Mass Clownfish Deaths

Hate to throw the "professional" under the bus, but do you know that he gave you real information? We had somebody like that in my area about a year ago. Would charge for maintenance and was doing nothing more than scraping the glass and giving false positive readings on tanks. They'd bring water samples in to the store I was working at and it would be a total mess.

Do you test your own water parameters?
 
Yeah, honestly, if it were me I'd wait for several (e.g. six?) months. Just keep it as is, wait for things to stabilize. Only then would I buy more fish. From suppliers known to be good. :)

Eta: I would not add any new fish until you’ve got at least 2 to 3 months without any other fish dying. Personal opinion.
 
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Just because you used the same water doesn't mean that the tank was cycled. Looking at your other posts, it seems like you have been having trouble losing fish. Bio-balls and prime are not the ideal way to keep a system running smoothly.

As was asked earlier, are you testing your water yourself?

What kind of top off water are your using?

What is the specific gravity of your tank water?

By reviewing your past posts, it looks like you have had over a dozen deaths in 4 months. IMO, it's time to slow down and stabilize your system. Try adding live rock and a bacterial additive to start with. Stop using prime in your tank, that is not allowing your biological filter to get established. There are a lot of good articles on this site about how to start a tank that should be very helpful to you.
 
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Hate to throw the "professional" under the bus, but do you know that he gave you real information? We had somebody like that in my area about a year ago. Would charge for maintenance and was doing nothing more than scraping the glass and giving false positive readings on tanks. They'd bring water samples in to the store I was working at and it would be a total mess.

Do you test your own water parameters?
My wife is home every time and watches what he does. He knows what he’s doing.
 
Just because you used the same water doesn't mean that the tank was cycled. Looking at your other posts, it seems like you have been having trouble losing fish. Bio-balls and prime are not the ideal way to keep a system running smoothly.

As was asked earlier, are you testing your water yourself?

What kind of top off water are your using?

What is the specific gravity of your tank water?

By reviewing your past posts, it looks like you have had over a dozen deaths in 4 months. IMO, it's time to slow down and stabilize your system. Try adding live rock and a bacterial additive to start with. Stop using prime in your tank, that is not allowing your biological filter to get established. There are a lot of good articles on this site about how to start a tank that should be very helpful to you.
What’s wrong with bio balls? Worked for 5 years with the previous owner.
 
Hate to throw the "professional" under the bus, but do you know that he gave you real information? We had somebody like that in my area about a year ago. Would charge for maintenance and was doing nothing more than scraping the glass and giving false positive readings on tanks. They'd bring water samples in to the store I was working at and it would be a total mess.

Do you test your own water parameters?
The guy is a degreed Biologist with a B. S. in biology and a certified scuba diver. He’s been doing aquarium maintenance since 2007. Also, was a Water Quality Technologist for the Chicago Shedd Aquarium.
 
Yeah, honestly, if it were me I'd wait for several (e.g. six?) months. Just keep it as is, wait for things to stabilize. Only then would I buy more fish. From suppliers known to be good. :)
Okay
 
The guy is a degreed Biologist with a B. S. in biology and a certified scuba diver. He’s been doing aquarium maintenance since 2007. Also, was a Water Quality Technologist for the Chicago Shedd Aquarium.

That's all well and good, but it doesn't mean he didn't blow smoke up your skirt.

Do you test your own water?
 
Hey man, a lot of people have their tank maintained by other people. If you trust him and he's reputable then I don't think that's your issue. I know a couple very knowledgeable and honest people that do maintenance.

Honestly.... reading through your other threads and description of past problems, I think you have velvet. You have had a lot of fish die very fast. The hippo with spots, the lethargic/rapid breathing trigger. You are another victim of no Qt in a disease riddled distribution system. Do some reading in the disease section, the answers are pretty but they are necessary to successfully enjoy the hobby.

P.S. not to harp on you but that naso will not last in a 125. that fish gets over a foot. If you need help ask away
 
Again, you have lost a lot of fish since May, and I agree with @Fishfinder, you probably have a disease in the tank.

Also, I would stress again that adding prime to your display tank to maintain water is not allowing your bio-filter to mature. Prime binds the ammonia, nitrate and nitrite to keep them from harming your fish. It probably also keeps those elements from the bacteria that feed on them. If your tank was truly cycled, you wouldn't need to be adding prime to it to keep the parameters in check.

Not saying that a system can't work with a wet/dry and bioballs, but the hobby has progressed and there are better ways.
 
In regards to bio balls(which i dont believe your use of has had anything to do with any of your losses)
They are great for certain applications.
I still use them in both my pond and my planted. In both filters they are my second media after sponges. They collect the detritus that gets through. The bacteria and fungi decompose it to smaller pieces third filter is then matrix. Works in this setting as my ph in both setups is low and all ammonia is ammonium and both are heavily planted.
And i have no nitrate cycle per say. And my water change schedule revolves around a stable General Hardness.

In a reef aquarium at the higher ph this is not always the case. You want detritus removed or directly feeding microfauna like copepods. While locked in bio balls but still inside the system water, it remains there till cleaned. If cleaned regularly they are a great filter choice but do add more human effort than other filters in a reef setting.
 
Two different LFS.
Currently in tank :
Diamond Goby
Coral Beauty
Melanarus Wrasse
Blonde Naso Tang
Fancy Clownfish

How many clownfish in the tank currently? If the fancy clownfish are established, IMHO it will be hard to add any more clowns.
 

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