HELP my fish are dying!!!

johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
I have a 12 gallon and I am having trouble keeping fish alive... I lost a clown and a few damsels...
All my coral is fine and looks great...
The only thing that is high is my alkalinity and it is through the roof... I did a 50% water change the other day but it's still high... what could it be? How do I get it down?
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Make a new batch of saltwater and test it before you use it to see if that's the source of your high alk.
How many fish did you have in this 12 gallon tank? I wouldn't attempt more than one or two very small fish in that size system.
It helps us diagnose problems quicker if you can list the actual values of your parameters. Terms like low or high don't have much meaning when we're trying to help.
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
well I had a tiny domino damsel a green chromis and a clown and just some snails and hermit... it's mainly going to be a coral tank... the last time I tested the water
salinity 1.025
ammonia 0
nitrate <10
ph 8.0
calcium 520
alkalinity 17.1
what else should I test for?
should I do actual ocean water instead of mixing my own?
in my 110 gallon we add some trace elements and i was doing that for a bit in the 12 gallon but then i stopped right away when i saw everything skyrocket... I want to get my water right so I can have a pair of seahorses and coral and then i will be
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
How did your new saltwater test?
I wouldn't use natural sea water unless you can go out beyond the pollution zone to get it.
Your ALK is high but it's not deadly. What were these trace elements you added?
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2533561
How did your new saltwater test?
I wouldn't use natural sea water unless you can go out beyond the pollution zone to get it.
Your ALK is high but it's not deadly. What were these trace elements you added?
I didn't test anything but the salinity in the new water... and it was 1.024 ... am I supposed to test for something else? My LFS has natural sea water that's why I had asked about that, but I don't know where they get it...
Trace elements are natureef the alkalinty plus and hardness plus... then I stopped both of them
 
rtspeed

rtspeed

Member
okay stop everything, your adding and buying the sea water. Over the next few day do about a 75 percent change in water and just let it settle for a few days.
Buy a bag of salt and mix the water yourself, as the natural sea water, from florida area is just bottle shoreline water, which is high in nitrates and alk, i also have seen some samples with ph thats 10 and above.
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Originally Posted by rtspeed
http:///forum/post/2534137
okay stop everything, your adding and buying the sea water. Over the next few day do about a 75 percent change in water and just let it settle for a few days.
Buy a bag of salt and mix the water yourself, as the natural sea water, from florida area is just bottle shoreline water, which is high in nitrates and alk, i also have seen some samples with ph thats 10 and above.
Ok great THANK YOU so much!!!!! Should I be adding anything besides salt? or just let it do it's thing on its own?
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
OK I tested my water last night here are the most recent results... my 2 clown gobies are NOT eating at all and I have a feeling they aren't going to last very long I need HELP!!!

My coral is still doing great
salinity- 1.021
ammonia- 0
nitrate- <10
ph - 8.2
phosphate- 0.6
calcium- 400
alkalinity- 11.2
 
aquariumrookie

aquariumrookie

Member
Are those readings with the water and salt mixture that you did yourself? Are you using an RO/DI unit? What type of filter are you running and have you changed the media in it lately?
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Originally Posted by AquariumRookie
http:///forum/post/2536542
Are those readings with the water and salt mixture that you did yourself? Are you using an RO/DI unit? What type of filter are you running and have you changed the media in it lately?
The water is from my LFS its RO and yes I mixed the water change myself, the original water was from my 110 reef tank... I'm not sure what you would call my filter its a 12 gallon aquapod the filter is built into the back... it has a blue sponge, bio balls, and charcoal pouch...
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Johnny&Sin
http:///forum/post/2538848
What can I put to replace bio balls?
Another powerhead to increase waterflow.
What are you feeding the Goby?
Do I see a Royal Gramma in the corner or is that just a reflection?
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2538951
Another powerhead to increase waterflow.
What are you feeding the Goby?
Do I see a Royal Gramma in the corner or is that just a reflection?
Ok I have the nano corallia ( thats the pink that looks like the gramma)do you think I should get another?
I am feeding them cyclopeeze which they just started eating, i was feeding flake food which they wouldn't touch...
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by Johnny&Sin
http:///forum/post/2539253
Ok I have the nano corallia ( thats the pink that looks like the gramma)do you think I should get another?
I am feeding them cyclopeeze which they just started eating, i was feeding flake food which they wouldn't touch...
To be honest 2 fish is about at the max for a 12 gallon tank. I know it seems hard to believe but your chance of success drops rapidly if you add even 1 more fish.
Flaked food is a terrible thing for saltwater fish. I wish they wouldn't make it. Cyclop-Eeze is great but small quantity. The Clown Goby will gain weight quickly if you can get it interested in Mysis Shrimp.
 
johnny&sin

johnny&sin

Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/2539366
To be honest 2 fish is about at the max for a 12 gallon tank. I know it seems hard to believe but your chance of success drops rapidly if you add even 1 more fish.
Flaked food is a terrible thing for saltwater fish. I wish they wouldn't make it. Cyclop-Eeze is great but small quantity. The Clown Goby will gain weight quickly if you can get it interested in Mysis Shrimp.
Ok great! Thank you so much for ALL your help!
 
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