3rd fish bought. 3rd fish dead

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 04:42 PM

Thes is my QT specs:

10gallon
HOB filter with seeded filter from DT(at least 6 weeks)
Some pvc pipes to provide hiding places
Thermometer

Acclimation process:
Let bag float for 15 min then use the drip acclimation for another 15min. Take some water out and do another 15 min of drip acclimation

I had bough a blue chromis from a store in phx az and a week later it died. It was already eating and swimming around. Cleaned the tank with fresh water and bleach. Let the tank sit over night then cleaned again with just freah water. Bought a purple firefish from the same store two weeks later and it died the next day. Did same cleaning process. Then decided to buy another purple firefish from a store in san diego ca and two days later it just dies. What in the heck am i doing wrong!!!?? Someone please help. I am getting extremely discouraged as i see people with very nice tanks that started at the same time as me and they have no problems

Sk8r · 11/27/2013, 04:56 PM

Are you using something like Prime to remove the bleach between fish?
And have you enough aeration? If these are shipped fish, don't acclimate more than 30 min with the bag open...
Also, check your heater for 'stray current'. That can be a real ghosty killer.

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 05:02 PM

I am not using anything to remove bleach between fish. I was told to re clean it with just fresh water. For air i was told by several people on here that with the HOB it should be enough. How would i check for stray current??? What would be the proper way of cleaning the fish tank?

Steventnguyen · 11/27/2013, 05:06 PM

Get some kind dechlorine solution like prime and squirting it in the tank

shifty51008 · 11/27/2013, 05:13 PM

the bleach can be a killer if not cleaned well enough, I agree to add some prime or amquil + to remove it.

for checking for stray current, take a multimeter, put the black prong in the ground plug of an outlet and the red in the tank with the heater running and check to see if there is current.

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 05:33 PM

I do have amquil. So should i dump all the fresh water thats in it right now and just use amquil with a peper towel and clean all the inside? I will test out the thermometer later

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 07:16 PM

????

camblonie · 11/27/2013, 07:25 PM

What's with all the cleaning? Do the fish look like they succumbed to something or are you just being cautious? Do you clean the filter each time and if so, are you monitoring ammonia?

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 07:31 PM

Im cleaning it to be cautious and yes i also clean the filter aswell

Shaummy · 11/27/2013, 07:40 PM

So forgive me if you have done so...but have you read the sticky here that talks about how to get started?

Acclimation is one thing, but it seems that the state of the tank you are putting them into isn't really prepared/cycled/ready for fish.

Are you testing the water for things like Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate before or after introduction of fish?

Are you using tap water or RO/DI? If you are using tap..then definitely Prime/Amquel as there is likely to be chlorine in the water from the start which is deadly to fish. Then Ammonia comes into play...in a 10gal tank with no bacteria built up...it can rise quickly...also lethal to fish.

Give us just a little more info...we'll get you on the right path...seriously..read the sticky too!

Since this is a QT you are working with...do you have a DT now that's up and running with livestock? or is this the first ones trying to get through QT? Reason I ask, is that if your DT isn't really cycled either, running that filter in there won't really colonize it with anything.

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaummy

So forgive me if you have done so...but have you read the sticky here that talks about how to get started?

Acclimation is one thing, but it seems that the state of the tank you are putting them into isn't really prepared/cycled/ready for fish.

Are you testing the water for things like Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate before or after introduction of fish?

Are you using tap water or RO/DI? If you are using tap..then definitely Prime/Amquel as there is likely to be chlorine in the water from the start which is deadly to fish. Then Ammonia comes into play...in a 10gal tank with no bacteria built up...it can rise quickly...also lethal to fish.

Give us just a little more info...we'll get you on the right path...seriously..read the sticky too!

Since this is a QT you are working with...do you have a DT now that's up and running with livestock? or is this the first ones trying to get through QT? Reason I ask, is that if your DT isn't really cycled either, running that filter in there won't really colonize it with anything.

Yes i have read all the stickys and read plenty of posts on here before i ever bought my DT. My DT has been cycled for about 6 weeks already and has diatoms all over the place. There is no fish in it due to all of them dying in my QT. My QT is setup with new mixed ro/di water. I let it sit for a day before i put it in my QT. I know that my QT does NOT have to be cycled. I have been reasured my alot of people abou that. I seeded my filter in my DT for about 4 weeks then it was put on my HOB filter which is used on my QT.

rlm2005 · 11/27/2013, 08:48 PM

The seeded filter, did you also clean that with bleach? Are you matching the salinity of the water before you start acclimating? Fish are typically kept in lower salinity than our reef tanks. I make sure my qt is at a the same salinity as the water the fish came from.

