Oxygen mix at surface

Did I kill my corals with wood stain?

Is it possible that during the transfer of oxygen at the surface that fumes from the air could be transferred to the tank water?

I recently stained a table and chair in the same room the tank is in. Since then, none of my corals have opened up. Nothing else has changed with the exception of a 150W coralife HOT MH fixture replacing a pendant style hanging above the tank light. It is over a 20 gallon tank.

My PH is high at 8.6 and I can't get it down. I have done a 20% water change 2 days ago and changed the filters (Penguin 350) hoping the carbon would/could suck some out if it was even in there.

Temp is 78-79 lights off, 81-82 lights on. No top.

Ammonia and nitrites read 0 ppm. Nitrates are 0-5ppm.

Salinity has been adjusting a lot lately, now at 1.027, as high as 1.03.

Those are the only tests I have.

I have 3 clowns in the tank, a brittle star, 3 Rics (2 very small, 1 about 2 inches round), a mushroom, and 20-30 various zoa's. All corals have shrunk. The fish have been hiding a lot and the star always hides.

Tank has been up for about 2 years ( 9 months with me ), reef tank with 10-15 lbs of LR, an inch of crushed coral in the bottom.

I do know the bulb is old (2-3 years unfortunately). I just put it in and then found out the old owners hadn't changed the bulb since they got it. The new one will be in on Monday.



Any ideas?

 

I can't say if the stain would affect your tank the way that you described but I can say that fumes can definitely make it into your tank water. Are you running carbon?

 

yeah...in the Penguin 350. And I just changed them hoping they would remove any toxins that got in. The fumes lasted for almost 3 days in that room. I had never thought about the fumes making their way in, but I guess they have.

 

Wouldn't hurt to do a water change if you haven't already. Also, have your LFS test your alk/calcium/magnesium. Once you know those numbers, you should be able to address your ph issue.

 

How often can I perform a water change? I did a 20% 3 days ago. I will go get 10 gallons today, is 50% too much to change at one time?

I'm guessing the ph is wacked due to the extra chemicals from the fumes huh?

 

Hard to say why the ph is whacked. Could be that your alk/calcium/magnesium levels are off which would cause ph fluctuations.

I would never do a 50% water change as I believe it would stress the tank and inhabitants out way too much. Go ahead and test those other levels before doing another water change.

 

ok...thanks

 

Yes, they absolutely can. Cleaning fluids or things we use to clean our homes, air fresheners etc. That is why, despite what some believe, a closed top, weather by means of glass or a canopy, is the safest route. This article will benefit you; http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2002/feature.htm

 

Wow, Great article. That basically proves exactly what I had guessed and Amcarrig had confirmed too. Now I just hope I can get it all out before its too late if it is not already. All the corals I have are very hardy so maybe there is hope they will come back after I get things right again.

 

Not to hijack but I had the same question that I meant to pose here.....
I often have incense or candles going in the house and was wondering if this could impart the harmful vapors and such into the tank.....


Edit: Read the article, lol. Good find on the article!