Losing SPS after months of growth and stability! Stray voltage maybe?

[vaughnkingreefs]

Hello All, so my SPS have been browning out and suffering from stn for roughly 30 days now. My system is fairly new but stable (8 months). It is an upgrade from a previously established tank. All of my Fish, LPS, and Softies have been doing well. I test a ton of elements, but I couldn't put my finger on the culprit. I usually put gloves on when I am working in the tank. Today, I just happened to reach into my tank without gloves and received a quick shock. A couple of searches on youtube, references videos by Puff Daddy Reef and @melev, and I quickly got up to speed on stray voltage. I purchased a digital multimeter and tested my tank. I was receiving 40 volts of AC current flowing through my tank. My first inclination was to turn off the skimmer pump, which is a stock SCA skimmer. My voltage dropped from 40-2 volts. Could this be my issue? I know that only time will tell. My parameters are below per my weekly testing.

Water Volume: 75g
Salinity: 1.25
Temp: 76
DKH: 8.3
Cal: 430
Mag: 1340
PH: 8.15
PO: .04 PPM
NIT: 8 PPM

Has anyone else experiences issues with Stray Voltage in their tank? I also lost a Tang a couple of months ago from HLLE...

Thanks

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Sounds like that could be your issue for sure, if you tested 40 then turned the pump off and got 2.

 

[Amboss72]

Absolutely this could be the problem! Your unfortunate shock may have been a gift in disguise. Yes I’ve dealt with stray voltage on many different tanks. Yes I’ve seen stray kill fish. Tangs seem particularly stressed. I’ve seen nems splitting like crazy and corals suffer not to mention my own suffering

 

[Cory]

I had stray voltage from a leaking powerhead. Killed my foxface. Went unnoticed for a long time. It also had amperage in the water which is really what kills.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Looks like you found your issue. Its time for a new skimmer pump or a new skimmer. I had a SCA 302 for a few year and it was a great skimmer for its cost, was $100ish when they came out. Things will start to recover once you get the voltage removed. Be sure to get a skimmer going again quickly. Your tank has found a balance or some kind by 8 months and the skimmer is part of that balance. Remember stability is key.

 

[vaughnkingreefs]

Looks like you found your issue. Its time for a new skimmer pump or a new skimmer. I had a SCA 302 for a few year and it was a great skimmer for its cost, was $100ish when they came out. Things will start to recover once you get the voltage removed. Be sure to get a skimmer going again quickly. Your tank has found a balance or some kind by 8 months and the skimmer is part of that balance. Remember stability is key.

Very true. Do you have any skimmer recommendations?

 

[Ike]

Hello All, so my SPS have been browning out and suffering from stn for roughly 30 days now. My system is fairly new but stable (8 months). It is an upgrade from a previously established tank. All of my Fish, LPS, and Softies have been doing well. I test a ton of elements, but I couldn't put my finger on the culprit. I usually put gloves on when I am working in the tank. Today, I just happened to reach into my tank without gloves and received a quick shock. A couple of searches on youtube, references videos by Puff Daddy Reef and @melev, and I quickly got up to speed on stray voltage. I purchased a digital multimeter and tested my tank. I was receiving 40 volts of AC current flowing through my tank. My first inclination was to turn off the skimmer pump, which is a stock SCA skimmer. My voltage dropped from 40-2 volts. Could this be my issue? I know that only time will tell. My parameters are below per my weekly testing.

Water Volume: 75g
Salinity: 1.25
Temp: 76
DKH: 8.3
Cal: 430
Mag: 1340
PH: 8.15
PO: .04 PPM
NIT: 8 PPM

Has anyone else experiences issues with Stray Voltage in their tank? I also lost a Tang a couple of months ago from HLLE...

Thanks

Highly unlikely it's stray voltage, I've had this and worse in many tanks and corals were unfazed. That said, it's still a good idea to eliminate what's "leaking" electricity.

 

[Reefcowboy]

I always suspect of three things when my sps start jumping ship and all params check ok. These are “silent” killers!
1- test TDS of RODI system;
2- Rust coming from magnets(powerheads), glass cleaners that are kept inside the tank, etc
3-Stray Voltage!

They leave us scratching our heads and kill our loved sticks one by one

 

[vaughnkingreefs]

I always suspect of three things when my sps start jumping ship and all params check ok. These are “silent” killers!
1- test TDS of RODI system;
2- Rust coming from magnets(powerheads), glass cleaners that are kept inside the tank, etc
3-Stray Voltage!

They leave us scratching our heads and kill our loved sticks one by one

Thanks for chiming in.
1. TDS is usually in the 0-2 range.
2. I have a frag rack and glass cleaner in the tank. I will be checking these as well. Thanks for the heads up.
3. Working on that now!

 

[W1ngz]

It will still come down to a problem with that pump, but the voltage itself may not be the issue. It could be that something metal (possibly copper) is exposed in the pump and leaching into the water.

 

[ddrueckh]

Is it safe to assume the salinity measurement in your first post was a typo?

 

[Ike]

I always suspect of three things when my sps start jumping ship and all params check ok. These are “silent” killers!
1- test TDS of RODI system;
2- Rust coming from magnets(powerheads), glass cleaners that are kept inside the tank, etc
3-Stray Voltage!

They leave us scratching our heads and kill our loved sticks one by one

Conversely, I see all three of those as being common scapegoats for other problems. The magnet one I'm not too sure on, but I do know ferrous metals and rust won't usually cause much harm.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I gather salt at 1.025
Whether you have stray voltage or not, always utilize a ground probe

 

[vaughnkingreefs]

To all, I also sent out an ICP test last week. I should have results later next week and that should give me more of an idea of what's going on in my tank. I am still taking the voltage issue seriously, whether it is the cause or not.

Thanks for all of the assistance and words of wisdom.

 

[vaughnkingreefs]

ICP in today....High Zinc appears to be an issue. Iodine I can correct with Red Sea colors....Silica appears to be high...researching now.

 

[TopShelfAquatics]

Temp and salinity stable?

 

[vaughnkingreefs]

Temp and salinity stable?

Very stable. I use a Hanna checker almost daily to test.

 

[ScottB]

Very true. Do you have any skimmer recommendations?

For a 75G I think a Reef Octopus 110SSS internal would do nicely. If you are heavily stocked, the 150SSS would certainly get it done. I have one of each running now; my 110 is 6-7 years old. Clean the pump once/twice a year. They don't use much sump space.

 

[vaughnkingreefs]

Here are a couple of pictures of my corals that are struggling. I mostly have frags in this system.

Walt Disney STN from the base. The right side of the frag continues to grow. Lost color and PE.

Satosa is stripping at the tips. Yes I do have aptasia and I don't believe that I have dinos. I believe that I have chrysophytes. I am not sure, but I have checked under my microscope and nothing registers as dinos. I beat dinos roughly 4 months ago and this is a little different. I am not counting out that it is another strain.

My LPS and softy pieces are doing well.

 

[Neoalchemist]

High zinc could be a sign that something metal is corroding.