Oxygen issue this morning, looking for causes

[G&B Reefing]

All

Woke up this morning to an oxygen issue in the tank. I dont have pictures as it was not the focus at the moment.

Symptoms:
- turned lights on and found found fish VERY lethargic (typically the coral beauty swims around, it was on the sand. Clown fish was in his corner being absolutely still)
- fish were very pale faced

Fix:
- i pulled 5ml out for ammonia test immediately
- dosed prime
- added airstone

Result:
- coral beauty got more lively within 5 minutes
- fish regained color after 15 minutes

Specs:
-Red sea max nano (all in one set up) 26 gal
-mp10 as additional power head
-All hardware was confirmed working
-Skimmer was creating bubbles and set as it always has been. Note the skimmer cup was emptied yesterday and did not have much in it from over night

Thoughts:
-This tank and setup was moved about 2 months ago and went through an ammonia spike
-i am currently fighting some red slime on the sand and mixed up the sand bed yesterday. This i think has to do with my current issue. But i am insure how this would result in ox depletion given my skimmer was functioning (if a bac bllom i would think my skimmer would have started gojng nuts, which it hadnt)
- i dont think its a toxin as the air-stone addition caused everyone to perk up quickly
- i have been following my typical maintenance and feed routine
- i have mixed up sand beds before for red slime without this reaction
- i have not had any new additions to the tank (coral or fish) in the last 12 months


Looking to get reasons why this ox issue occurred or could there be a different problem that adding an airstone would help.

 

[vetteguy53081]

All

Woke up this morning to an oxygen issue in the tank. I dont have pictures as it was not the focus at the moment.

Symptoms:
- turned lights on and found found fish VERY lethargic (typically the coral beauty swims around, it was on the sand. Clown fish was in his corner being absolutely still)
- fish were very pale faced

Fix:
- i pulled 5ml out for ammonia test immediately
- dosed prime
- added airstone

Result:
- coral beauty got more lively within 5 minutes
- fish regained color after 15 minutes

Specs:
-Red sea max nano (all in one set up) 26 gal
-mp10 as additional power head
-All hardware was confirmed working
-Skimmer was creating bubbles and set as it always has been. Note the skimmer cup was emptied yesterday and did not have much in it from over night

Thoughts:
-This tank and setup was moved about 2 months ago and went through an ammonia spike
-i am currently fighting some red slime on the sand and mixed up the sand bed yesterday. This i think has to do with my current issue. But i am insure how this would result in ox depletion given my skimmer was functioning (if a bac bllom i would think my skimmer would have started gojng nuts, which it hadnt)
- i dont think its a toxin as the air-stone addition caused everyone to perk up quickly
- i have been following my typical maintenance and feed routine
- i have mixed up sand beds before for red slime without this reaction
- i have not had any new additions to the tank (coral or fish) in the last 12 months


Looking to get reasons why this ox issue occurred or could there be a different problem that adding an airstone would help.

Prime does not do what it claims and at times can impact the fish. Water change is your answer. Adding an air stone and carbon will also help.
Has any filters stopped or become clogged?
All pumps running?
Any increase in tank temperature or change in salinity?

 

[G&B Reefing]

Prime does not do what it claims and at times can impact the fish. Water change is your answer. Adding an air stone and carbon will also help.
Has any filters stopped or become clogged?
All pumps running?
Any increase in tank temperature or change in salinity?

No change in temps.

All pumps confirmed working.

I added prime in case it was ammonia, test showed not an ammonia issue.

I run carbon 100% of the time.

Sump compartments and filtration all working as they should (filter sock not clogged, skimmer running and creating bubbles, water levels in the sump were normal)

 

[G&B Reefing]

I have a 15% water change mixing salt right now. Looking to figure out why its happened for future avoidance.

My limited experience is that ox depletion is not a typical issue and is caused by an “event” of some kind

 

[vetteguy53081]

No change in temps.

All pumps confirmed working.

I added prime in case it was ammonia, test showed not an ammonia issue.

I run carbon 100% of the time.

Sump compartments and filtration all working as they should (filter sock not clogged, skimmer running and creating bubbles, water levels in the sump were normal)

If these check out and fish breathing heavy, then points to gill issue such as flukes nit seen with naked eye in most cases

 

[G&B Reefing]

I checked the fish before leaving for work. Fish are back to acting normal. All coloration is back. I do not see heavy breathing.

Air stone is still in the tank and will remain until i get back from work.

 

[Garf]

I checked the fish before leaving for work. Fish are back to acting normal. All coloration is back. I do not see heavy breathing.

Air stone is still in the tank and will remain until i get back from work.

I don't suppose you've got the skimmer or circulation pump on a smart plug, or something that could decide to turn off at night, a timer maybe? Or just a good old fashioned power cut?

 

[G&B Reefing]

No smart plugs on the tank.

Skimmer is a simple plug in and turn on or off, no automation.

I thought power outage but my clocks in the kitchen read accurate so i think i can rule that out.

 

[G&B Reefing]

can a bacteria bloom occur without causing the skimmer to go wild?

 

[Garf]

can a bacteria bloom occur without causing the skimmer to go wild?

