Help i dont know whats wrong.

Rickroockiereef · Jul 31, 2018

So i started my tank about 2 months ago. Everything was fine until this happened. Three fish died, and two corals, but all water levels are fine. Also my rock is green and made my water green. Picture of before and pictures of after are tagged. Also do you suggest using live sand or gravel instead for the floor of the tank

after

before

reef lover · Jul 31, 2018

Welcome to r2r....not sure what your asking....

eatbreakfast · Jul 31, 2018

What exactly are the water parameters? Salinity? Ammonia? Nitrites? Nitrates? How are you measuting parameters? What fish died? Over how long of a period did they die? Any symptoms? What corals died?

Mikedawg · Jul 31, 2018

and, how do you know tank was fully cycled before you started adding animals? May be experiencing a bacterial bloom in after picture.

Paul B · Jul 31, 2018

Tank is way to sterile, I am not sure why the water is cloudy but it looks like a bacterial bloom from here which would be due to not enough bacteria.
Or fish added too soon. Your fish do not appear to be healthy.
I would not add any more livestock until more bacteria grows. That may take a few months. I also would not feed anything until the water clears.

The clouding is actually good as it is bacteria growing, but they use oxygen and can kill the fish because of that. It will settle down and clear, but it takes time.
The green on the rocks is a good thing,

OriginalUserName · Jul 31, 2018

You are seeing a bacteria bloom. I highly recommend testing for ammonia and/or adding something like Prime to detoxify it. Bacteria is what converts deadly ammonia into less deadly nitrates.

Rickroockiereef · Jul 31, 2018

Someone suggested i use gravel instead of sand. That its easier to clean and maintain. What would you recommend.

Rickroockiereef · Jul 31, 2018

Im

eatbreakfast said:
What exactly are the water parameters? Salinity? Ammonia? Nitrites? Nitrates? How are you measuting parameters? What fish died? Over how long of a period did they die? Any symptoms? What corals died?

so im using a test kit i bought online. Everything matches with the color scales that were provided. Someone suggested i us a UV sterilizor. Would this be good for the tank

Rickroockiereef · Jul 31, 2018

It

Mikedawg said:
and, how do you know tank was fully cycled before you started adding animals? May be experiencing a bacterial bloom in after picture.

was fully cycled my friend helped me set it up and walked me through it.

KrisReef · Jul 31, 2018

Rickroockiereef said:
Im

so im using a test kit i bought online. Everything matches with the color scales that were provided. Someone suggested i us a UV sterilizor. Would this be good for the tank

UV is for pests, the bacteria bloom is likely part of a natural cycle for new tanks. UV inhibits that cycle. If you have no fish left,(?), don’t add any, just allow the cycle to proceed.
Add bacteria-in-a-bottle if you add something, I’m guessing your ammonia is elevated. Can you get a second opinion on your ammonia from a Lfs or buddy with a tank?

BertieBones · Jul 31, 2018

Rickroockiereef said:
Someone suggested i use gravel instead of sand. That its easier to clean and maintain. What would you recommend.

I wouldn't be worrying about that right now

BertieBones · Jul 31, 2018

Rickroockiereef said:
It

was fully cycled my friend helped me set it up and walked me through it.

How long did the cycle take?

Katrina71 · Jul 31, 2018

Drop in an airstone near the bottom to help your little guys breathe.

beaslbob · Jul 31, 2018

Add macro algae like chaetomorphia.

Is you pH low? I suspect it is.

PH is low with high carbon dioxide. So fish cannot expel the co2, and start breathing heavy. Macro algae will consume the co2 so that the highest co2 with macros is much lower than the same system with no macros.

if ammonia spikes (over feeding, fish dying, or whatever) the macros will consume that immediately breaking up the ammonia-nitrItes-nitrate cycles and possible tank crash.

The green is algae (white can be the start of algae or is cyano bacteria which is a bacteria with plant life also). Both will die out during a blackout. And bloom with too much lights. And both will not show up when macros are consuming the nutrients.

So bottom line to me is the balance out and stabilize the tank with macro algaes (best in a refugium which can be just a simple egg crate partition with added side lighting).

my .02