Ok, Am I an Idiot?

[bheron]

Ok, I'm still trying to troubleshoot my new livestock acclimation process which befuddles me. I know this is long, but please read the below b/c I'd like to isolate one particular problem, explain my idiotic actions, share my experience and hopefully get everyone's thoughts on something I've never come across something before...
Ok,
Let me preface that I have a very stable, successfuly tank that's been running for about a year. The three fish I have in there I've acclimated and added directly to the main tank (no QT tank used) with no problems.
Well, following all of the wonderful, strong advice, I've setup a QT tank for obvoious reasons. And so far I've been unsuccessfull acclimating 5 new fish. All 5 fish have died shortly after adding them (within 1-3 days). I may have isolated one reason:
I setup my 10 gal QT tank on top of a refridgerator/freezer in my fishroom. Thinking this was a nice, stable space for it and it being close to the electrical outlet, I thought I chose correctly. Well, last night after losing my 5th fish, it hit me that, although pretty silent to my ears, the running noise of the Fridge might actually be pretty loud when transmitted through the bottom of the tank, into the water, and to the fish!!!
When I put my ear up to the fridge I hear a pretty loud vibration noise. I think I'm correct that water actually amplfies sound waves? If that's the case, its quite possible that my new fish have been subject to a high level of noise/vibration and, hence, stress!!!
Again, I'm seperately investigating the other possible causes of death, but wanted to throw this one out there for feedback.
Am I an idiot?????
:nervous:

 

[malounsbury]

It may be possible, but I'm not too sure if its much more possible than the vibrations/noise from a loud skimmer. I was thinking that the top of a freezer/fridge usually emits some type of heat. Did you have a thermometer in the tank? If so, what was the temp?
Also, are you doing any drip acclimation before putting them into the QT?

 

[cnlight]

Wow, I guess I would have never figured that out either, good of you to finally see whats going on. :thinking:

 

[tizzo]

Like Malounsbury stated, the heat was the first thing I though of too. But past that... Have you cycled the tank, what equipment do you have on it? Any PH's or other surface agitation? What are the water levels? Have you topped it off accordingly?? Salinity??

 

[bheron]

Here's what I've done so far in my two QT attempts:
Attempt #1 - mail order livestock. Will NEVER ever do this again since the one was in pretty bad shape when it arrived. Shipping overnight from LA to East Coast can't be good.
1 Solar Wrasse - in bad shape, died within a day. never recovered
1 Lyretail Anthias - in pretty good shape when it arrived then within a day got worse and died.
Attempt #2 - this time went to one of the best LSFs around - That Fish Place in Lancaster PA. Best place, by far, I've ever been to. 1 hour drive home.
1 - Sixline: this fish was in great shape for a day or two. Even picking at detritus on the bottom of tank. Died on day 3
1- Purple Fire Goby - died right away, that night.
1- Royal Gramma - in the worst shape but still alive this am. Since I moved the tank off the fridge he hasnt gotten any worse, and not any better.
Here's my QT setup:
1 10 Gal tank. Bought brand new and a couple of times dosed with ICH medication. Nothing else though.
Barebottom tank
Filtration is a whisper bio wheel style filter, with a carbon-filled sock I let run in my main tank sump for a few weeks
1 heater; temp kept at 81.5 to match main tank.
Several PVC tubes
1 15 watt flourescent light
I setup the tank by taking 50% water from my display tank and then 50% new makeup water. All water is RO/DI. All parameters stable (no ammonia, trite or trate.) SG 1.0235. PH = 8.4 Even test for copper. That's all I tested for.
Now I know any one, or several, of the above could be the problem. Just wondering if the extra noise caused extra stress.
I should mention that afer filling it with the water I put the fish in a few hours later after temp was stablized. I mixed the saltwater and aerated it for 48 hours. So i figured I coudl muix the two and it would be stable??
PPS - one more thought to add. My acclimation was:
First time: float bags for 30 mins, begin adding small amounts of water into the bag. Then, after its filled, remove 1/2 of the water and continue again until its filled. Turned off the lights for the rest of the day/night.
Second time: floated for 30 mins, then empited all three bags (fish & water) into a bucket where I did the same water replacement as above.
Total time each time was about 1.5-2 hours. Maybe temp dropped too much?

 

[bencc]

I wouldn't think the fridge would be any louder than all the equipment associated with the tank.
I have had the same problem when I tried the drip method using a bucket. The water in the bucket gets really really cold. I usually just do the float the bag and add water from tank slowly. I have never had anything die using that method.

 

[bheron]

I'm going back to that method for sure.
Thanks

 

[nacl-man]

I acclimate by floating a specimen container (the things that hang on the side of the tank that the LFS use to move your new fish to the bag) in the tank and adding water using a syringe for 1.5-2 hours.
I like using the solid plastic container because it doesn't collapse on itself like the plastic bags. I have had 100% survivability doing it this way... technically the drip method is best but in practicality i have never been able to accomplish it (too much extra equipment & temperature is a big variable IMO).
my .02
Cheers!

 

[klongo]

Have you been checking the ammonia in the QT tank? I found that with a small QT I have to do pretty frequent water changes (like daily or every other day) to keep the ammonia down. I had a fish die within two days the first time because the ammonia skyrocketed over night.

 

[bkbkid]

I would check for spikes in amonia, nitrites, and nitrates if any of those are high that's probably the reason why, along with maintaining a stable temperature.

 

[starfishjackedme]

It's probably your water quality or the acclimation process. This site has a good acclimation procedure break down that you can follow. The ammonia spike is a good consideration to test for.