Losing fish: Questions about Calcium ppm and water changes

Chris918 · 10/19/2017, 04:11 PM

I have two display tanks currently up and running. One 45 JBJ and one IM 30 Fusion. Both were setup using 8 week cured pukani rock and use the same salt brand. These last two weeks I have lost a fish in each. I lost a chromis in the 30 and a Cardinal in the 45. I haven't changed anything recently. What I am starting to wonder is that it may be my Calcium. I use Coralife. Coralife has an above average concentration of Calcium and Magnesium. I don't have to add anything like kalk or 2 part because I have so few corals. My corals are growing nicely. My calcium this last test came back at around 500 ppm for both tanks. Is this a problem? Could this be killing the fish? I do a water change on each religiously every week. Around 5-10%. Could it be that because I have so few corals that the excess water changes are bringing the Calcium too high and it is negatively affecting the fish?

Thanks!

mcgyvr · 10/19/2017, 04:27 PM

That calcium level is not a problem at all and not the reason for the deaths..

I would suggest you basically forget about trying to figure out the reason.. Fish deaths happen and most of the time the reason is unknown..

Sorry for your loss..

Chris918 · 10/19/2017, 06:40 PM

Okay thank you. Is a water change every week too much?

thegrun · 10/19/2017, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris918

Okay thank you. Is a water change every week too much?

No, that's a good thing. Did you have more than one Chromis? If so they are likely to kill each other off until only one is left, especially in a tank under 120 gallons.

Chris918 · 10/19/2017, 10:00 PM

I did have 3 originally. One died after the move from quarantine and the other died yesterday. I thought chromis were a schooling fish that did best in groups. Have I heard wrong? What is your experience?

nereefpat · 10/19/2017, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

If so they are likely to kill each other off until only one is left, especially in a tank under 120 gallons.

This seems to be common.

10/19/2017, 04:11 PM	#1
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Losing fish: Questions about Calcium ppm and water changes I have two display tanks currently up and running. One 45 JBJ and one IM 30 Fusion. Both were setup using 8 week cured pukani rock and use the same salt brand. These last two weeks I have lost a fish in each. I lost a chromis in the 30 and a Cardinal in the 45. I haven't changed anything recently. What I am starting to wonder is that it may be my Calcium. I use Coralife. Coralife has an above average concentration of Calcium and Magnesium. I don't have to add anything like kalk or 2 part because I have so few corals. My corals are growing nicely. My calcium this last test came back at around 500 ppm for both tanks. Is this a problem? Could this be killing the fish? I do a water change on each religiously every week. Around 5-10%. Could it be that because I have so few corals that the excess water changes are bringing the Calcium too high and it is negatively affecting the fish? Thanks!

10/19/2017, 04:27 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	That calcium level is not a problem at all and not the reason for the deaths.. I would suggest you basically forget about trying to figure out the reason.. Fish deaths happen and most of the time the reason is unknown.. Sorry for your loss.. __________________ Who me?

10/19/2017, 06:40 PM	#3
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	Okay thank you. Is a water change every week too much?

10/19/2017, 10:00 PM	#5
Chris918 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 174	I did have 3 originally. One died after the move from quarantine and the other died yesterday. I thought chromis were a schooling fish that did best in groups. Have I heard wrong? What is your experience?