Resolved Fish keep dying,

So I have a 45 gal tank. It has been setup for about 3 months. It has already gone threw its cycle. I'm new to this hobby.

I have had about $300.00 of fish die in this tank over the past 2 months.
1 yellow tang
4 clown fish
2 lawnmower blennies
2 cardinals
1 fire shrimp
Note: not all of the fish have been in the tank at the same time.
15 snails
5 hermit crabs

I spent $300.00 on a brand new 6 stage RO/DI unit thinking that it might be the water. I have been doing a 5gal water change a week.

I keep testing the system and all of the levels are fine. PH 8.2 Ammonia 0, Nitrates 0, Nitrites 0, Copper 0, Temp is set to 80, Salt 1.23

They get fed twice a day; The lights are on for about 9 hours.

I am currently left with a small Yellow Tang, Cleaner Shrimp, Chocolate Chip Star fish, 3 Turbo Snails, 3 hermit crabs,

If I can’t find out why the fish keep dying soon. I might not be keeping this hobby much longer.

Does anyone have any idea or help that they can provide.

 

I would guess that there is probably some sort of pathogen in your system. A lot of the fish you mentioned are pretty tolerant of mediocre water quality. Do the fish show ay lesions? Redness? Spots? You may have to go fish less, for up to 8 weeks to get rid of certain pathogens. Have you don this?

 

Yes, I don't see anything in the tank or on the fish. The last clown just died today. I have been watching him since the other one died 4 days ago. He stopped eating yesterday morning and last night and did not eat this morning. But he was hiding alot behind the rocks.

About an hour before he died he was out swimming around. More fighting the current in the water.

 

Very sorry for your losses What test kits are you using? Is it possible for you to take a water sample to your LFS and have them test it? Are you noticing if the fish appear to be *gasping* for air? Breathing fast?

 

Are you using any chemicals around the tank like Febreeze or carpet fresh? What about a ground probe? I had the same problem a few months after I started my tank and added a ground probe and all has been fine. What kind of circulation do you have in the tank is there a chance of oxygen levels being low? Like M2434 said maybe you should go fishless a while and start restocking slowly after that.

 

okay well it has to be a problem with something in the tank if you are using clean rodi water. What salt mix are you using? take a close look at everything you have put into your tank and decide whether it could have contained toxins. Research fish diseases and see if any of them seem viable. If all of your livestock is dying anyways you may want to drain the tank, take everything out and sanitize it then start your tank back up. How to Disinfect a Saltwater Aquarium | eHow.com

 

i would add a uv sterilizer to the tank,( look into them get a good one, you can find used ones on ebay cheap and just buy a new bulb for it) they are a great add for keeping water quality high especially in the start when you are adding a lot of new things to the tank.

 

You added fish after a month? How did you cycle the tank? What size is the tank? How many fish did you add at a tiime?

 

What test kits are you using?
API Aquarium Calcium Test Kit
API Aquarium Phosphate Test Kit
API Copper Aquarium Test Kit
API Saltwater Master Test Kit
Is it possible for you to take a water sample to your LFS and have them test it?
I have taken the water to Petco several times to have it tested and every time they tell me that my water is perfect.

Are you noticing if the fish appear to be *gasping* for air? Breathing fast?
No none of the fish are swimming up to the top to and gasping for air. They seem to be breathing normal.

Are you using any chemicals around the tank like Febreeze or carpet fresh?
The only chemicals that I use around the tank are Windex to clean the glass. That’s it. And very careful not to get any in the tank when I do use it.

What about a ground probe?
No idea what this is but looking into it.


What kind of circulation do you have in the tank is there a chance of oxygen levels being low?
Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel Protein Skimmers
Fluval External Canister Filters
750 Hydor Koralia Controllable Water Circulation Pump I just ordered a second one hopping that might help.

What salt mix are you using?
Instant Ocean Aquarium Salt

uv sterilizer?
No idea what this is but looking into it.

How did you cycle the tank? What size is the tank? How many fish did you add at a tiime?

The tank was cycled using black mollies. And Dr. Tim’s One and Only. The black mollies survived the cycle and I tested the tank every day. Watched the Nitrates go up to 60. The Ammonia got up to 5. Ph dropped all the way down to about 7. Then watched everything come back to normal. I graphed it on excel with graphs to watch the change. After the cycle (about 1 week) I have seen to mini cycles but nothing the caused any concern. The most I have seen anything to up to is ammonia up to .25 with the nitrites and nitrates to follow and quickly dissipate in about 2 days.

I added the 2 clowns and the yellow tang just after the cycle. Then a week later I added the fire shrimp. The fire shrimp lasted about 20 min in the tank. (Learned the hard way about proper acclimation). Then added the cleaner shrimp and the lawnmower blenny. This was all done about the end of DEC. So the shrimp and the yellow tang have been in the tank the longest. A week after that I added 2 cardinals the One died within the first 24 hours. I think the yellow tang ate all of his fins but one. The second lasted about 2 days. But he still had all of his fins.

 

On a side note, if there is enough "stray current" in your tank to actually kill fish, without a ground probe, then you have a serious equipment failure!
You really should find it and replace that equipment. Ground probes are to keep you from getting electrocuted, in such an event, not to permanently mask the problem. "Stray voltage", is from induced currents (i.e. magnets a powerhead or lamp ballets near the tanks etc...). This won't kill fish, as it is static, at least until you ground it, for example with a ground probe... and it is very low voltage. Anything high enough to actually kill a fish is a potentially serious issue IMO.

To the OP, it still sounds like pathogens. To me. Are there any fish left?