All SPS bleached overnight!

[Sancho]

So Yesterday I was trying to make room in the tank for some new corals. I had to do some re aquascaping. I have a few rocks with a lot of Paly's and Zoas. Those were the only pieces I moved. When I moved one of the rocks I noticed it pulled a Kenya tree off. The other thing I noticed some of the Paly's closed up and started sliming and clouding the tank. I am 99% sure that the release of Palytoxin killed all of my SPS. But still a little unsure. This tank is well established up and running over 8 years. I have moved stuff around in the past but never with this result. 100% SPS die off. My setosa still had some color this morning. It is now gone. I did a water change and am running carbon and a Poly filter. Water params are normal. Has any one else had a similar experience? Could it be something other than palytoxin? Any thoughts?

[cyn]

oh hell. i'm a noobie so do not know,
but i'm sorry. =(

[klyeorkyle]

I'm sorry to hear that Sancho.

[jasonp87]

Did you pull apart any zoas when you moved the rocks? I've never heard of zoas and palys releasing toxin without being torn or greatly disturbed. Just moving them shouldn't be the trigger. It sounds like the zoas and palys were reacting to something in the water, not releasing something. Maybe it was more to do with the kenya that you said pulled apart? Maybe something on your hands or arms that was transferred to the water?

[Sancho]

Yes there were palys and zoas that may have been pulled off as they were growing on the rock I moved and the rock under it. The Kenya tree had attached its foot to 2 pieces of rock when I moved the rock it came loose and went into the abyss. Could that kenya be the issue?

[jasonp87]

I think I've heard of kenyas being a problem in the past but I can't be sure. I know if they die they can be a nightmare though. Was your skin exposed to the water? If so and there was enough toxin in your tank to take out the SPS you should be feeling the effects as well. Stuff in the water is supposed to be somewhat resistant to it.

[Sancho]

What ever it is it has thrown my whole tank off. Now both anemones are spawning. This sucks. Anemones spawn when stressed. So something I did pissed off the whole system. I was planning on doing a 100% water change tonight but work kept me later I expected. It is a small tank 34 gallons. The only thing that looks happy in my tank are the Zoas and Palys. My soft corals have now all closed up. I am at a loss. 20 plus years in the hobby never had a complete die off.

[Sancho]

My eyes hurt all night last night. Eye lids were swollen this morning and have felt heavy all day.

[Funkateer_1]

Moving 8 year old rock could release pockets of hydrogen sulfide gas and cause a crash. Thats my guess

[DaveMorris]

Well that sucks. I would guess either hydrogen sulfide as Mr. Funky suggested or palytoxin. Kenya tress are a PITA because they spread like GSP, but I've never heard of them stressing out a tank when bothered. Sorry to hear about this. Wish I could help.

[naso tang]

Any chance you have a toadstool or leather coral in the tank? One of those caused trouble for my sps when I moved rocks around one time. Thought I moved a power head that blew on to a toadstool, pissed it off and I lost a bunch of sps...

[jasonp87]

My eyes hurt all night last night. Eye lids were swollen this morning and have felt heavy all day.

That sounds like palytoxin if it's been aerosolized. I would have expected irritation to the skin on your arms and hands. Maybe to the face if you touched your face

[HumanMachine]

Did you somehow release any Hydrogen Sulfide that was under your rocks perhaps? Though I don't think it would be able to cause that much damage?

[OhioStreetz]

H2S is no joke I don't see it killing all your livestock or affecting your eyes like you said but palytoxin for sure.

[OhioStreetz]

Ok retract my first statment did a little Google action and turn out h2s can mix with water and turn to hydrosulfuric acid which will kill plants and animals.