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 08:53 PM

No i did not clean the seeded filter with bleach. And yes salinity is being setup to match the stores.

rlm2005 · 11/27/2013, 08:58 PM

Chromis dying isn't all that unusual. As for the firefish maybe they were sick or had something wrong or it could be an issue with the bleach. What are your stocking plans for your main tank?

acabgd · 11/27/2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshyross70

I know that my QT does NOT have to be cycled. I have been reasured my alot of people abou that.

Well, maybe you can then ask the same people to get you new fish, as their advice is apparently not working for you.

You don't really need to cycle the QT but you do need some bacteria and you definitely need to monitor ammonia levels. So, did you monitor the ammonia levels? Did you do water changes?

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acabgd

Well, maybe you can then ask the same people to get you new fish, as their advice is apparently not working for you.

You don't really need to cycle the QT but you do need some bacteria and you definitely need to monitor ammonia levels. So, did you monitor the ammonia levels? Did you do water changes?

Checked water every day there was a fish in it and never saw signs of any ammonia,nitrates, or nitrite. For bacteria i had my filter sponge seeded on my DT for about 4 weeks

acabgd · 11/27/2013, 10:17 PM

Hmmm... sounds really strange. Bleach could do it really, but if you washed the tank well then I suppose this should not be an issue. Honestly, I have no other idea.

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 10:27 PM

2 Q's

1. If it were stray voltage wouldnt i feel any type of shock at all? I have stuck my hand in the QT but never felt anything.

2. I bought that tank of a pet store that was closing down and im pretty sure fish were not in it. It is because of that when i first got it that i cleaned it with bleach aswell. Do u think there could be something in the tank thats causing this?

Shaummy · 11/27/2013, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshyross70

No i did not clean the seeded filter with bleach. And yes salinity is being setup to match the stores.

Which is what salinity?

mixedreefjunky · 11/27/2013, 10:37 PM

The leaking voltage can be low enough that you dont feel it but is still strong enough to kill fish.
I would strongly recommended doing a vinegar bath after the bleach cleaning, pretty sure this is your issue.

FTDelta · 11/27/2013, 10:38 PM

Clean tank with VINEGAR and water, not bleach and water! Bleach residue is what killed your fish.

And for God's sake STOP CLEANING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WITH BLEACH!!!!!!

3S1K · 11/27/2013, 10:40 PM

How about not cleaning it? I converted a Fresh water tank to SW and all I did was rinse it with water and scrub it with a sponge. Maybe im missing something with this bleaching process.

Capt'n T · 11/27/2013, 11:07 PM

I assume you are buying online? When I read through the sticky on acclimation, it recommended NOT drip acclimating because of the ammonia build up from being shipped. Just temperature acclimate and match salinity, then drop them in the QT tank.

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaummy

which is what salinity?

1.021

joshyross70 · 11/27/2013, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixedreefjunky

The leaking voltage can be low enough that you dont feel it but is still strong enough to kill fish.
I would strongly recommended doing a vinegar bath after the bleach cleaning, pretty sure this is your issue.

Forgot to mention that i also did that after my first fish died. But will try again

11/27/2013, 04:42 PM	#1
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	3rd fish bought. 3rd fish dead Thes is my QT specs: 10gallon HOB filter with seeded filter from DT(at least 6 weeks) Some pvc pipes to provide hiding places Thermometer Acclimation process: Let bag float for 15 min then use the drip acclimation for another 15min. Take some water out and do another 15 min of drip acclimation I had bough a blue chromis from a store in phx az and a week later it died. It was already eating and swimming around. Cleaned the tank with fresh water and bleach. Let the tank sit over night then cleaned again with just freah water. Bought a purple firefish from the same store two weeks later and it died the next day. Did same cleaning process. Then decided to buy another purple firefish from a store in san diego ca and two days later it just dies. What in the heck am i doing wrong!!!?? Someone please help. I am getting extremely discouraged as i see people with very nice tanks that started at the same time as me and they have no problems

11/27/2013, 04:56 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Are you using something like Prime to remove the bleach between fish? And have you enough aeration? If these are shipped fish, don't acclimate more than 30 min with the bag open... Also, check your heater for 'stray current'. That can be a real ghosty killer. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/27/2013, 05:06 PM	#4
Steventnguyen Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento ca. Posts: 1,035	Get some kind dechlorine solution like prime and squirting it in the tank __________________ Life is like a math problem, it's easier if you simplify it. Current Tank Info: 93 gallon cube, swc 160 cone extreme, rapidled onyx controlled by full apex

11/27/2013, 05:13 PM	#5
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	the bleach can be a killer if not cleaned well enough, I agree to add some prime or amquil + to remove it. for checking for stray current, take a multimeter, put the black prong in the ground plug of an outlet and the red in the tank with the heater running and check to see if there is current. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

11/27/2013, 07:25 PM	#8
camblonie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 148	What's with all the cleaning? Do the fish look like they succumbed to something or are you just being cautious? Do you clean the filter each time and if so, are you monitoring ammonia? __________________ 75g - 20g sump. LED's, Skimmer, RODI.

