What Did I Do????

kubie3787 · 05/02/2009, 11:09 PM

Hi Guys,
I have no idea what I did wrong I needed to ask some of the masters of the hobby so I am begging for your help on this. I have a 90 gallon tank.

135 lb of live sand
20 lb of live rock
2-emp 400 biowheels
sea clone protein skimmer

I am having a real problem with my fish dying. I purchased 4 damsels and 3 scooter bleenies and all that are left are two damsels. The water tests are perfect. It almost seems that they have a slime covering on them when they die. When I first bought them they seemed fine. They ate some frozen brine and swam around with no problems. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I have had reefs in the past and never had anything like this. The tank has been setup for a week. I am sure I just added to much to quick, but that does not explain the slime coating on the fish. I have a 150lb tonga live rock order coming on wednesday and if I need to make adjustments I need to do it now. Thanks for your help in advance. Please be nice we all make mistakes>

returnofsid · 05/02/2009, 11:29 PM

We need test results....not "The water tests are perfect." Sorry, but we need to know what you're testing for, what the results are, your maintenance schedule...

How long has this tank been set up?
How long did it cycle?
How did you observe the cycle? Tests?
What's your water temp?
What's your water source?
What's your Salinity?
Ph?
Ammonia?
Nitrites?
Nitrates?
Chlorine??

How long did you have these fish? How did you acclimate them? Did you add them all at once?
Did you get them all from the same source?
What are the water parameters of the tanks these fish came from?

No need to ask us to please be nice...I'd hope. This is supposed to be a great and friendly community. Yes, you'll get some people that aren't so tactful in their answers. Don't let any of it discourage you. Yes, we all make mistakes and we've all had our share of fish deaths. Let's try to get to the bottom of yours as soon as we can. But we'll need a lot more information from you.

To start with, If this is a newer tank, never a good idea to add Scooter Blennies. They need very well established tanks, with a large and self sustaining population of copepods. Also, not a good idea to have more than one in a tank.

bheld · 05/02/2009, 11:36 PM

A week seems a bit fast to be adding fish. Has your tank cycled in that short period of time? Most would recommend at least waiting a month before introducing fish...but some add damsels about 2 weeks in to try and speed the cycle a bit. The slime covering them sounds like they have some sort of bacterial diease. You possibly could have purchased them infected. Keep checking your water parameters , the cycle may have not even started yet, which is why they are reading fine as of now. Ammonia should be the first to change in the cycle so keep an eye out for that.

Welcome to RC by the way

slakker187 · 05/02/2009, 11:59 PM

kubie: there is a lot of things happening when you have a new setup. first off stick with the damsels at the beginning they are hardy and give movement, but be careful they are agressive and VER HARD to catch later. a week is very quick to start adding any livestock new water takes from 4 to 6 week to level out before adding anything at all you have: amonia, nitrite, and nitrate spikes that will kill 99% of animals in any new aquaria. you did'nt mention whether or not you have "new" or" cured" liverock and sand, and there is not a "new tank in the world after 2 weeks that has good water parameters. patience is the way. i dont adding any livestock for the first two months besides liverock and sand, then a cleanup crew (ie. snails, hermit crabs). most salt tanks don't start to level out until the first year or more, so don't be discouraged with algae as it is a part of the process of cycling a tank. take your time and by all means welcome and ENJOY!!!

slakker187 · 05/03/2009, 12:09 AM

adendum: i personall would get rid of the sea-clone as i believe it is not able to keep up with a reef of that size. also the HOB (hang-on-back filters are pretty much useless unless they came from an established tank and you are trying to "seed" the new tank with bacteria. in my experience they are nitrate factories and best left to freshwater aquaria. hope this helps. happy reefing. later.

slakker187 · 05/03/2009, 12:12 AM

slime coating means you probably caught them right after they died.