Yes, but the water generally gets very cloudy.

 

[G&B Reefing]

I only had the room lights on (tank lights were off) so i cant confirm/deny cloudiness. It didnt appear obviously cloudy as i didnt notice it at the time but it may be something to check when i get back to the house.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

All

Woke up this morning to an oxygen issue in the tank. I dont have pictures as it was not the focus at the moment.

Symptoms:
- turned lights on and found found fish VERY lethargic (typically the coral beauty swims around, it was on the sand. Clown fish was in his corner being absolutely still)
- fish were very pale faced

Fix:
- i pulled 5ml out for ammonia test immediately
- dosed prime
- added airstone

Result:
- coral beauty got more lively within 5 minutes
- fish regained color after 15 minutes

Specs:
-Red sea max nano (all in one set up) 26 gal
-mp10 as additional power head
-All hardware was confirmed working
-Skimmer was creating bubbles and set as it always has been. Note the skimmer cup was emptied yesterday and did not have much in it from over night

Thoughts:
-This tank and setup was moved about 2 months ago and went through an ammonia spike
-i am currently fighting some red slime on the sand and mixed up the sand bed yesterday. This i think has to do with my current issue. But i am insure how this would result in ox depletion given my skimmer was functioning (if a bac bllom i would think my skimmer would have started gojng nuts, which it hadnt)
- i dont think its a toxin as the air-stone addition caused everyone to perk up quickly
- i have been following my typical maintenance and feed routine
- i have mixed up sand beds before for red slime without this reaction
- i have not had any new additions to the tank (coral or fish) in the last 12 months


Looking to get reasons why this ox issue occurred or could there be a different problem that adding an airstone would help.

If adding the air stone was indeed cause and effect, then it does sound like high carbon dioxide, low oxygen or both.

What happens is at night, algae goes into reverse phase photosynthesis, taking up oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide. Normally, a protein skimmer will balance that out, but if the algae is bad, maybe not.

One test for this is to measure the pH when the lights first turn on and then again in the evening before the lights go out. If there is a big pH rise, then there is still a gas exchange problem.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I added prime in case it was ammonia, test showed not an ammonia issue.

Prime does absolutely nothing for “ammonia”. It is a proven marketing scam. Don’t waste your money.

I will add to what others are leaning towards; you may be on the borderline already and stirring the sand and cyan may have created a small bloom that pushed oxygen levels past the threshold after fights out.

I would, at the minimum increase flow and ensure good turbulence at the water surface to promote gas exchange.

 

[KrisReef]

I don't think this was a low oxygen issue at all. I think the fish were resting at the bottom of the tank and when the lights came on the OP saw them resting in their night time camoflage. Once they got up their daytime colors were visible and they were healed.

Fish can look incredibly sick at night, especially if you flip on the tank lights at random. Suggest OP purchase a timer for the lights and provide them with a stable 12 hour on/ 12 off photoperiod to reduce fish stress.

 

[BryanM]

One test for this is to measure the pH when the lights first turn on and then again in the evening before the lights go out. If there is a big pH rise, then there is still a gas exchange problem.

Jay,

I'm not having this issue, but I am curious what large would be in this scenario... Just for knowledge, thanks.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Jay,

I'm not having this issue, but I am curious what large would be in this scenario... Just for knowledge, thanks.

I was also curious @Jay Hemdal.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay,

I'm not having this issue, but I am curious what large would be in this scenario... Just for knowledge, thanks.

Carbon dioxide (from respiration) in water forms carbonic acid which drops the pH of it is not being de-gassed through aeration. With de-gassing, the CO 2 gets blown off and the pH rebounds. There are other causes for a low pH, but aeration doesn’t cause the pH to rise in those cases. Even without aeration, during the day, algae takes up CO 2, causing the same affect.

 

[G&B Reefing]

I don't think this was a low oxygen issue at all. I think the fish were resting at the bottom of the tank and when the lights came on the OP saw them resting in their night time camoflage. Once they got up their daytime colors were visible and they were healed.

Fish can look incredibly sick at night, especially if you flip on the tank lights at random. Suggest OP purchase a timer for the lights and provide them with a stable 12 hour on/ 12 off photoperiod to reduce fish stress.

Thanks for the input. This is unlikely. I view my tank every day at this time and am aware of what normal is for the fish. All fish were visibly distressed. Return to normal behavior occurred after the airstone was added.

Lights are controlled through apps and run a consistent daily schedule.

 

[G&B Reefing]

Carbon dioxide (from respiration) in water forms carbonic acid which drops the pH of it is not being de-gassed through aeration. With de-gassing, the CO 2 gets blown off and the pH rebounds. There are other causes for a low pH, but aeration doesn’t cause the pH to rise in those cases. Even without aeration, during the day, algae takes up CO 2, causing the same affect.

Tonights ph measurement: 8.2

Will update tomorrow morning with next measurement

 

[G&B Reefing]

not sleeping so i am reporting some ph measurements:

8pm (almost lights out): 8.2
10pm: 8.0
12am: 7.8

I chickened out and placed the airstone back in.

Notes. Measurements using red sea ph test kit. Apparently this is the only kit they have where the colors actually match the card…