coral1119
New Member
i took a break from the saltwater hobby, but came across a bargain for a 90 gallon tank w/ a wet/dry inside (reef ready). the previous owner claims he had the tank established for 8 months now. i took the tank home with the sand intact. i placed the rocks back in(aprx 45lbs). i used about 6 gallons of his original tank water. i topped off the rest w/ new water. i didn't touch his bio balls he already had, only added new carbon and ammonia remover media. and new filter floss. i ran the tank for a full day then tested the water. the parameters were good...
ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 0ppm
ph 8.0
i then placed the 5 damsels, 1 blenny, and 1 peppermint shrimp that the tank came with inside. they seemed just fine. the next day i tested the water again and had the same results. so i made my way to the LFS. i picked up 6 damsels and two moorrish idols (they were eating pellets!!!). i placed them into the tank and all seemed well for the first 2 hours. i took a 2 hour nap...and when i woke up all the fish were either dead, gasping for air at the top, or on the ground motionless.all the fish, even the original ones that had survived earlier.i had to leave for work unfortunately, but the next morning all life had died in my tank. i think the snails are even dead. i took all the dead out. i tested the waters and they came out :
ammonia 0ppm
nitrite .25ppm
nitrate 10
ph 8.0
one thing i forgot to mention. when i picked up the fish at the LFS, i also purchased a 50 micron filter pad from coralife.never used it before. i placed it in the wetdry right after i placed the new fish in. the only explanation i can come up with is the pad is contaminated with something in some way. what else can explain the sudden death of the entire tank? i have had one fish die maybe.....every week or so, but never the entire tank inluding the inverts. as of now im doing a 60% water change, and will test the water again. will probably monitor the water closely for a period of time to make sure its stable before i test them with fish....this time around. any advise or comments would be greatly appreciated.
ammonia 0ppm
nitrite 0ppm
nitrate 0ppm
ph 8.0
i then placed the 5 damsels, 1 blenny, and 1 peppermint shrimp that the tank came with inside. they seemed just fine. the next day i tested the water again and had the same results. so i made my way to the LFS. i picked up 6 damsels and two moorrish idols (they were eating pellets!!!). i placed them into the tank and all seemed well for the first 2 hours. i took a 2 hour nap...and when i woke up all the fish were either dead, gasping for air at the top, or on the ground motionless.all the fish, even the original ones that had survived earlier.i had to leave for work unfortunately, but the next morning all life had died in my tank. i think the snails are even dead. i took all the dead out. i tested the waters and they came out :
ammonia 0ppm
nitrite .25ppm
nitrate 10
ph 8.0
one thing i forgot to mention. when i picked up the fish at the LFS, i also purchased a 50 micron filter pad from coralife.never used it before. i placed it in the wetdry right after i placed the new fish in. the only explanation i can come up with is the pad is contaminated with something in some way. what else can explain the sudden death of the entire tank? i have had one fish die maybe.....every week or so, but never the entire tank inluding the inverts. as of now im doing a 60% water change, and will test the water again. will probably monitor the water closely for a period of time to make sure its stable before i test them with fish....this time around. any advise or comments would be greatly appreciated.
