Big trouble starting

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sylvia5

Guest
Hi and Happy New Year. We are very new at this. We set up the tank. Waited what we were told was an appropriate time. Had the water tested. Apparently everything was fine including the temperature. We put in the damsels and in 30 seconds they were dead. We consulted with a few fish store guys. One thought maybe the fish were getting electrocuted so suggested we disconnect electric stuff and try again, same result. All chemical levels are good. We have emptied out the tank, cleaned everything thoroughly and are waiting again for it the tank to mature. Before I start putting in more doomed damsels, I was wondering if anyone has every experienced this. The fish guys are stumped. It's our understanding that almost anything wrong with the tank would not kill the fish on contact. I'd really appreciate any of your thoughts. Thanks. Sylvia
 
craig7220

craig7220

Member
Need to post your water quality readings before you put in any more fish. IE salinity, ammonia , nitrite and such. Also what size tank, how long was is set up before adding fish. Since you eliminated electrical problems, there is something drasticly wrong with your water, like no salt in the water or something major.
 
houndhome1

houndhome1

Member
The first thing I thought of was your water. You didn't say if you were using tap water or RO. I know you testedthe water for the usual stuff, I thinking there is soething not tested, could be a high cholrine count or a very high metal count.
I know in my town they use avery high chorline count along with a high florine count. Just a sugestion?
 
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sylvia5

Guest
Wow quick replies. Thanks. Here's some more specifics that I neglected. The tank is 46 gallons. The water was from the tap and conditioned with the stuff the guys at the store suggested (sorry, forget the name). The fish were acclimated by floating the bag for about 10 min. then adding a cup of tank water. Floating for about 5 more min. then adding another cup of tank water. Waiting about 5 more min. before introducing to the tank. After the first round of damsels died, we brought more water to tropiquarium and they did all the tests they could. Nitrates, ammonia, saline, metal, chlorine. The guys there said technically everything should work. The tank ran about a week before introduction of anything living. They are stumped and have never seen anything like this. Also, the bacteria stuff was added according to the instructions of the store guys. Sorry to be so "untechnical" in my terminology. Still learning.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
dont add more fish. take a piece of raw uncooked shrimp drop it into your tank and let it rot. go buy the test kits to do all the test your self (this is something your going to have to do on a regular basis anyway)
drip acclimation is the method they should have explained to you at the store. (I really hate local fish stores)
HOw much sand is in your tank?
how much Live rock?
what are you useing for a filter?
what is the exact name of the dechlorinator you used?
what is the name of the bacterial supplement you used?
did you check the expiration date?
there are lots of other questions but lets start with these and start to narrow down the problems. cycleing your tank is going to take a while. a week is not going to be sufficient.
I'm going to be on and off here all day so i will keep an eye out for your posts and see if I can help walk you through this. I am going to be propagating corals later so some of my replies may take a while.
here are some names you to look for in your posts that I regard as very useful sources Thomas712, Beth, NM reef, Bang Guy, MichaelTX, ophiura, ViPeR_930, hot883, Squidd, lion_crazz, 1journeyman, murph145 these are all forum moderators and highly experienced. and they are all online currently.
 
houndhome1

houndhome1

Member
Is your tap water from a well or city . I would bring it to your local health dept. they will test it for free. The other sugestions are also very good. This is a hobby of patience.
 
S

sylvia5

Guest
Well, we emptied the tank and cleaned it with white vinegar and a lot of warm water. We have refilled the tank from the tap. I will have my tap water tested before doing anything. We have recirculated the salt for about two days. We have added about an inch or so of rinsed crush coral. I have a friend who has been taking care of his own salt water fish for a couple of decades stopping by today. I will keep my fingers crossed that he can help. I'll check in again. I can't thank you all enough for your replies and suggestions. I have a feeling this may take a while. I appreciate the support.
 
