Why won't my fish live?

I'm hoping everyone here can help me troubleshoot why my fish won't live and what I can do to resolve the issue, since a fishless tank is pretty boring.

I have a 55gallon tank that was set up 5/23/09 with 50lbs of cured live rock and about 20lbs of non-live sand.

Currently, the tank has
1 peppermint shrimp (7/10/09),
3 golf ball size turbo snails (7/15/09)
about a dozen small blue leg hermits (7/15/09)
along with a couple nassarius snails, and other misc snails.

on 7/10 I added 2 bangaii cardinals. 1 died less than 48hrs later, and my lfs gave me store credit and I replaced it 7/18.
about 5 days later, the original one died, leaving only the newer one.
The 3rd one died a couple days later (7/25).
Also on the 25th I put in 2 damsels.
One of the damsels lived for 3 days, the other 1 week.

In all cases, it appeared they were not eating.
In the case of the Bangaiis (which I will call 1,2, & 3) 1 was not eating, but 2 was. When 1 died, 2 stopped eating and 3 was eating until 2 died, then stopped eating.

the food I've been using is Omega One super veggie kelp flakes, and frozen mysid shrimp. Before the 3rd Cardinal died I also tried live brine shrimp.

I've been doing my water changes about every 2 weeks since 7/5.

Parameters as of 8/4/09 5pm,
Temperature: 78
PH: 8.2
Ammonia:<.25
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0
Salinity:1.022
dKH/KH/Alkalinity:11.5ppm
Calcium: 300ppm
Phosphate:0

I'm using salifert test kits.

My acclimation method has been putting the fish in a bucket with their water from the store, just enough to cover them. Then taking an air hose line with a knot tied in one end, starting a siphon from the tank and letting it drip for a about an hour and a half.

Anyone have any ideas where to start?

 

You need to stop adding anything until the ammonia is gone. I would also stop with the drip method, specially for that long. It causes huge fluctuations in PH and increases the toxicity of ammonia in the acclimation water. I like to float for 15, add some water, float another 5-10 minutes then dump right in
Also, did you observe the fish eating beforehand at the LFS?

 

Do you have a protein skimmer? And are you running carbon? It might be possible that you have some sort of chemical or waste in your tank that is affecting your fish (though not sure why it wouldn't also affect your inverts). Definitely look into a skimmer (if you aren't using one already), and I might consider running some carbon for a week or two to make sure the water is clean of anything unwanted.

 

I have the following questions;

1. Was your set up new or used?

2. Have you tested for copper?

Your tank is 3 months old, you shouldnt have any NH3. I also acclimate my fish/corals the same way that PackLeader mentioned.



Luna

 

+1 on testing for copper... it should also effect your inverts though

Yeah your ammonia should be gone by now.. unless you are seeing it from the massive die off of your fish...

May also want to check for stray voltage from a pump.. you would probably know if you stuck your hand in there though if you werent grounded

 

I also had the same thought after I posted. As for the stray voltage, I would test for that too. Great point! Cdeboard.


Luna

 

I also think you need more flow in that tank and more time. Is that a canister with a biowheel?

 

The ammonia very well could be gone. The Salifert test has <0.25 as the lowest.
No, I did not ask them to feed before I bought any of them.

No skimmer, yes on carbon.

1. The tank and canister filter/biowheel(see below) setup used to be a freshwater system. The tank itself I cleaned with fine steel wool before I set it up. The rest I cleaned the best I could.
2. I do not have a test for copper.

I've never noticed being shocked when reaching into the tank. I'll pull out my meter and check it.

It is a canister filter with a pump in it, I have carbon inside. The biowheel part of it does NOT have a bio wheel in it. It is there to agitate the surface. The canister filter and biowheel are not part of the long term plan for the tank.

The powerhead is a maxijet 1200, with a 1600GPH prop.
Initially i had the 2100gph prop on it, but the fish seemed to be blown around by it and fighting the current, as did the shrimp. I put the smaller prop on, and the fish seemed to be able to swim easier.

 

Just to have a peace-of-mind, I would have my LFS test for copper. For some reason, am having bad vibes on your "used" tank and canister. I think that your troubles are coming from those two things.


Luna

 

not as knowledagble as these guys on here but i added nothign for at least 2 weeks after everythign read zero and then added 2 clowns cuz they hardy. Plz be patient until everythign reads zero minus nitrates cuz fish can live in minor coniditions of that. Wait until it all balances out, I let mine run bout month and a half before I added anything and everythign I add is living and thriving, knock on wood now.

****Disaster happens fast in a reef tank******