It's a 30 gal. reef tank with nitrate, nitrite, and amonia all unmeasurable or at near unreconizable levels. Calcium and PH are within desired perameters as well. All acclimation procedures are followed to the best of my knowledge but both angels and tangs still dont make it through the 1st night! Y?
2006-09-13 10:36:10 · 6 answers · asked by β-ηєώ 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Have a water sample tested at a store that specializes in water filtration systems. You need to be looking for some other toxicity that is killing them since you cannot test for everything at home. It will be worth the expense considering the cost of the fish you are losing.
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2006-09-14 03:11:24 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what level of experience you possess in keeping fish, so please don't be insulted by any of my suggestions.
First, have you ever kept fish alive before with your water? What is your water supply? If it is city tap water, are you dechlorinating it properly? Could there be chemicals in your water supply that you are not aware of? Try starting with distilled or RO water.
Second, you didn't mention temperature. Make sure the temperature is well regulated by a good heater. I would suggest a 150 watt heater. 30 gallons is small and the tank could cool down at night, killing the fish if the temp is not regulated. Also, depending on your lighting system, the temp could be raised substantially by your lighting. Keep a close eye on the temp.
Third, you didn't mention salinity (salt content). Salinity MUST be strictly regulated. Fluctuations in salinity will kill your fish.
Fourth, have you measured ammonia levels immediately after your fish die? Are you absolutely sure it's not ammonia?
Have you cycled the tank (put it through the nitrogen cycle)?
Have you taken precautions with any decorations or anything you put into the tank? Could chemicals be leaching from anything in the tank that you have in there?
2006-09-13 10:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by Nick Hahn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the tank is balanced, that is, nitrates and nitrites low, then the next thing that most people do wrong is use chlorinated water. I can't imagine you would miss something so obvious, but since you didn't mention it, I must point it out.
There are two ways cities disinfect water. One is with chlorine gas, and it will go away gradually by itself.
The other way is by chlorine in some powder form. That stuff will not go away, ever, without chemicals designed especially to remove it.
Sorry, as I said I do not believe you missed this, but gotta' mention it.
2006-09-13 10:46:58 · answer #3 · answered by retiredslashescaped1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check your salinity first. If it is proper for the fish you want, let it circulate without fish for a week minimum. Then introduce cheep fish, if they do well then go on to the more expensive fish. That being said, a 30 gal. tank is small for saltwater, the nitrogen cycle can't get going good in it.
2006-09-13 10:45:27 · answer #4 · answered by mad_mav70 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did you think to check the temp and season your fish to the temp before dumping them in or do you just pour the fish in sounds like shock if all the fish die..
2006-09-13 11:00:15 · answer #5 · answered by d957jazz retired chef 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like they are going into shock, are you placing them in the bag into the tank so the water temp can adjust gradually, or are you pouring them directly into the tank?
2006-09-13 10:45:00 · answer #6 · answered by londonhawk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