How to keep fish healthy?

[Reef_in love]

Hi guys(ladies) I'm a new reefer and I love tropical fish, I have 20g nuvo peninsula all in one set up. For the past 5 months I have had clown fish, purple dotty, spot domino damsel and for the cleaning crews I have fire shrimp, snails and red legs hermit also 2 corals.
Sometimes I test the water weekly or bi monthly, when the fishes died I took the water sample to a local fish store for a test and they said the water is fine. I don't have bio filter nor protein Skimmer in the tank only filter sock, can that be the cause?? This is what I have now..

 

[MSB123]

Did you cycle the tank? What are your actual parameters?

 

[James M]

Welcome to reef2reef !!!
I’m assuming you don’t have a QT. Protein skimmers aren’t needed to have a tank and your rock is your biological filtration.
How are you introducing/acclimating the fish ?
How many are you getting a month ?

 

[Reef_in love]

Welcome to reef2reef !!!
I’m assuming you don’t have a QT. Protein skimmers aren’t needed to have a tank and your rock is your biological filtration.
How are you introducing/acclimating the fish ?
How many are you getting a month ?[

Did you cycle the tank? What are your actual parameters?

Yes I cycled for about 2-3 weeks when I first setup, I don't know what is the actual reading cause I uesd the strip.
What is a QT
The first month I put clown and damsel in I waited for about another months b4 I add more fish. With the acclimation of the fish I heard many differences from different fish store. I float the bag in the tank first after about 10-15 mins I pour half cup of my tank water into the bag 4-5 times for about 5 minutes apart and when I ready to put the fish I scoop it with a cup not the netting.

 

[ZoWhat]

Can I say smthg that hopefully you dint take wrong?

I would do less buying and more reading/researching husbandry skills.

I personally wouldnt go buy a $40k Harley when I'm still learning how to ride a motorcycle in the city...

 

[James M]

How did u cycle your tank ? 2-3 weeks is short

 

[Reef_in love]

Can I say smthg that hopefully you dint take wrong?

I would do less buying and more reading/researching husbandry skills.

I personally wouldnt go buy a $40k Harley when I'm still learning how to ride a motorcycle in the city...

Isn't more practice makes better. Yes you are right read more search more.
I have been searching and watching YouTube for knowledge, I found this site so I can ask the professionals for advise and opinions.

 

[Reef_in love]

I haven't put anything in for the past month and a half, I felt bad every time when the fish stay in 1 corner.

The past month I just realized there are so many tiny white/clear bugs on the glass, sand and rocks, is that normal?

I only used test strip for the water
Any recommend on tester or equipment for the tank and for more accurate reading.

I heard many different ways of adding new fish, the light should turn off to reduce the stress of fish but I have corals inside the tank so..... Thanks

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Welcome to the group. You came to the right place for help.

Here is a good starter article to help



https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/15-steps-to-starting-a-saltwater-aquarium-the-lasse-method.597/

 

[408Dartfish]

I haven't put anything in for the past month and a half, I felt bad every time when the fish stay in 1 corner.

The past month I just realized there are so many tiny white/clear bugs on the glass, sand and rocks, is that normal?

I only used test strip for the water
Any recommend on tester or equipment for the tank and for more accurate reading.

I heard many different ways of adding new fish, the light should turn off to reduce the stress of fish but I have corals inside the tank so..... Thanks

Little white bugs are most likely copepods which are great.

 

[scattered]

I haven't put anything in for the past month and a half, I felt bad every time when the fish stay in 1 corner.

The past month I just realized there are so many tiny white/clear bugs on the glass, sand and rocks, is that normal?

I only used test strip for the water
Any recommend on tester or equipment for the tank and for more accurate reading.

I heard many different ways of adding new fish, the light should turn off to reduce the stress of fish but I have corals inside the tank so..... Thanks

After your tank has cycled and parameters are stable for a month you can add a fish (or pair). If parameters are kept stable for another month, you can add more. Your parameters should be stable for six months before adding coral in my experience.

 

[Kal93]

Do you QT your fish? How quickly do you add fish?

Salifert and Red Sea have some good tests, but a cheap API kit will work for ammonia, nitrite, and pH. I would test weekly.

How frequently do you feed--and what's the type and quantity of food? If you're feeding too much, I suggest chaeto/protein skimmer/algae scrubber.

The white bugs are copepods.

 

[Kal93]

Also, if your fish is hiding in a corner, there may be a bully. All your listed fish are semi-aggressive/aggressive FYI

 

[Jon Fishman]

First thing to do to keep your fish healthy and safe, is get rid of the domino damsel.

 

[Reef_in love]

First thing to do to keep your fish healthy and safe, is get rid of the domino damsel.

Any specific reason or they are like semi-aggressive. I read it online they are easy care, or maybe I'm wrong

 

[sde1500]

I only used test strip for the water
Any recommend on tester or equipment for the tank and for more accurate reading.

Red sea or salifert.

The past month I just realized there are so many tiny white/clear bugs on the glass, sand and rocks, is that normal?

Sounds like copepods, they are good

As for what to do, its likely aggression, disease, or acclimation issues. How do you measure salinity? If it isn't with a calibrated refracometer I highly suggest getting one. If those are the fish currently alive in the tank, yea the damsel can be quite aggressive.

 

[BestMomEver]

Any specific reason or they are like semi-aggressive. I read it online they are easy care, or maybe I'm wrong

Domino damsels are adorable when little. As they grow (and sometimes as babies) they can be quite nasty. They’re very territorial and will kill other fish.

 

[BestMomEver]

Also... the dottyback can be a little bully too. The key is to give the aggressive ones a lot of space. Your tank might be too small for that many aggressive fish. I had a domino damsel in a 500 gallon tank. He got huge and nasty. I had to remove him. He ruled a 500 gallon tank and chased all my large tangs. I won’t have another.

 

[azreeftank]

Any specific reason or they are like semi-aggressive. I read it online they are easy care, or maybe I'm wrong

Agree 100% start by taking that damsel out. By the time I took mine out he would attack me when my hand was in the tank. I will never put any kind of damsel in my tanks no matter how cute or the size of tank. Best of luck
Also how my lbs of Rock do you have in the tank?

 

[Reef_in love]

Agree 100% start by taking that damsel out. By the time I took mine out he would attack me when my hand was in the tank. I will never put any kind of damsel in my tanks no matter how cute or the size of tank. Best of luck
Also how my lbs of Rock do you have in the tank?[/QUOTE
I currently don't have any fish in the tank for the past month and half,

I only have 2 corals, snail and red leg hermit and maybe 10 lbs of live rocks.

Should I start with cheaper fish first.
Should I set up a QT.

Has any one try Molly?