Fish and Shrimp @ the Top

I have a 40 breeder that's been setup for approximately 6 weeks now. I woke up the other day to find my clown fish and shrimp swimming at the top of the water. My Yellow Tang, 1 Tomato Clown, newly added 2nd cleaner shrimp and 6 line wrasse were all dead. All had eaten the night before. The yellow tang was the first of the fish added to the tank and has done extremely well. No signs of any abnormal breathing, Ick, etc. I was extremely surprised to see his demise. I should add that all of the fish appeared to be in great condition the night before. I did add a little API Stress Coat the night before just to insure protection to the new cleaner shrimp (only half of what is called for). Any potential suggestions what may have caused this? I have an idea, but rather get others points of view before adding my 2 cents.

 

How do your parameters look?

Ammonia / Nitrite

salinity / pH / temp?

 

Most likely low oxygen levels(fish swimming at surface of water) & not enough time for the cycle. You also stocked up too fast. I don't know about a tang in a 40g. The tang is rather large(for that size tank) and also creates a lot of waste. - causing high nitrate levels, especially in a new tank.

 

PH was a little low @ 7.9, but other than that, all other levels checked out just fine. I added PH 8.4 solution the week before to increase the levels that were lingering around 7.9-8.0.

Setting up a 92 Corner this Thursday.

 

What is your set up like. do you use a protein skimmer, use power heads etc..

 

Two power heads. One 800 and one 500 gph. The protein skimmer is on the way. I ordered it on the 5th.

 

Oxygen was my guess. The tang will be moving to the 92 gallon once it has cycled and been setup.

 

sounds like low oxygen

 

Point your powerheads towards the surface so you get a good rippling effect or surface agitation which gives you more surface area for oxygen transfer.

Sounds like you are going way too fast, you are at your maximum stocking level now and the tank has not even matured yet. Slow down.......

 

+1 for o2 levels