocks and I’m going ti reset.

 

[EllWay]

It was a brand from petsmart, I do have a skimmer. What I’m seeing online is a few things

The only possible outcomes are
1. Epoxy particles caused a huge bacteria bloom
2. Reef epoxy leached chemicles and or lowered oxygen, more significant in my system because I used a lot of epoxy and my tank is only 13.5 gallons.

(Also my skimmer hasn’t foamed at all)

Sorry to hear about this. I once was going to use:

Oceans Wonders Coralline Purple Reef Safe Epoxy Putty​

After I had to the rocks epoxied together the stuff smelled so bad even a week later, that I scraped it all off and did not let it get into the tank. I hope you find a solution for your corals.