2 chromis dead in a week... ???

[bigsteve]

Hey all... just had my second chromis die in a week. I don't know what's going on, but I have an idea. Just need someone to support my opinion.
I just switched tanks about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Went from a 29 to a 44. Used all the same water, just added some sand and about 13 gallons of new water. Also changed the filter cartridge (penquin 170), due to the sandstorm.
I'm thinking that by disturbing the DSB in the old tank (It was in there for a couple months), and putting the sand in the new tank, and changing the filter media, I caused a cycle. Further suggestion of this is the huge diatom outbreak on my sand (although I was using a 18w normal freshwater bulb and my 24" 50/50, and I have silicates in my sand).
As of now, water params are:
Temp - 79 degrees
Salinity - 1.023 (a little lower than I like)
Ammonia - 0
PH - 7.8 (low, I know... what's the best way to fix this? I don't know that I trust the baking soda)
NitrIte - 0
NitrAte - 20 (pretty high... maybe from disturbing DSB? Ideas?)
Feed once daily w/ flake and every few days w/ frozen brine.
Lights:
On 12:30pm and off 12:30 am
24" Coralife 50/50 03 actinic & 6000K 24w
18" Coralife 6500K 18w
Normal Output
Inhabitants:
Coral Banded Shrimp (how would he live through a cycle? also, hasn't molted recently)
Yellow Tail Damsel
2 chromis (down from 5)
3 scarlet leg hermits
1 astrea snail
Any suggestions to make the tank run a little better? Ideas on a cleanup crew? Just throw some things out, I really need suggestions. Thanks guys.

 

[tony detroit]

Originally posted by BigSteve
and I have silicates in my sand
silicates will continously bloom algae for you, you might want to consider switching sand
Have you tried running a skimmer and using RO/DI water?

 

[bigsteve]

Originally posted by tony detroit
silicates will continously bloom algae for you, you might want to consider switching sand
Have you tried running a skimmer and using RO/DI water?
Thanks Tony...
I know about the silicates... that's why I'm considering a goby of some sort to clean up the sand. But first I have to worry about keeping the fish I've got alive.... lol.
And, I forgot to mention that I'm running a skimmer. A Berlin Airlift 60. I'm not too fond of it to be honest. It works off and on, but when it works, it works right.
As far as the RO/DI, it's in the works. My parent's aren't real big on the idea of me cutting into their plumbing or anything to hook it up. Therefore, I'm going to have to wait until I get my own place. But, that's the price you pay being 20 yrs. old w/ 2 truck payments and some other debt. I'm just thankful they ask me to do chores instead of pay rent.
As for right now, I'm aging the saltwater and topoff water for about a week and adding the de-chlorinating/chloramining (?) drops.
Anybody else got any input? I'm not losing hope, I'm just bummed because my tank looks like crap and my "hardy" fish keep dying. I'm still leaning towards the idea of it being a cycle, but I can't explain how my CB shrimp lived through that.... maybe he's the exception to the rule, or I just got lucky.

 

[bigsteve]

bump...

 

[dreeves]

Chromis are not generally as tough as other damsel fish...sounds like you did create a cycle of some degree by doing what you stated.
Installing a RO/DI setup is not cutting into a waterline...it is attaching a saddle valve and penetrating the pipe with a small diameter screw/valve. When you do not need the saddle valve any longer...you just leave it where it is and they generally do not leak...the waste water line can just be guided into a sink or bathtub or something.