Used Wrong Sealant

[Kenya]

The last two days have been horrible! I have lost 4 chromis, 1 fire angel, 1 yellow tang and all my fish and coral look like they are on the brink of death. Some of the coral look like they will not survive this. All my coral won't open or come out and some of my sps has turned to a purplish brown. I have been trying to figure out why this all of sudden happening and can't figure it out.

My water params are normal and only thing that is kinda off is my CA which 480 instead of the usual 400-420 range but even that shouldn't cause this. Well after pondering over the situation I was wondering what has been different and I realize that I had to replace my old sump due to many leaks. During the rebuilding of my new sump I must have picked up the wrong sealant to install the baffles. Now two days later its like the holocaust in there. Any suggestions on what to do?

[Gseclipse02]

take the sump offline and do a water change

[Kenya]

Do you think I should remove the sealant from the sump and redo it with other sealant? I just removed my fish and my good pieces of coral from the aquarium and put them in another tank.

[cbianco]

What sealant did you actually use?

If you did in fact use the wrong sealant on the sump, your going to have to either remove the sump and get another or replace the sealant on the sump. Either way it will be difficult. As for the display, water changes and carbon should help to clean out some (hopefully most) of the contaminates.

I would suggest contacting a sponsor for a caulk sized tube of aquarium silicone if you decide to redo the sump.

Christopher :)

[bfoleyiii]

I belive the mildew repelling silicones use arsenic which I dont think carbon will remove. I'm not saying dont run the carbon as there could be something else going on, but look at other alternatives now incase the carbon isnt working.

<edit>

I found a link to BRS GFO media that states it can remove arsenic to that might be something to try as well.

[hobogato]

also pick up some poly filter to help remove other things that may have leached into the water

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/productreviews/gr/prpolyfilter.htm

[Kenya]

I used the GE Silicone II Window and Door sealant. On lowes website it says it has mildew resistors. All the other websites I have searched has said this is toxic to any marine life.

Just an update on what I have done.. I have pretty much tore down my entire tank. I removed about 90% of the water in the main tank. I'm bout to fill it back up with freshly made saltwater tomorrow and run carbon in it for couple days. I also removed the sump and will remove all the caulk and reseal it with aquarium safe caulk. Fish in the other tank are doing better but I did have another casualty.. my prized 7" powder blue tang. I was hoping she would make it through. The coral also look a tad bit better but definitely still look damaged. I also have been running carbon in my backup tank to help remove any impurities or toxins.

Im going to run some poly-filter also in main and secondary tank to help with removing anymore floating contaminants.

Should I be worried about toxins getting on live rock or live sand? Should I clean the live rock? Maybe a quick dip in a fresh batch of saltwater?

[Kenya]

Buehler? Buehler?

[hobogato]

not sure john, you might want to flush the rock and sand with good saltwater a couple of times at least.

[Kenya]

OK. I'm Just worried if I put the rocks back in the tank the toxins will still be there and kill the rest of my livestock. I just can't believe I bought the wrong sealant. Thanks for the advice!

[Bill S]

John,

I didn't respond, 'cause I'm just not SURE.

Live rock, particularly, is very porous. I'd put it thru a BUNCH of fresh water changes AND time sitting in water. You can then re-introduce it and it will repopulate with bacteria, becoming "live" again. Dilution of the chemicals is key - and livestock will not tolerate much of it.

I remember in high school Bio II class, a friend of mine was working with an African plant that natives used to tip arrows/spears. He diluted it 400,000,000 to 1. It killed a goldfish in seconds.

[hobogato]

i am also not sure if you would be ok using that rock or sand, just agreeing that if you decide to use it you should flush it well.

[Mr Cob]

Bill, that reminds me of pee...how diluted does it need to be before one would drink it..lol

[jroescher]

I would be concerned that just removing the sealant and putting different sealant over it could still leave trace amounts of the poison. Is replacing the sump an option?