Please Help!

[VickyH]

I have now lost my last chromis, that's 5 in total now! I have been putting a trap in tank overnight now for 3 nights and all I've caught is hermit crabs! Last night my last chromis went and there was a trap in the tank, what can I do now? I'm worried that if it was a predator it may go after goby or blenny next, clowns 'sleep' up the top so not so worried about them. Blenny 'sleeps' out on top of rock but goby spends most of his time under the rockwork.

 

[VickyH]

I've just done some water tests and my pH appears to be around 7.8! It is normally 8.2. My lfs said that as my skimmer isn't on 24/7 that could cause the pH to sway. My skimmer is on from 7.30 am to 9.30 pm, my lights come on at 10am and go off at 8pm - if I left the skimmer on 24/7 would this help? I tested pH before at all different times of day and never changes this much. None of my other fish, corals or inverts are affected and are all happily swimming/crawling about and eating.
My partner has just looked at test and he thinks it looks like it's nearer 8 but that's still quite a change isn't it?
I can't help thinking it's still a critter that's responsible for chromis deaths - I lost one every 2 or 3 nights.

 

[VickyH]

Chromis has reappeared! Sorry - he must have had a lie in this morning! lol
Still worried about pH though. Would it be better to have skimmer running day and night? Does chromis need company?

 

[lotuskid]

Much better to leave the skimmer running 24/7. Only turn it off for cleaning or for 30mins or so when you add marine snow to feed filter feeders, that way the skimmer doesn't remove the food before things have a chance to eat it.

 

[Reefscape]

and chromis dont need company, but its always better...

Skimmer again, personally, i ran mine 24/7...but, there are a people here who dont run them at all, and i dont tend to follow what your local fish said about the the skimmer and pH fluctuations...

Try doing a water change and see if it will start to help to bring the pH back up into a more acceptable level..

Niko

 

[New Reefer]

Skimmers need to run 24/7, so just leave it on all the time (and clean it at least weekly...)

Have you checked the alkalinity of the water. If this is low, the pH will drop. You can correct the pH by dripping in some kalkwasser (lime water). This is probably the best "additive" one can use, apart from doing regular partial water changes.