Help

[1seaton]

I have had my saltwater tank set up for several months. I was happy with my Damsels because I got so stressed out when I had it for years with different kinds of fish trying to kill one another. Anyway last night I needed to add a little water & I added the stuff to my water that I always use to make it safe for fish. I came in tonight & all but two fish are dead. The two left are at the top like they are trying to get oxygen or something. Any suggestions

 

[1seaton]

I had 4 Dominoes & 2 Blue Damsels & 1 Engineer Goby. I had tested the water last week & everything was okay. I topped off the water. After work today I did another test & the PH was a little off but not enough that would kill my fish I wouldn't think. The fish had been in there 4 months & all seemed healthy. When I added the water I had the light off but perhaps it still stressed them, I don't know.

 

[dugan]

The simple act of adding water to the tank wouldn't stress them enough to kill them. There must have been a problem with the water.
How big is your tank and how much water were you adding? What was the 'stuff' you put in the water? Are you using RO water? Is the bucket you use dedicated only to fish or could there have been some kind of soap or chlorine residue in there? You didn't add salt to the water you were using to top off, right?
Katie

 

[1seaton]

I used the stress coat there was no salt in the added water. I took the water to the pet store & they tested it also & said there was nothing that should have killed my fish. I have a 55 gal & I let the water get to about the same level I always do, I would say about 3 gallons based on the number of trips I made to the sink. I feel terrible. I went ahead & got some ph buffer even though the pet store said that shouldn't have killed them. The pitcher I used was the same one I always use from under the tank. I always rinse it before I use it. I appreciate any advice I would love to put more fish in but I don't want to hurt them if something is wrong.

 

[dugan]

Hmmm...
Do you know what the LFS tested for? If you were using tap water there may be copper or some other trace element that could have affected them. It's also possible the stress coat didn't eliminate the chlorine completely.
Were they showing any signs of stress prior to the water change? I'm wondering if it may have been some type of infection and the timing was just a coincedence. Any white spots on them or anything?
How are the other 2 damsels now?
Katie

 

[1seaton]

Well I am sad to say I lost my last 2 babies the next morning. There were no signs of stress they were all doing well & acting normal. I am not sure what all the pet store tested for. I didn't think to ask. Thank you for trying to help me. I didn't want to risk putting another in before I found out what it could be, but it looks like I may have to risk it.

 

[b_ball12_99]

What are your reading after you found the fish dead?

 

[fishfreek]

What is the temp of your tank water? How many power heads do you have in the tank? Do any of the power heads break the waters surface? Sounds to me like the deaths may have been caused by low o2 in the water, especially if you say the water tests were checking out ok. Most lfs don't test for o2. HTH