Why do my fish keep dying?

cinematek · 05/26/2007, 08:11 PM

My 29G tank has been up for almost 3 months. The very first fish I added was an oscellaris clown. He is alive and well and doing great. I also have about 5 coral frags that seem to be doing well. (frogspawn, plate, green star polyp, palythoa and green tipped zoanthids)

But... Every other fish I have added since the first clown has died within a few days. I lost two other oscellaris and I just lost a royal gramma, which was eating and seemed relatively settled in.

'trites/'trates: 0 or near 0
ammonia: .1-.2 ppm
SG: 1.023-1.025
Alkalinity: Varies, but usually 200-250
pH: 8.2

Any ideas why my fish keep dying?

t5Nitro · 05/26/2007, 08:15 PM

I would try to do a little water change at a time to get that ammonia to drop to zero. Ammonia is really toxic to fish.

What test kits are you using?

cinematek · 05/26/2007, 08:24 PM

I'm using a 5-in-1 test strip for KH, pH, trites and trate and another test strip for ammonia.

If ammonia is so toxic, why is my one clownfish surviving so well?

kfisc · 05/26/2007, 08:30 PM

They can be extremely hardy fish; or your levels dropped somewhat with the death of the other fish; or, sadly, this one may be on its way out soon as well. Give your tank more time (say another two-three months) to really achieve balance.

cinematek · 05/26/2007, 08:35 PM

Thanks.

05/26/2007, 08:11 PM	#1
cinematek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 189	Why do my fish keep dying? My 29G tank has been up for almost 3 months. The very first fish I added was an oscellaris clown. He is alive and well and doing great. I also have about 5 coral frags that seem to be doing well. (frogspawn, plate, green star polyp, palythoa and green tipped zoanthids) But... Every other fish I have added since the first clown has died within a few days. I lost two other oscellaris and I just lost a royal gramma, which was eating and seemed relatively settled in. 'trites/'trates: 0 or near 0 ammonia: .1-.2 ppm SG: 1.023-1.025 Alkalinity: Varies, but usually 200-250 pH: 8.2 Any ideas why my fish keep dying?

05/26/2007, 08:15 PM	#2
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	I would try to do a little water change at a time to get that ammonia to drop to zero. Ammonia is really toxic to fish. What test kits are you using? __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future

05/26/2007, 08:24 PM	#3
cinematek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 189	I'm using a 5-in-1 test strip for KH, pH, trites and trate and another test strip for ammonia. If ammonia is so toxic, why is my one clownfish surviving so well?

05/26/2007, 08:30 PM	#4
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	They can be extremely hardy fish; or your levels dropped somewhat with the death of the other fish; or, sadly, this one may be on its way out soon as well. Give your tank more time (say another two-three months) to really achieve balance.

05/26/2007, 08:35 PM	#5
cinematek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 189	Thanks.