After reading post after post suggesting the same things in the emergency forum, I thought a post that gave the standard advice a quick review may be useful.
Please feel free to add to this.
Do a water change
The safest bet to solve most problems in your tank is to do a water change. Make sure your saltwater is well mixed and at the right temp and SG, and do a fairly large change.
Check your parameters
Instead of posting that your parameters are good, post your levels.
At minimum, test and post the levels for the following:
SG, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, Calcium, Alk, pH
Don't lie about your parameters, since we can't be as effective helping you if you do. Make sure your test kits are not expired, and if you have any question about them, use a new kit or do a control test with some distilled water.
Give us some info about your tank
Tell us what you're keeping, what size your tank is, what equipment you're running. This may help determine what the issue is.
Check your source water
If you've already done a water change and you're still having issues, or if your parameters test high after a water change, test your source water. Are you using RO/DI? DI only? Tap? Spring? You may have an issue with the water you're putting in your tank.
Make note of any changes
What have you recently changed in your tank? Added or removed powerheads? Changed your bulbs? Cleaned your sump? Added livestock. No matter how big or small the change may have been, let us know. This may have something to do with your problem.
Be Patient
Keep in mind, that the marine world is not used to the amount of variation we put them through in our tanks. The zoas you just got probably need some time to acclimate, and the fish you just shipped may hide for a day or two. Be patient, and don't start to worry right away. Give things some time, follow the steps above, and you'll likely be just fine.
Don't cry wolf
Keep in mind, if you freak out in the emergency forum because your shrimp molted and is hiding, people will start to see you as the boy who cried wolf. If your tank cracked and the water level is draining fast... you have an emergency.
Use Google
Ok, you don't have to use Google. Maybe you're a Yahoo guy or an Ask Jeeves gal.
Seriously though... check around a bit and do some research. Do a search for the description of your issue and you may turn something up and answer your own question.
Please feel free to add to this.
Do a water change
The safest bet to solve most problems in your tank is to do a water change. Make sure your saltwater is well mixed and at the right temp and SG, and do a fairly large change.
Check your parameters
Instead of posting that your parameters are good, post your levels.
At minimum, test and post the levels for the following:
SG, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, Calcium, Alk, pH
Don't lie about your parameters, since we can't be as effective helping you if you do. Make sure your test kits are not expired, and if you have any question about them, use a new kit or do a control test with some distilled water.
Give us some info about your tank
Tell us what you're keeping, what size your tank is, what equipment you're running. This may help determine what the issue is.
Check your source water
If you've already done a water change and you're still having issues, or if your parameters test high after a water change, test your source water. Are you using RO/DI? DI only? Tap? Spring? You may have an issue with the water you're putting in your tank.
Make note of any changes
What have you recently changed in your tank? Added or removed powerheads? Changed your bulbs? Cleaned your sump? Added livestock. No matter how big or small the change may have been, let us know. This may have something to do with your problem.
Be Patient
Keep in mind, that the marine world is not used to the amount of variation we put them through in our tanks. The zoas you just got probably need some time to acclimate, and the fish you just shipped may hide for a day or two. Be patient, and don't start to worry right away. Give things some time, follow the steps above, and you'll likely be just fine.
Don't cry wolf
Keep in mind, if you freak out in the emergency forum because your shrimp molted and is hiding, people will start to see you as the boy who cried wolf. If your tank cracked and the water level is draining fast... you have an emergency.
Use Google
Ok, you don't have to use Google. Maybe you're a Yahoo guy or an Ask Jeeves gal.
Seriously though... check around a bit and do some research. Do a search for the description of your issue and you may turn something up and answer your own question.
