Originally Posted by Jon in Tx
Thanks for the info! I'll check into the RO filter system. The fish that died were Cleaner Shrimp, Foxface, Yellow Tang (3), Strawberry Psuedo, Starfish (2), Bi-Color Angel, Formossa Wrasse, Yellow Tail Damsel, Crab-Sally Lightfoot & Slug. All were added slowly (1-2 at a time with 2-3 weeks in between)
The cleaner shrimp, sally lightfoot and the slub probley died because the salinity was to low, and if the slug is what I am thinking, the pretty blue or purple one, those need a very mature tank, and some can be toxic when they die, those should be for very experienced hobbist.
The starfish- starfish need to be acclamated very slowly like for about two hours, and they also need a very mature tank. When we say mature tank, that usally means over a year old.
The Foxface, Wrasse and the tang, they seem to stress easier than the other fish, and once they get to stressed they can easily develope ick.
The strawberry and the damsel are usally pretty hardy fish, but with things being so off, and they other fish dieing that may have just been to much.
It appears to me, that your LFS is not looking out for your best interest. If so they would have never let a new hobbist have a starfish, sea slug, wrasse in a new tank. They definately should have never sold you the slug. They should have told you, that they are very hard to keep, and some (I don't know which one you got, when they die release toxins into the tank, that will kill your tank. I wonder if your LFS even told you that the Fox face is venomous?
For right now you need to get your tank stable. Work on that first. While you are waiting for your tank to stablize, buy, find borrow a book and marine fish. This book will tell you about all the different fish, their needs and about any problem that can arrise from these fish.
I learned my lesson the hard way about the Foxface. When I was new to the hobby and just started up my tank, my LFS sold me a foxface, I wasn't even looking for that, but he said if you buy a big fish, you have to get a second big fish, so they will fill comfortable in their new envoriment. Since I just got a Sailfin tang, he suggested the fox face. Never told me any thing, My daughter (who was 15 at the time) always enjoyed helping my with the tank, she would aqua scape the rocks, move this and that. Any time there was something to do inside that tank, she was there. It was the closest she was going to come to swimming in the ocean, in her words. After we had the Fox Face for about 4 months, that is when I learnd that they were venomous. Which was an extra important fact I should have know. My daughter is deadly alergic to bee stings and spider bits, She has to carry around an epi pen just in case she ever get stung or bitten. If that foxface would have stung her, she could have died. I would not have had any ideal why she was getting so sick. That is why I get so upset when a LFS does not stand up to their responsibility and tell people about such things. Yes it is your responsiblity to research. But the LFS that a newbe goes to, is usally the same one. They know what you know and don't know and like to take advantage of that. I have seen them also try to get newbies excited about things and get them to buy more than they should.
Sorry about ranting, I just want to stress the importants of learning everything about the hobby, and KNOW what it is you are putting into your tank, and what they can do.
Only 2 of my 6 remaining have been in the tank for > 2 months. I've been closely following the advice of my LFS which guaranteed a couple of the fish who died within 1-2 weeks. However, most of the fish live about 2 months. I need some advice on what I'm doing wrong (or not doing) PLEASE!
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