:happyfish Aclimating is key. I would not go to that lfs again. They probably get fish that are not net caught and they soon die because of the cyanide they used instead of net catching them. Your doing way too much water changes. Only do like 2-3 gallon water changes every 2 weeks for your setup. You are taking out too much. Also what everyone said about fish are correct. You need to stick with the smaller fish. I would go out and get 3 damsels, to start in about a week. If they make it for 2 weeks, then in another week go and get a clown if you like them, ocelaris are hardier in my experience. Then wait a while like 2 weeks at least. Those are hardier fish to get in the beginning when you are going through a mini cycle, which sounds like you may be. Then get one more fish in a month or more to complete the tank. I would also get a grounding probe to check and see if your fish are getting electricuted by your heater or whatever. That could also be the culprit. Also, feed your fish 1 "formula 1" cube mushed up at least once daily, or feed fresh foods, or flakes, once daily or twice daily. Good luck, hope you don't have any more problems.:happyfish -ali
Ps, ro water is reverse osmosis drinking water. You can buy it from grocery stores, you just have to buy the 5 gal. jugs. That is key for saltwater tanks. After a while you probably will just buy a unit. If you don't want to do that, make sure if your using your tap water for water changes, and topping off, that you declorinate it before you put in the tank. Good luck, ali
I have a 30 gallon salt water tank that's been set up for approximately one year. I had 4 fish for about 6 months, then one by one they died off. The only things I have left are a chocolate chip starfish, a fire coral shrimp, 2 small hermit crabs, and one small snail. When I started having problems I had a professional come over. He tested my tank and said my nitrate was too high and to do a water change. That was in early May. Since then I have done at least 8 water changes, taking half the water out each time. I've always tested my nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, ph, and salt 9(at least once a week)since I've had the tank but never had this problem !!!! Now every time I buy a fish it lasts about a week to ten days and then it dies.I have live sand in the bottom (which I've sifted through many times to make sure there wasn't any junk underneath it.) I probably have about 15-20 pounds of live rock, a hose that makes bubbles flow to the top for looks,a Emperor 400 filter system and a Seaclone 100 protein skimmer. my ammonia and nitrite are still at 0. My ph is about 8.2-8.4, salt is 1.024 and my nitrate is almost to 20. Yesterday I bought a small cardinal fish and a small sweet lips fish. This morning the cardinal was laying on it's side dying and the sweet lips has been in the corner all day on the bottom acting like it's going to die too. I don't know what else to do. Sorry for the book, but please help !!!!