LiveRound69 · 05/03/2009, 12:22 AM

[wrong posting] sry

05/02/2009, 11:09 PM	#1
kubie3787 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1	What Did I Do???? Hi Guys, I have no idea what I did wrong I needed to ask some of the masters of the hobby so I am begging for your help on this. I have a 90 gallon tank. 135 lb of live sand 20 lb of live rock 2-emp 400 biowheels sea clone protein skimmer I am having a real problem with my fish dying. I purchased 4 damsels and 3 scooter bleenies and all that are left are two damsels. The water tests are perfect. It almost seems that they have a slime covering on them when they die. When I first bought them they seemed fine. They ate some frozen brine and swam around with no problems. I have no idea what I am doing wrong. I have had reefs in the past and never had anything like this. The tank has been setup for a week. I am sure I just added to much to quick, but that does not explain the slime coating on the fish. I have a 150lb tonga live rock order coming on wednesday and if I need to make adjustments I need to do it now. Thanks for your help in advance. Please be nice we all make mistakes>

05/03/2009, 12:22 AM	#7
LiveRound69 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: KY USA Posts: 183	[wrong posting] sry __________________ LR69 Current Tank Info: 40 gallon Reef

05/02/2009, 11:29 PM	#2
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	We need test results....not "The water tests are perfect." Sorry, but we need to know what you're testing for, what the results are, your maintenance schedule... How long has this tank been set up? How long did it cycle? How did you observe the cycle? Tests? What's your water temp? What's your water source? What's your Salinity? Ph? Ammonia? Nitrites? Nitrates? Chlorine?? How long did you have these fish? How did you acclimate them? Did you add them all at once? Did you get them all from the same source? What are the water parameters of the tanks these fish came from? No need to ask us to please be nice...I'd hope. This is supposed to be a great and friendly community. Yes, you'll get some people that aren't so tactful in their answers. Don't let any of it discourage you. Yes, we all make mistakes and we've all had our share of fish deaths. Let's try to get to the bottom of yours as soon as we can. But we'll need a lot more information from you. To start with, If this is a newer tank, never a good idea to add Scooter Blennies. They need very well established tanks, with a large and self sustaining population of copepods. Also, not a good idea to have more than one in a tank.

05/02/2009, 11:36 PM	#3
bheld Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 180	A week seems a bit fast to be adding fish. Has your tank cycled in that short period of time? Most would recommend at least waiting a month before introducing fish...but some add damsels about 2 weeks in to try and speed the cycle a bit. The slime covering them sounds like they have some sort of bacterial diease. You possibly could have purchased them infected. Keep checking your water parameters , the cycle may have not even started yet, which is why they are reading fine as of now. Ammonia should be the first to change in the cycle so keep an eye out for that. Welcome to RC by the way

05/02/2009, 11:59 PM	#4
slakker187 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: chico, ca Posts: 76	kubie: there is a lot of things happening when you have a new setup. first off stick with the damsels at the beginning they are hardy and give movement, but be careful they are agressive and VER HARD to catch later. a week is very quick to start adding any livestock new water takes from 4 to 6 week to level out before adding anything at all you have: amonia, nitrite, and nitrate spikes that will kill 99% of animals in any new aquaria. you did'nt mention whether or not you have "new" or" cured" liverock and sand, and there is not a "new tank in the world after 2 weeks that has good water parameters. patience is the way. i dont adding any livestock for the first two months besides liverock and sand, then a cleanup crew (ie. snails, hermit crabs). most salt tanks don't start to level out until the first year or more, so don't be discouraged with algae as it is a part of the process of cycling a tank. take your time and by all means welcome and ENJOY!!!

05/03/2009, 12:09 AM	#5
slakker187 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: chico, ca Posts: 76	adendum: i personall would get rid of the sea-clone as i believe it is not able to keep up with a reef of that size. also the HOB (hang-on-back filters are pretty much useless unless they came from an established tank and you are trying to "seed" the new tank with bacteria. in my experience they are nitrate factories and best left to freshwater aquaria. hope this helps. happy reefing. later.

05/03/2009, 12:12 AM	#6
slakker187 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: chico, ca Posts: 76	slime coating means you probably caught them right after they died.