I need help setting up my saltwater fish tank please?

Question

I am starting a 180 gallon salt water tank. I used a little live sand from a friend. The rest of my sand is fine crushed coral. I set the tank up tested all my levels(ph,salt and so on) all came out good. I let it set for a week before adding fish. When I did add fish to cycle the tank they all died with then min's. I took the tank apart, cleaned it all, sand,Filter,drained all the water out and started over. Went and got one fish and tried again and the same thing happened again. Dose any one have any ideas please help. I used no cleaners to clean the tank only water.

Answer 1

did you get saltwater fish? did you just put them in the tank? leave them in the bag they came in and let it float in the water for awhile, then slowly make a mixture of half the water they came in and half the water you have so they slowly get used to yours. then eventually make the mixture more your water and less their original water and hopefully after a day or two you can safely have them in your tank

Answer 2

We also had this problem when we started our saltwater tank. We waited about a week and all the levels were just right, spent $100.00 on new fish and within a day or two they were dead. What I have found out is that it could take up to 4-6 weeks for it to properly cycle, even though the readings are all in check. We also tore the whole tank down and started over. We added a live rock and what we did was add some dead shrimp (like you eat) to it and helped cycle the water better. Now our tank is only 55 gal and it took a good 4 weeks before we added new fish to it again. We have had good luck and they all have survived 2 moves since then. On a second thought when my husband adds water or does a water change and cleans the filters we don't do all of it at the same time. He will add new filters then wait a week or so then do water change. Good luck.

Answer 3

Maybe it would help if you told us the actual results from your water tests. "Good" is fresh water isn't all that good for salt. What kinds of fish are you using to cycle? Are you using live rock? Cured or uncured? With a little more info, we can have a better picture of what might be happening.

ADDITION: Haven't seen a response yet, so here are some things to look for:
Water chemistry should be:
Ammonia = 0, Nitrites = 0, Nitrates as low as possible, definitely below 30, pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 76-80o, salinity 1.020 - 1.026 for fish, 1.024-1.026 for invertebrates

Fish: Make certain you are using a saltwater species (or if you have a molly or guppy, that it was already acclimated at the pet store). Acclimate the fish slowly in the bag/container you got it/them in.
1) Float the container in the tank for 15-20 minutes
2) Open the container and pour out 1/4 of the water (into a bucket or the sink, not into the tank) and replace this with water from the tank
3) Let sit 5 minutes
4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 at least three more times.
5) Release the fish into the tank.

Also, what size filter do you have? It should be able to run 5 - 10 times the volume of the tank through the filter every hour (in your case, 900 - 1800 gph).

Answer 4

The first thing U should do is get a really good book on saltwater fish and the initial setup. Then go step by step to make sure that U did not over look any thing. There is a chance that you missed out on a step or two. Read, read, read. That is the most important lesson that I learned about starting up a tank. I started up with a small tank first so that I would not waste so much effort and fish. Once I was able to make the small tank work then I knew I was ready for the larger tanks.
U need to take small steps first then the larger ones. Just like anything else in life. I bought several books and I made sure that I read them
" all " real good. I did not fail as I took the advice of the author and made sure that I follow procedures.
So now you have my advice, and I am sure that you will succeed if you heed them.

Answer 5

I would start over, get rid of the sand your freind gave you and pick up some crush coral, salt mix. rechange you filter media, pick up a hydrometer, RO system, dont use regular tap water, too much metal in the water for salt water tanks, not sure what type of filter you are useing but i would sugest to invest into a sump filter with a refugium, and also invest into a protein skimmer, now here is one part most ppl over look, when everything is fine go to your local fish store where you buy your salt water fish and watch them in there tank there in, look for any signs of parasites that might be in the tank, a fish that is scratching against a object consitent and dont appear to be healthy dont grab it or you willl bring that parrisite home, a good 10 minutes obseving every tank mate should be good, read up on cycling on salt water, once everythings is ok start off with a couple damsels, hope i spelled it right, very cheap fish and great to start off with, and if they survive a good month and all your levels are ok the enjoy getting the rest of the fish you disire and enjoy, hope this help

Answer 6

Can you please re-post giving specifics?

1) what kind of fish?

2) did you let the tank sit for a week the second time?

3) What was the temp of water (both times)?

4) did you test ammonia and nitrite?

5) what kind of water did you fill the tank with?

6) did you acclimate the fish?

Although this doesn't necessarily relate to the current fish death problem, what filtration setup do you have? A 180 gallon is a pretty big investment for a beginner (assuming you have necessary protein skimmer etc...), why not invest the comparatively small amount in some live rock and the necessary live sand to to a fish-less cycle?

Answer 7

all the tropical fish you indexed are strictly freshwater fish. I advise you do somewhat diagnosis earlier you leap into those tanks. Fish require so plenty better than purely nutrition and a few gravel in a tank. make a journey on your interior reach petstore, browse some fishtanks, write down the names of the fish you like, bypass domicile, and google the call of the fish with the be conscious 'care' on the top, you would be presented with link upon link with extremely some effectual guidance and staple products to appreciate approximately your needed fish. As for the saltwater tank, there are a number of many step via step instructive movies on youtube, besides as articles on line. I often locate the internet movies much less confusing, through fact particularly situations the way somebody describes an action does not tournament up with the way I image it. Reguardless on your determination on your fishtanks, the main severe element you are able to placed into the two of them is time and attempt. once you're searching for an straight forward eyepleaser, you would be greater powerful off getting a television set permenantly to an aquarium scene. Fish are so plenty greater artwork than they first look.

Answer 8

From the information provided, is the fish saltwater, semi-saltwater or fresh water fish? And what do you mean by cycle the fish in the tank? Most fishes will NOT Die in the tank unless they are either severly stressed (left in the bag for too long or water temperature differences or salt level from the tank and water is different). Different saltwater fishes have different requirements for salt level.

Answer 9

i would like you to tell me all the levels of your tank what filtration you are running temp you have the tank at etc......so i can better asess the situation