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

[1995reefer]

I wish you had come here before you started your saltwater adventure. In a nut shell I would start over, SORRY. As has been posted . RODI System water,quality Saltwater Mix and one more thing keep your bare hands & arms out of a starter tank. I started my first saltwater fish only tank in 1991. I know what your going through . Good Luck, Mate

 

[Tamberav]

I am betting the pool salt is the problem. I am less inclined to blame tap right away as I have a few friends running mixed reef tap water tanks but if your tap water smells like the stuff at a florida airport, I wouldn't use it (or drink it) either.

 

[Ray Warren]

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

 

[fishguy242]

kithen sponges will deteriate in sw

 

[LiamPM]

As I suspected. . . acclimation and bag water in tank. This will always do it for fish loss. I described best method for you. Be sure to change up your acclimation.
Take a water sample to a tursted LFS and have them test all parameters for you so you know tank status and what changes you need to make.

Aye? Putting fish shop water in your tank would cause fish loss?
Dont think I agree with that at all. Can understand that could introduce unwanted pathogens, parasites but I have never heard of simply introducing a fish shops Water into your tank will kill the fish in a matter of hours.....highly doubt that could happen, ever, for the sake of simple dilution.

I’m pretty sure you now know the cause and that being a couple of things, predominantly the pool salt. And for what it’s worth, don’t be put off by a few posts you don’t like, the troll comment I doubt was meant maliciously but with a number of mistakes that aren’t very common it’s just a phrase that is said. Good luck with the reboot!

 

[Ray Warren]

I wish you had come here before you started your saltwater adventure. In a nut shell I would start over, SORRY. As has been posted . RODI System water,quality Saltwater Mix and one more thing keep your bare hands & arms out of a starter tank. I started my first saltwater fish only tank in 1991. I know what your going through . Good Luck, Mate

Thanks for your advice.....BTW....this is NOT a troll post...
Ray

 

[Bryce M.]

Let's never forget the thread on a motorcycle forum where a guy put noss energy drink in his fuel and not the noss bike thing. Everyone thought he was a troll too, until he posted pics of his bike busted

 

[Ray Warren]

Hi People,
Just wanted to say thanks for all the feedback.
Your collective knowledge and info has helped me a great deal.
Someone said my post was "troll"...I assure you it is not.
Tanks again
Ray

 

[IKD]

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

kitchen sponges can contain soaps incorporated in them. I would not recommend using those. Your fish store will have standard filter pads or socks to sell.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Kit

kitchen sponges can contain soaps incorporated from the packet. I would not recommend using those.

Kitchen sponges also contain a load of bacteria. I remember I used to work in a big chain petstore and a guy came in because he lost his entire collection of high dollar cichlids. Turns out he used an old kitchen sponge to scrub algae off the glass because he couldn't find his algae scrubber pad. Caused a bacterial chain reaction that killed all his fish.

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r! Sorry you had to come to us under such circumstances...but with your new found knowledge i look forward to seeing the tank bloom!

 

[fishguy242]

hi ray no worries that is why we are here ,do not hesitate in the future good people here

 

[Sashaka]

Hi Ray,
Welcome!

Sorry you had a bad experience asking for help. No one learns when they are being attacked, so don't let one person's negative response put you off here. There are all types of people in any forum, and unfortunately some would rather point fingers than be supportive. R2R is at its best helping people who are just starting out and need answers quick. So, ask away! Ignore the negatives and respond to the positives. There are many here that really do want to help people become better at keeping their fish and reefs flourishing.

 

[Ray Warren]

Welcome to r2r! Sorry you had to come to us under such circumstances...but with your new found knowledge i look forward to seeing the tank bloom!

Thanks, I appreciate that. Can you post photos on this site??
After this strip down...I will strictly be using RODI water and Quality Reef Salt...Red Sea I think it's called.
Or I am in a position to get natural seawater...what do you think.....
Cheers
Ray

 

[AZMSGT]

Thanks, I appreciate that. Can you post photos on this site??
After this strip down...I will strictly be using RODI water and Quality Reef Salt...Red Sea I think it's called.
Or I am in a position to get natural seawater...what do you think.....
Cheers
Ray

Using natural sea water is an iffy proposition. It depends on where and how it’s collected. If it’s near the coast it could have allot of contaminants in it from storm run off, pesticides to sewage.

Lots of good salt options and company's that make aquarium salt. Red Sea is one of those brands.

 

[Ray Warren]

Using natural sea water is an iffy proposition. It depends on where and how it’s collected. If it’s near the coast it could have allot of contaminants in it from storm run off, pesticides to sewage.

Lots of good salt options and company's that make aquarium salt. Red Sea is one of those brands.

OK...I will can the idea of Seawater...I would have collected it from...see Google Maps....Avoca Beach...NSW...Australia.
Will follow your advice......
Cheers
Ray

 

[reef lover]

Sure u can add pics! When your typing your message, in the top right of that box youll see a small image of a mountain, click that and follow prompts from there.

 

[Ray Warren]

Sure u can add pics! When your typing your message, in the top right of that box youll see a small image of a mountain, click that and follow prompts from there.

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

 

[Ray Warren]

Kitchen sponges also contain a load of bacteria. I remember I used to work in a big chain petstore and a guy came in because he lost his entire collection of high dollar cichlids. Turns out he used an old kitchen sponge to scrub algae off the glass because he couldn't find his algae scrubber pad. Caused a bacterial chain reaction that killed all his fish.

So I just discovered...i originally saw it on YouTube...seemed reasonable, lots of surface area etc.
No more sponges...live and learn.
Thanks for your input.
Ray

 

[Cell]

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.