Help...pwc and now corals AND fish are mad/sick.

[rsigler]

Hey Gang,

I have a 28g reef tank. I have a three yellow-tailed damsels, two clowns, a frog spawn, a hammer coral, a sun coral, and a frag of xenias.

Yesterday I did a 5 gallon water change. Almost instantly the corals closed. The frog and hammer came back out after a few hours, but the xenia has shrunk to very small, but is keeping it's color.

Here is the xenia yesterday before the water change...

and today...

Are they dead? The frog and hammer seem back to normal, BUT...

My damsel fish are hiding. They aren't even eating.

I did a water test, and everything looks good....

SG 1.023
Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates all 0
PH 8.2
dKh 12
Calcium 440
Phosphates .5

I know the dkh is high.

Suggestions? Help! What is going on? I don't want to loose my system....

Thanks!

Rob

 

[EriksFish315]

Did the salinity and temperature not match when you did the water change?

 

[EriksFish315]

Also your salinity is A bit low.

 

[Sharklover]

Nah 23's fine really anything from 21-27 is fine i keep mine at 22ish

 

[carey]

If natural seawater is at 1.026 why would you keep it any lower? The fish and corals do fine in the ocean...lol

 

[Sharklover]

Cuz the ocean fluctuates alot actually a reef is usually from 1.018 in the day and 1.029 at night from the hotter or colder water so its not bad,my tanks doing well and it saves a little salt lol

 

[EriksFish315]

Where does it say that? First time I heard that.

 

[Starchar]

You xenia looks a little miffed but it will likely come back.

I keep my salinity at 1.025 understanding that it will raise slightly due to evap.