Fish dying in hours...not days....

[randilio1]

As fish keeper new to Saltwater tanks I'd recommend this playlist on YT. Done by bulkreefsupply.com. Its what I used to get a base of knowledge before even buying my tank. Hope it helps and best of luck!!

 

[Ray Warren]

There's plenty of reefers who successfully use NSW. I wouldn't completely dismiss the idea before maybe doing a little research. I would try to find a local reefing club/forum and see what the locals say about the water in your area. If you can collect the water offshore, the danger of contaminants is mitigated quite a bit.

Thanks,
Should my recent r+r fail for whatever reasons, I will collect NSW and try once again.
Google Maps...I live in Brooklyn, NSW, ( New South Wales) AUSTRALIA, I would collect my water from Avoca Beach, NSW, probably some of the cleanest NSW in the Pacific.
Ray

 

[SudzFD]

Than you everybody.....your advice is greatly appreciated.
No more Pool Salt.....Have been stalling on investing in an RO unit...but considering I just murdered $300 worth of fish, I'm off to EBay for an RO/DI Unit....
From what I read, pool salt is a no no, the only thing in common for 2 x strip downs and refills has been Tap Water + Pool Salt.....plus Prime..etc. It has to be one or the other.
I have incorporated standard kitchen sponges
In the sump....some guys on Utube say they offer a lot of surface area for Beneficial Bacteria
Then I read that these sponges come dosed with anti-bacterial ? Yes or No for Sponges..???
I will r+r this tank once again...I am close the ocean and can easily grab some natural sea water or go an RODI Unit + recommended Reef Salt mix...or a sledge hammer...lol
Thanks everybody
Ray

I don’t recommend ocean salt from the beach. Who knows what you might bring back. Everything from pests to pollution. Just buy the saltwater at your LFS or mix your own with aquarium reef salt like Red Sea.

Also, I recommend something made for filters like poly fiber for your filtration. I am guessing kitchen sponges aren’t the best and can leech things into the water.

 

[randilio1]

I don’t recommend ocean salt from the beach. Who knows what you might bring back. Everything from pests to pollution. Just buy the saltwater at your LFS or mix your own with aquarium reef salt like Red Sea.

Also, I recommend something made for filters like poly fiber for your filtration. I am guessing kitchen sponges aren’t the best and can leech things into the water.

+1

 

[randilio1]

Thanks,
Should my recent r+r fail for whatever reasons, I will collect NSW and try once again.
Google Maps...I live in Brooklyn, NSW, ( New South Wales) AUSTRALIA, I would collect my water from Avoca Beach, NSW, probably some of the cleanest NSW in the Pacific.
Ray

Agree with @SudzFD. Collecting NSW is just asking for a load of pest issues and contamination of your new tank. Buy the RODI. You'll need one for moving forward anyway (water changes) and you'll know for sure that the water you're adding is pure. For fish only or fowlr go with bang for buck salt. Started a year and a bit ago using coral pro from Red Sea, waste of money IMHO until you've got a substantial collection of coral. Switched to instant ocean and my tank is still happy.

 

[lefkonj]

Considering the amount of money lost on fish at this point, I would highly suggest draining and filling with RODI water, using a branded aquarium salt mixture, bacteria and letting it cycle for a week or so. When things look good and test good add a few small, cheap fish to see how they react.

Acclimating the fish is key, drip acclimation until temp, pH, salinity are the same then net them into the tank, do not under any circumstances add store water to your tank.

Where did you get the rock or sand?

 

[Ray Warren]

Hi,
Thanks for your input.
Re the possibility of loose voltage.....
I noticed a slight tingle in my finger ....hmmm...wondering where it could be coming from....thru process of elimination... isolated the problem to 2 x 240v LED Bars. I had carefully sealed these with Silastic when I wired them...where the power fitting inserted...over the mini switch...over anything that looked like a factory seal down the seams of the fittings.
On close inspection turns out there was a small 25mm area on one fitting that had encrusted with salt. Gotcha!!
Today I retro fitted the hood with 3 x 1m 12V LED Strips...no hint of any current in the water.
I couldn't figure how the fish would be affected...considering electricity in the water would not be grounded...when I stick my finger in I am instantly earthed...hence the zap...but the way I see it the fish are basically in a Faraday's Cage ...so to speak....not grounded ???
Only thing I can figure is water spilt over the rear of tank and wooden cabinet perhaps left a 'trail' of salt....grounding the tank....but i have wooden floors...any sparkies out there..?...lol
I appreciate all the feedback.....I think I've nailed the problem.
Cheers
Ray

 

[Jaebster]

Thanks very much
Have just done a 50% water change...using water filtered thru 6kg of Carbon and salted with quality Reef Salt.
Will let it cycle for a few days and then do another water change...let it continue cycling for a week or two. Fingers crossed my friend. All icons in the reply field are not available...only the settings icon....dammed if i can see a little mountain icon/link.
Cheers

I dont understand your 50% water change comment. Can you elaborate? Are you saying that you are not completely starting over with RODI and new marine aquarium salt mix? and just changing out 50% of what you already have with new marine aquarium salt mix? doing a 50% change out wont work. Needs to be 100%, preferably take everything out of system, rinse with tap water and start all over again with correct salt mix with RODI, then cycle.

 

[NatD]

I dont understand your 50% water change comment. Can you elaborate? Are you saying that you are not completely starting over with RODI and new marine aquarium salt mix? and just changing out 50% of what you already have with new marine aquarium salt mix? doing a 50% change out wont work. Needs to be 100%, preferably take everything out of system, rinse with tap water and start all over again with correct salt mix with RODI, then cycle.

+1

 

[Copingwithpods]

My honest suggestion and I mean no disrespect is to stop all together. Drain the tank, rinse everything out and let it air dry. In the meantime do some homework and research as much as you can before restarting the tank be it weeks or months from now. The cheapest way possible is having an understanding of a reef tank so you don't make costly mistakes in the future. Gather some more info here, watch the 52 weeks of reefing Playlist on YouTube you won't regret it. Once armed with info restart your tank. Don't experiment with household items. Only add fish when it's finished its cycle and you'll have a great tank.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Tap water, pool salt, and not actually cycling the aquarium...... You need to find someone locally who is successfully keeping a SW tank, and get some guidance from them.

 

[reeferKen]

 

[anthonygf]

Thanks. Very interesting.

 

[Icewing726]

Just a suggestion, you didn't use any silicone on the tank? One in particular is very similar to a aquarium safe type but actually releases something (alcohol maybe?) over time.