anyone ever seen this before?

[b0bab0ey]

I cannot keep fish or shrimp alive in my reef. Shrimp usually die within hours, fish last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. No visible signs of any disease on any of the fish. I test everything as soon as I find another dead one, everything always tests fine. Corals are doing great and my nassarius snails too. I lost all of my astrea snails to what I think is/was a dino outbreak. The dinos aren't as bad as they were, but it's still a problem.

I guess I could say the fish are all dying to internal parasites... but what about the shrimp? How long should I leave the tank fishless now? 6 weeks? Also, could dinos cause any of this?

[sante210]

how are you aclimating them??

also what test are you doing?

[Peter T]

Have you tried to buy from another fish store?

What do you keep your tanks pH and specific gravity at? Also have you ran any type of treatments (copper, cupramine, etc.) lately? Is the tank you are using a brand new tank or did you buy it used from someone else?

[mgraff00]

you say everything tests fine but what are they testing at. i have found posting the results rather than saying everything is fine usually gets you further.

[b0bab0ey]

sante210: I acclimate the shrimp using the drip method; The fish I float the bag to temp acclimate and then add some water... but I'm sure to get them out in 15 mins after I open the bag. I test for pH, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, calcium and magnesium. I've also tested the tank for copper, nothing.

Peter T: This has happened with fish/shrimp from two different LFS. Both are reputable and are the places everyone goes where I live. pH is usually between 8.1-8.2 when I test, SG is 1.025. No one else is having these problems but me! No medication has ever touched this tank's water. I setup the tank myself and it's been running around 4 months now.

[b0bab0ey]

Test results from this evening -

Temp: 78
SG: 1.025
pH: 8.1
alkalinity: 9 dKH
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
phosphate: 0
calcium: 450
magnesium: 1350
copper: 0

[HanoverFist]

Are you running carbon?

You said you were fighting dino's and when they die off I believe it can be toxic. Carbon would help eliminate it, unless its a large die-off.

Have you checked for stray voltage?

Everything appears normal on the "basic level" so i'd start looking at the next level of problems people have. i.e. stray voltage, chem warfare, die-offs, etc.

[Peter T]

Hmm... are you using possibly using chlorinated water? Also when you test for specific gravity, are you using a refractometer or swing arm hydrometer? It could be something as simple as your hydrometer is WAY off and the resulting drop or rise in specific gravity is killing the fish and shrimp.

[arizona tech]

the water, hope you are not using well water

[sunil6784]

How are you testing specific gravity? With a hydrometer or refractometer? If it is with a refractometer, is it calibrated with fluid?

[b0bab0ey]

I test with a refractometer, 1.025. My hydrometer always reads 1.024 unless I clean it with vinegar and then it gets closer to the 1.205 reading. I use RODI water which I recently had tested by a LFS. TDS of 0.

I run carbon with GFO in a GFO Reactor. I don't know how to test for stray voltage but I do have a titanium ground probe in the tank.

[lacosta28]

I am sorry to hear about your loses. I am no expert but what about simple things like a crab or something else terrorizing the fish in your tank?

[wbdevers]

Do you have any Zoa's or Paly's in your tank and if so are they being disturbed? If so they may be releasing toxins and even though you're running carbon it may be too much to keep up with or your carbon may be spent. Just a S.W.A.G. (scientific wild azz guess).

[myfrostymember]

people are saying your specific grav but ive always thought fish can handle swings and differences in gravity much better then corals-- you say all your corals are good?- there isnt a mantis or something like that in the tank killing everything is there?

[tjohnson27209]

An RODI water TDS reading of 0 can still be mis-leading....I dont think TDS picks up chloromines which cities/counties put into water's as disinfectants soooo you may want to test for those...I know at the LFS I work at we always check for stray chloromines using SeaChems "Prime" usually takes care of it and takes the toxicities are gone.
-Tyler

[b0bab0ey]

Originally Posted by tjohnson27209

An RODI water TDS reading of 0 can still be mis-leading....I dont think TDS picks up chloromines which cities/counties put into water's as disinfectants soooo you may want to test for those...I know at the LFS I work at we always check for stray chloromines using SeaChems "Prime" usually takes care of it and takes the toxicities are gone.
-Tyler

But wouldn't an ammonia test show the ammonia in the chloramine? I've been testing my ammonia non-stop lately and I also have one of those ammonia strips in my tank. I'm positive there isn't a crab or mantis shrimp in my tank because I started out with all dead rock, and I religiously use CoralRX before I put any corals in.

The spitting thing is an interesting theory, as I do have mostly softies. I do also have either a mild cyano or dino problem. But wouldn't I see the corals spit? Isn't it a long stringy thing? Also, if anything is releasing toxins into my water wouldn't the corals show it too? Wouldn't they at least close up because of it? Cause my corals always look perfect... never any sign of stress.

[wbdevers]

You may not notice the "slime". You're right about it being stringy that I've seen, but I know there is a lot of stuff in my tank I don't see because my eyes suck! LOL! I really don't know if the toxins bother corals as well or just vertebrates. Like I said, S.W.A.G. Best of luck.