Mystery fish losses

[michael1974]

I have a problem that to me defies explanation. I have a 50 gallon corner unit with artificial decor,crushed coral and aragonite substrate. I have twin penguin power heads,a Aquael 4 stage filter,900 gph circulating pump UV sterilizer LED light strips. I use Chemi-pure,activated carbon,Purigen and De-nitrate and Fluval bio-ceramic cylinders.my water parameters are 0ammoia,.25 nitrates,0 nitrites,8.4 pH. Salinity is 1.022 temperature stable at 75 degrees. This tank has beeb set up for 6-7 months. I lost all 5 of my fish after using the Aqua-Bella Bio-enzyme system after 2 weeks of using the product. I did a 25 percent water change yesterday after discontinuing the Aqua-Bella. Today,I tried adding 4 small blue reef chromis,a yellow tail damsel and a small blue green reef chromis. So far after about 6 hours,I have lost the blue reef chromis,the blue green chromis and yellow tail are alive but struggling. Does anyone have an idea as to what is going wrong in my tank ? Please put your mind into my situation as this is getting really frustrating. Thanks!

 

[bang guy]

If it was Hydrogen sulfide (common with these bacteria based, do everything products) then you would be able to smell the rotton egg odor. I assume you do not detect any offensive odors or you would have mentioned it so that is not the problem.
Is there any chance someone accidently spilled or sprayed a chemical near or in the tank?
Do you have any colorful sea cucumbers in the tank?

 

[michael1974]

Bang guy,thank you for responding. I do not have any inverts because they will not survive either. I have tried a couple of crabs and shrimp,but they only survive a week or two. I do not smell any sulfurous odors. I am at a loss. Any ideas ?

 

[flower]

Hi,
Have you had any algae blooms? If algae can't survive then there is a real problem. A tank with nothing in it does not have the good bacteria built up and if you added all those fish at one time, that's the problem.
Try a couple of snails for a bit, if you have at least some algae to let them graze on. They will also help build bacteria. If they survive, after a few weeks to be sure...add just one fish, and wait a week before adding another. A quarintine tank is great for not only keeping your DT critters healthy, but it aids in the time frame space when you add the new critters, keeping you from adding too fast, too soon..

 

[bang guy]

I'm also at a loss.
I hate to suggest experimenting with another fish but stir up all the sediment with a powerhead and then do a 100% water change. Then try a single fish. Something hardy like a Clownfish but also something you want to keep long term.
Replace your carbon after the water change.

 

[michael1974]

Bang guy and Flower. Yes,I did have a green algae bloom and it is still blooming. I also am hesitant to add any inverts,because I have not had any luck with them,algae or not. I would love to get something really hardy to put in but I am afraid to kill it,with the way things are going. A 100 percent water change is probably the best thing to do. My wife is really not happy with me starting over,so I face that battle as well. Any ideas ?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael1974 http:///t/392690/mystery-fish-losses#post_3488640
Bang guy and Flower. Yes,I did have a green algae bloom and it is still blooming. I also am hesitant to add any inverts,because I have not had any luck with them,algae or not. I would love to get something really hardy to put in but I am afraid to kill it,with the way things are going. A 100 percent water change is probably the best thing to do. My wife is really not happy with me starting over,so I face that battle as well. Any ideas ?
It's more of a 90% water changeand it is not totally starting over...you leave the last inch or so in the bottom. You rocks and sand are safe and won't need to re-cycle.
A snail is an invert that is needed to control algae, add about 10 of them and keep an eye to make sure they survive (they should) then add your fish really slow, one at a time and give at least a week in between.

 

[meowzer]

You mention artificial decor.......could it be that it is not SW safe?
Any way you could post a picture of your set up? ALSO.....when adding fish don't add 6 at once.....

 

[bang guy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael1974 http:///t/392690/mystery-fish-losses#post_3488640
Bang guy and Flower. Yes,I did have a green algae bloom and it is still blooming. I also am hesitant to add any inverts,because I have not had any luck with them,algae or not. I would love to get something really hardy to put in but I am afraid to kill it,with the way things are going. A 100 percent water change is probably the best thing to do. My wife is really not happy with me starting over,so I face that battle as well. Any ideas ?
A 100% water change is not starting over. It will have no affect on your biologic filtration.

 

[michael1974]

Flower and Meowzer. Thank you for your responses,but my wife has decided that my aquarium is a money pit and we,I,will be leaving the hobby I so love. Anyway,thank you all. Good luck in your pursuit of this wonderful hobby. Michael

 

[meowzer]

So sorry to hear that.....BUT even with a tank that is running smoothly they are money pits....LOL