11/27/2013, 05:02 PM	#3
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	I am not using anything to remove bleach between fish. I was told to re clean it with just fresh water. For air i was told by several people on here that with the HOB it should be enough. How would i check for stray current??? What would be the proper way of cleaning the fish tank?

11/27/2013, 05:33 PM	#6
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	I do have amquil. So should i dump all the fresh water thats in it right now and just use amquil with a peper towel and clean all the inside? I will test out the thermometer later

11/27/2013, 07:16 PM	#7
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	????

11/27/2013, 07:31 PM	#9
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	Im cleaning it to be cautious and yes i also clean the filter aswell

11/27/2013, 07:40 PM	#10
Shaummy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 857	So forgive me if you have done so...but have you read the sticky here that talks about how to get started? Acclimation is one thing, but it seems that the state of the tank you are putting them into isn't really prepared/cycled/ready for fish. Are you testing the water for things like Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate before or after introduction of fish? Are you using tap water or RO/DI? If you are using tap..then definitely Prime/Amquel as there is likely to be chlorine in the water from the start which is deadly to fish. Then Ammonia comes into play...in a 10gal tank with no bacteria built up...it can rise quickly...also lethal to fish. Give us just a little more info...we'll get you on the right path...seriously..read the sticky too! Since this is a QT you are working with...do you have a DT now that's up and running with livestock? or is this the first ones trying to get through QT? Reason I ask, is that if your DT isn't really cycled either, running that filter in there won't really colonize it with anything. __________________ Shaummy Current Tank Info: Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, hermits, snails,Lyretail Anthias,Orange back Fairy Wrasse,Blue Reef Chromis,small blue tang, Flame Hawk, Royal Gramma Last edited by Shaummy; 11/27/2013 at 07:46 PM.

11/27/2013, 08:48 PM	#12
rlm2005 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego Area Posts: 432	The seeded filter, did you also clean that with bleach? Are you matching the salinity of the water before you start acclimating? Fish are typically kept in lower salinity than our reef tanks. I make sure my qt is at a the same salinity as the water the fish came from. __________________ Rhonda 65 gallon mixed reef

11/27/2013, 08:53 PM	#13
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	No i did not clean the seeded filter with bleach. And yes salinity is being setup to match the stores.

11/27/2013, 08:58 PM	#14
rlm2005 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego Area Posts: 432	Chromis dying isn't all that unusual. As for the firefish maybe they were sick or had something wrong or it could be an issue with the bleach. What are your stocking plans for your main tank? __________________ Rhonda 65 gallon mixed reef

11/27/2013, 10:17 PM	#17
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	Hmmm... sounds really strange. Bleach could do it really, but if you washed the tank well then I suppose this should not be an issue. Honestly, I have no other idea.

11/27/2013, 10:27 PM	#18
joshyross70 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 394	2 Q's 1. If it were stray voltage wouldnt i feel any type of shock at all? I have stuck my hand in the QT but never felt anything. 2. I bought that tank of a pet store that was closing down and im pretty sure fish were not in it. It is because of that when i first got it that i cleaned it with bleach aswell. Do u think there could be something in the tank thats causing this?

11/27/2013, 10:37 PM	#20
mixedreefjunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pembroke Pines, FL Posts: 250	The leaking voltage can be low enough that you dont feel it but is still strong enough to kill fish. I would strongly recommended doing a vinegar bath after the bleach cleaning, pretty sure this is your issue.

11/27/2013, 10:38 PM	#21
FTDelta Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Central NY Posts: 1,124	Clean tank with VINEGAR and water, not bleach and water! Bleach residue is what killed your fish. And for God's sake STOP CLEANING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WITH BLEACH!!!!!!

11/27/2013, 10:40 PM	#22
3S1K Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 391	How about not cleaning it? I converted a Fresh water tank to SW and all I did was rinse it with water and scrub it with a sponge. Maybe im missing something with this bleaching process.

11/27/2013, 11:07 PM	#23
Capt'n T Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 170	I assume you are buying online? When I read through the sticky on acclimation, it recommended NOT drip acclimating because of the ammonia build up from being shipped. Just temperature acclimate and match salinity, then drop them in the QT tank. __________________ Teneele "The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" Current Tank Info: 75g w/ 29g sump