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View Full Version : Major messup ... cost me my coral banded!!!



petcrazy213
01-04-2004, 12:43 AM
STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!!!!

That's about all I can say to myself right now.

I lost my beautiful (as well as HUGE) coral banded shrimp yesterday all because I put off doing my weekly water test. I should have guessed something was wrong several days before the coral banded insodent, when my red serpent star began going downhill. Then when my CBS started acting funny (as I stated in my earlier post) I should have gone straight to the tests instead of waiting a while. While the SP Grav., Ph, and Nitrites were all in the normal ranges for my tank the Nitrates were OFF THE CHARTS!!! It must have been the recently added LR that caused the spike ( I added like 6-7 lbs of really nice LR with major growth). The LFS cures all the rock and I've never had a problem before but this was alot more rock then I usually add at 1 time. Anyway, by the time I made the discovery my CBS had passed away :sad Now I'll have to buy a replacement because I absolutely LOVED that guy ... won't be cheap either. I think that one cost me about $15-$20.

Anyhow, lesson LEARNED!!! I will be making darn sure to keep up on those weekly tests as well as testing a couple days after adding new LR.

K9Decoy
01-04-2004, 1:49 AM
Sorry to hear about your CBS, they sure are beautiful. You have to pay 15-20 bucks for a new one? That stinks! My LFS has them for $6, but I live in Ft. Lauderdale, so maybe the costs are lower since they're so popular here. I dunno. Good luck with the new one though!

MonoSebaelover
01-04-2004, 8:31 AM
Also it is advised NEVER to add new live rock straight to the tank. Most of the rock has to cure and this will cause an ammonia and nitrite spike, so you saw the tail end of the spike with the increase in nitrates. I'm sure ammonia and nitrite were very high prior to your tests which led to the downfall of Star and Angel. Anyway, next time even a little trash dumpster will work and just throw a powerhead in and test and when ammonia and nitrite are both 0 the rock can go in your tank. Anyway, hope this helps.