hatessushi

hatessushi

Active Member
You might want to consider replacing the crushed coral for live sand since crushed coral is known to trap detritus (waste) and build up nitrates.
Damsel fish are a very hardy fish and if they are dieing within a few minutes of adding them to your tank I believe the problem is hardly the state of your cycle. A damsel will usually survive a cycle since some people use them just for that (not recommended).
I would have the tap water tested immediately for lead, arsenic, chlorine, chlorimine, etc. What city do you live in? I recommend you mix your salt with RO water instead of tap since the tap water will probably cause diatom problems later on. Also, what kind of salt are you using and what is your specific gravity?
 
hatessushi

hatessushi

Active Member
Originally Posted by Sylvia5
Wow quick replies. Thanks. Here's some more specifics that I neglected. The tank is 46 gallons. The water was from the tap and conditioned with the stuff the guys at the store suggested (sorry, forget the name). The fish were acclimated by floating the bag for about 10 min. then adding a cup of tank water. Floating for about 5 more min. then adding another cup of tap water. Waiting about 5 more min. before introducing to the tank. After the first round of damsels died, we brought more water to tropiquarium and they did all the tests they could. Nitrates, ammonia, saline, metal, chlorine. The guys there said technically everything should work. The tank ran about a week before introduction of anything living. They are stumped and have never seen anything like this. Also, the bacteria stuff was added according to the instructions of the store guys. Sorry to be so "untechnical" in my terminology. Still learning.
I just noticed what could be your problem. Above you stated you added a cup of tap water to the bag with the fish while acclimating. It's written in where you added the second cup. That's what killed your fish! You can't add tap water to an acclimating fish. Unless that is a typo.
 
poniegirl

poniegirl

Active Member
Originally Posted by HatesSushi
I just noticed what could be your problem. Above you stated you added a cup of tap water to the bag with the fish while acclimating. It's written in where you added the second cup. That's what killed your fish! You can't add tap water to an acclimating fish. Unless that is a typo.
One of the missing ingredients just might be SALT?
What brand of salt are you using and what is your specific gravity reading?
 
bluemantr

bluemantr

Member
You shouldnt add any livestock until your tank fully cycled. It takes at least 4 weeks ( unless LR and LS came from established tank ) Cycling with damsels isnt a good idea. First its really bad for fish even they are damsels. Second no rush. Third DONT listen LFS ( %99 LFS thinks their pockets, not your tank), ask question here if you are not sure what you are doing.
Here is the good reading for you about adding livestock to your tank
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/acclimation.php
Good luck.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I agree, do not use damsels - you have given the fish store some good money, and you probably will not want them in there. There is NO reason to need to use damselfish. In fact, spend the money on live rock, a far better investment.
Did they sell you Biospira? Cycle? Again, buy LR....you are spending money and making a good customer for the store. But it is not the cheapest, or the best way, to set up a tank. Believe us.
If they were confident in the bacterial culture, there would be no reason to add the damselfish.
But we can give you better ways of doing this.
What specifically are your values for specific gravity, pH and alkalinity? Have you done painting? Did you use soap, or a kitchen sponge, or lotions or anyting on your hands? Did you use lysol or any other cleaners nearby?
What is your filtration, etc? What is the temperature?
Take home message: DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THE DAMSELS OR ON BACTERIAL CULTURES
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
What specifically are your values for specific gravity, pH and alkalinity? Have you done painting? Did you use soap, or a kitchen sponge, or lotions or anyting on your hands? Did you use lysol or any other cleaners nearby?
I was just thinking this. My sister one time used a clean (brand new right out of the package) all purpose sponge that was not for aquariums, just a household sponge, in her tank once and it killed every creature in her tank. All tests read normal while everything was dieing and we couldn't figure it out untill she told me what she had used. Any cleaning media that is not specifically for aquariums are a bad idea. Many of them contain antibacterial agents that will certainly kill any tank inhabitant.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by ophiura
When you've worked at an LFS, you've seen a whole lot of stuff

more than we care to admit sometimes :scared:
 
yomommasmom

yomommasmom

Member
heres another tip but i doupt you really wna fool with it now if you use tap water in your tank alot of alge will grow if you used distilled purified water about 60 percent less alge will grow resulting in an better cleaner tank
 
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