Fish dying... Need help

[MI0706]

Hello all,

First off, my specs:
-Hardware:
55 gal
CPR-Bakpak2
Penguine 330 bio-wheel
2x50w heaters
Smartlife PC lighting (2x10k, 2x6.5k)
50 lbs Marshall island LR
40 lbs base rock
50 lbs dry sand
20 lbs live sand
-Livestock:
2 cleaner shrimp
2 scarlet shrimp
4 emerald crabs
10 astrea snails
15 blue leg hermit crabs
1 serpent star
1 lawmower blenny
-Chemistry:
pH- 8.2
NH3- 0
NO3- 0
NO4- 0
Alk- 11.2
Ca- 340
PO4- 0
Temp- 77-79F
Water looks clear

Last week I added a clown fish (Oscellaris) and a yellow tang (Phillipine). 3 days after I added the fish, the clown fish died. And then just today I found the tang dead. Neither fished looked like they were unhealthy. Both of them ate when I would feed them. Both of them acted fine (I guess for a fish).

I bought both fish at the same store. Just a local store here where I live. And at first I thought maybe there was something wrong with the fish store. But then again, I also bought my blenny from them about 3 weeks ago, and he's doing fine.

The chemistry results were taken just today after I found the tang dead. I don't know what else to look for... I don't want to add anything else until I find a concrete reason for the deaths... I NEED HELP GUYS!!!

 

[rachyl756]

How long has your tank been set up?

Out of couriosity, I didn't see that stat listed

Oh and what kinda test kit do you have?

Thanks

Info that will probably help others answer but important I think

Rachel

 

[SpecialK]

How long did you cycle the tank? Do you have a date when you started the tank?

Kaye

 

[MI0706]

I started the tank at the end of September. The tank cycled about two weeks later, which would be mid October. About two weeks after the tank cycled is when I added the hermits and the snails. Then a couple weeks later added the shrimp. And so on... As for the fish that just died, I added them less than a week ago. The clown lasted 3 days and the tang lasted 5 days. The blenny has been in there for about 3 weeks.

I'm using the Saltwater master test kit (has pH, NH3, NO3, NO4), the Fastest alkalinity kit, and the Hagen Calcium and Phosphate kit. My CA definiciency is another issue that I'm dealing with right now.

 

[Anonymous]

hi MI0706 - welcome to reefs.org!

how did you acclimate your fish? that is a question that comes to mind for me.

 

[doc_slick]

Did you quarantine or acclimate your fish before placing them in your main tank. I believe I'm thinking along the lines of Coralshrimp.

 

[MI0706]

I acclimated them before I put them in the tank... I did it how the LFS told me to do, which was also the same way I acclimated the blenny...

This is how they said to do it...

1. Put some of our water out of the bag in to a bucket (the bucket I use is only for acclimation. It has never been used for anything else).
2. Then place the fish in the bucket. Add one cup of your water to the bucket and wait 15 minutes.
3. Repeat the adding one cup of water atleast 3 times or until the total water concentration in the bucket is exactly what is in your tank...

 

[Saltykirk]

A really good idea is to setup a 10-20 gallon quarantine tank. Are you placing the bucket on a concrete or tile floor? You'd be surprised how quickly those two can draw heat from object sitting on them. Making a habit of sitting on concrete when it is cool will give you a bad case of butt roids. Sorry, the concrete will cool the water in your bucket really quick. Tangs don't like fluctuating temps. If the water cools while he acclimates, then you toss him into the warm tank, the fish just went through 3 or 4 temp adjustments in about an hour.
How are you placing the fish into the tank?

 

[MI0706]

When the fish is acclimated (or atleast when I think he is), I usually dump the contents of the bucket back into the tank very gradually...

No, I'm not setting the bucket on a concrete floor... I set the bucket on the rug right beside tank/stand...

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think it was shock, as an hours worth of acclimation should be fine. Although I prefer to use a slow drip.

I do see one problem, unrelated to the fish deaths though. Never pour water that was at your LFS into your main tank. Net the fish and place them in the tank. LFS water can have all sorts of diseases in it. Also, many LFSs coper their water and you will be adding this copper to your tank, harming your inverts.

And for christ's sake, QT your fish for a month in another tank...it will avoid all sorts of horrible problems down the road.

Good luck!