Tank is crashing

Well the tank is in the process of crashing. Here's the story. I haven't ran a skimmer in 6 months and everything was looking great. I started the skimmer four days ago and almost immediately the tank looked stressed. I think my mistake was when I shut my skimmer off  left it all in place with the water in the lower chamber. When I started I cleaned it all except for the lower water chamber. My guess is the water that was in there is the cause. In the last day I have lost a tang, a diamond golby, and two pj cardinals. So far the survivors are one pj, a lawn mower blenny, two breeding clowns, all the snails, hermit crabs, anemone, sand sifting starfish, and my clam. I've done massive water changes today with more to come tomorrow. I'm starting to think that if all my water tests were fine with out the skimmer and the tank looked awesome for this long I should have left well enough alone. Live and learn.

 

I'm in Camanche. Not sure what to do at the moment besides ride it out, but thanks for the offer. I'm going to test the water in the morning or maybe tonight when we get home. I figured I'd wait a bit after doing a big water change. I think it was you that I was listening to talk about your tank crashing when we were at the meeting and thinking that has to be a terrible/sick feeling. Now I know. I'm hoping I can pull this one out with out to much loss besides the fish.

 

I just tested and my nitrates are at 20ppm, so as I suspected the water in the lower chamber must have been loaded. Just to make sure it wasn't something in my supply water I checked my RO/DI water and it is 000. What is the quickest way to drop nitrates?

 

That's what I was saying to my wife last night. It is hard to determine what is dead, in process of dying, or just stressed. Once the lights come back on today I'll try to do a damage assessment. I have a fairly simple set up and don't have any cukes, so hopefully getting this thing turned around won't be too bad. I guess the good thing is, if I have to start over I know what not to do and what I want to do different with the tank. Thanks for all the advice and offers. I guess time will tell.

On a more upscale note, hope every one had a good Happy New Years celebration last night. (not sarcasm)

 

Just did another 5 gallon water change, changed all filters, sucked all the detritus out I could get out, removed two Kenya trees & a large group of Xania. I figured they were the ones that looked the worst and they grow like weeds, so I would start there. The mushrooms are not looking good, along with the yellow polyps, or the star polyps.I keeping my fingers crossed for the 2 soft ball size frog spawns, my zoas, anemone, tube anemone, clam and the rest of the fish. I'll keep things updated, so maybe people will learn from my mistakes.
The skimmer skim reaked 10x worse than it ever has before. As for being able to smell anything else no such luck. I'm fighting off bronchitis, sinus and ear infection and can hardly smell anything.

 

I just read a little on the Chemi Pure Elite, I think I might see if AE has any in stock. Sucks this happened over New Years so nothing is open.

 

Good news is now all the lights have been up for awhile now and most of the corals are looking a lot better than they did yesterday at this time. The fish that have survived don't look as labored as they did yesterday. The clowns are still tending to there eggs. Even though I don't think the eggs will survive, I think it looks like a good sign that they are getting back to normal. Still far from it , but getting there.

 

This was their third time for spawning, so I'm sure they'll be fine. I feel bad for the PJ cardinal though. He had eggs in his mouth and the are gone along with his mates. I've got about 4 hours combined of work between yesterday and today with water changes, refilling RO water, and mixing salt water. Still bummed, but looking positively at the things I've learned from it and being grateful for not loosing everything as of yet.

Once again, thanks a bunch for all the offers and info.

 

Heck, I'd be happy if the wife would let me put a lift with 33's on it./DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif