Recently started a new tank back in Mid January. Tank and all equipment brand new. Used I.O. salt with Carib-Sea Arag Alive Fiji Pink sand and Marco Dry Rock.
Tank has had 2 yellow tail damsels for about 2 months eating and doing well.
I just tried to add 4 small green chromis 2 weeks ago and within minutes 3 of the fish were dead on the bottom of the sand. The 4th chromi had no issues and is still alive and eating well for the past week.
Baffled I ran some quick tests, Ammonia, Phosphate and Nitrate all 0's and my refractometer measured 1.026. ALK at 8.3 DKH. My CA and MG kits were all out but can't imagine they'd be out of whack with a new tank fresh saltwater fill and very low bioload.
I went to the LFS this past weekend with a sample of my water and explained what happened with 3 of the 4 chromis. He did a PH test and said water was completely acidic. He showed me the color sample and it really didn't even register on the lowest color sample! He said that tank could still be cycling, my salt mix could be bad (I moved recently and had it in storage in hot attic for about 6 months, but bags were completely sealed) or the tank could be cycling.
I'm not sure how tank could be still cycling with fish in it for 2 months doing well and has been about 5 months since cycle started.
I'm in Florida now and the windows have never been opened with the AC running year round. House is only a few years old so it's pretty tight. My guess is that my CO2 levels are extremely high and that's what is causing my extremely low PH.
I googled about adding external air to my skimmer outlet so I picked up some 1/4 I.D. vinyl tubing this afternoon and ran a temporary line out to my Lanai. Connected the other end to the inlet on my Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer.
Does anyone know how long it would take to bring the PH levels up if high internal CO2 levels turns out to be the cause for the low PH?
Attached is the PH sample from my Salifert PH test kit. I don't even know how to read the color but I'm guessing it's below the lowest color on the left at 7.4?
Opinions advice please..
Tank has had 2 yellow tail damsels for about 2 months eating and doing well.
I just tried to add 4 small green chromis 2 weeks ago and within minutes 3 of the fish were dead on the bottom of the sand. The 4th chromi had no issues and is still alive and eating well for the past week.
Baffled I ran some quick tests, Ammonia, Phosphate and Nitrate all 0's and my refractometer measured 1.026. ALK at 8.3 DKH. My CA and MG kits were all out but can't imagine they'd be out of whack with a new tank fresh saltwater fill and very low bioload.
I went to the LFS this past weekend with a sample of my water and explained what happened with 3 of the 4 chromis. He did a PH test and said water was completely acidic. He showed me the color sample and it really didn't even register on the lowest color sample! He said that tank could still be cycling, my salt mix could be bad (I moved recently and had it in storage in hot attic for about 6 months, but bags were completely sealed) or the tank could be cycling.
I'm not sure how tank could be still cycling with fish in it for 2 months doing well and has been about 5 months since cycle started.
I'm in Florida now and the windows have never been opened with the AC running year round. House is only a few years old so it's pretty tight. My guess is that my CO2 levels are extremely high and that's what is causing my extremely low PH.
I googled about adding external air to my skimmer outlet so I picked up some 1/4 I.D. vinyl tubing this afternoon and ran a temporary line out to my Lanai. Connected the other end to the inlet on my Bubble Magus Curve 5 skimmer.
Does anyone know how long it would take to bring the PH levels up if high internal CO2 levels turns out to be the cause for the low PH?
Attached is the PH sample from my Salifert PH test kit. I don't even know how to read the color but I'm guessing it's below the lowest color on the left at 7.4?
Opinions advice please..