Problems

[csrede]

I have a new 150 gal tank i setup by combining my 75 and 55 gal tanks. I used live rock and crushed coral from both tanks and 40 gals of water from each tank. Both of these tanks had up for over 4 years with no problems.
Two days after everything was moved to new 150 gal tank the ph droped to 7.4 I lost my naso, french angel and coral beuaty.
I was told to remove the old cruched coral and replace with live sand. This worked, the remaining fish survived.
The water tested ph - 8.2, Ammonia - 0, Nitrites - 0 and nitrates - 30 for 4 weeks. I add a sail fin tang, two damsels and a percula with no problems for two weeks.
The water was still testing the same, so i added a french angel, regal tang & flame angel.
The flame angel diapeared a week later, then the regal tang was dead the next day. Everything still tested the same.
Now the french angel, sail fin, blue eye tang (from old tank), and goby (from old tank) are dead to day.
Water is still testing the same, I had the water tested at the pet store with the same results.
Any clues to whats going on?

 

[beth]

What symptoms do the fish have before they died?

 

[csrede]

Thats my problem
They are not showing any symptoms. In the past 6 years i though i had seen most problems. They seem to be eating and acting normal and every thing is testing normal. I have not changed anything that i was doing to the other two tanks and now am losing fish i have had two to three years.
The only thing different in this tank is the live sand
Is there anything im missing here?
is there any other information you need that might help?

 

[beth]

Note any aggression going on? I would say that you are "adding" too many fish for a new tank. Yes, you've used aged rock/water from your other tank setups, but what you have now is still a new tank. You've also replaced your substrate [which was a very good idea since it was cc] with LS. These changes stress a system more than you might realize. Not all the bad things that can happen to water chemistry is measured by our few test kits that we use in the hobby.
Do you have a DSB? What is your filtration method. Is the tank FOWLR or reef?
At this point, I would stop adding fish and work with what you have. Concenstrate of enhancing your environment rather than on adding fish.

 

[csrede]

I guess im going to show my ignorance - what is DSB?
At this point its fish only and live rock with lots of polyps ond other things growing. I would like to add corals at some point but have been hesitant till i can keep the nitrates down. I also will need to increase my lighting. Any advise on this would be appreciated.
I am using the filters and proten skimmers from the other two tamks (Two emperor filters, two proten skimmers and four power heads)
I guess what throu me off was that after 4 weeks and to this point (2 1/2 months) the ammonia and nitrites have always tested 0. Only the nitrates have increased to a high of 30 and a water change uasaly brings this down.
Every thing seems normal today, no casualties! the only aggression i have seen was with the blue damsels and the regal tang, which are out of the picture now.
Do you realy think adding 4 small fish after 4 weeks of good test results and 3 more after two more weeks is to fast?
At this point i have a percula clown, blue damsel, two engineer gobys, an orange linkia star, a coral banded and cleaner shrimp left. I also have about 15 blue leg and zebra hermit crabs and 5-6 turbo snails
Any sugestions and advise will be appreciated