New fish die within hours

[homer1475]

I'm still thinking the tank is fine, but adding inverts will tell you for sure, and is a heck of a lot cheaper then fish.

Describe your acclimation process.

 

[Clemsy]

I'm still thinking the tank is fine, but adding inverts will tell you for sure, and is a heck of a lot cheaper then fish.

Describe your acclimation process.

I'll add some inverts as soon as I can. I float the bag for about 15 minutes in the tank and then put it inside a bucket. Use slow drip acclimation. After bag is about half way remove some water and continue acclimating until is half. Repeat that a few times for about hour and half or 2 hours. People have told me that I take too long.

 

[homer1475]

If the salinity is the same, plop and drop.

Meaning float the bag to equalize temp, then just open the bag and drop the fish in(leaving the LFS water in the bag). I like to use a little colander instead of a net for this.

 

[Tamberav]

FYI make sure the water is always to the top of the heater (it has a min line). I had that same heater and when my cat pulled it out of the water... it looked fine and melted the carpet where they left it.... but later cracked right open which I am sure is because it ran dry for awhile and got compromised. It shocked the **** out of me too. Literally flipped the GFCI. I was using it to mix water and was standing in some water on the floor bare foot so you know... perfect storm... thanks bathroom GCFI for saving my butt.

My heaters/equipment is now zip tied down so brat cats cant pull them out.

 

[czoolander]

I haven't heard this really mentioned yet but when you first got your tank did you clean the inside glass out with windex or any similar products ? or clean your outside glass with windex now that you have water in it ?

This could also be a potential for the issue....... since nobody has really solved this mystery ill throw my guess in the ring. Colonel Mustard with the Windex in the biocube !

Jokes aside I hope we figure this out soon for you as fish loss is brutal and the worst part of the hobby

good luck

 

[Clemsy]

FYI make sure the water is always to the top of the heater (it has a min line). I had that same heater and when my cat pulled it out of the water... it looked fine and melted the carpet where they left it.... but later cracked right open which I am sure is because it ran dry for awhile and got compromised. It shocked the **** out of me too. Literally flipped the GFCI. I was using it to mix water and was standing in some water on the floor bare foot so you know... perfect storm... thanks bathroom GCFI for saving my butt.

My heaters/equipment is now zip tied down so brat cats cant pull them out.

dang! I moved it to the middle chamber. Will add more water

 

[Clemsy]

I haven't heard this really mentioned yet but when you first got your tank did you clean the inside glass out with windex or any similar products ? or clean your outside glass with windex now that you have water in it ?

This could also be a potential for the issue....... since nobody has really solved this mystery ill throw my guess in the ring. Colonel Mustard with the Windex in the biocube !

Jokes aside I hope we figure this out soon for you as fish loss is brutal and the worst part of the hobby

good luck

Not inside but I use windex outside. I spray the paper towel instead of the glass

 

[Randomwhiteguy89]

Other then expensive high end corals my acclimation is the same for everything I put in my tank I have one of my wife’s hair clips I open the bag and put it in with the open end sticking out and clip it to the tank and then I use my Turkey baster and put a squirt in the bag every five minutes for about a half hour after that I put the fish or coral in the tank either with a net or by hand and never add any of the lfs water to my tank

 

[Randomwhiteguy89]

Not inside but I use windex outside. I spray the paper towel instead of the glass

Never use windex it has high amounts of ammonia even if you spray it on the towel just use your lain water I’ve been doing it with water for years and it works fine wet it wipe it down then dry it

 

[adittam]

Not inside but I use windex outside. I spray the paper towel instead of the glass

I think we found our culprit. Never use any commercial cleaning products on the inside or outside of the aquarium. The only thing I would recommend cleaning anything with is white vinegar if needed to get mineral deposits off, and then still be careful to not get it in the tank.

 

[czoolander]

Not inside but I use windex outside. I spray the paper towel instead of the glass

Well stop using windex right away that is very toxic don't even use it in the same room . This could be potentially a cause for the deaths. I clean my glass just with paper towels nothing on them if I want sometimes ill use spit LOL ( not suggested and not for everyone ) Its from my days playing hockey using spit to clean my visor its gross but it works . ALso non toxic

 

[Celestion]

I didn't read any posts , so do fresh water a year...then brack a year ...then salt.....or get some good advice. Lol

 

[Sebastiancrab]

No children. If nothing else works I will do just that. Start from zero.

If it were me, that is what I would do. You don't know what toxin or disease might be in the tank at this point. Ditch the ammonia, use a bacteria starter such as the Seachem (it's cheap) and a pinch of fish food every day. Just wait until two or three weeks have gone by. Then test the water and have it retested at the LFS. Start out with a $10 fish before you buy clowns. Go slow! Everything in this hobby takes time and patience to do correctly.

 

[adittam]

If it were me, that is what I would do. You don't know what toxin or disease might be in the tank at this point. Ditch the ammonia, use a bacteria starter such as the Seachem (it's cheap) and a pinch of fish food every day. Just wait until two or three weeks have gone by. Then test the water and have it retested at the LFS. Start out with a $10 fish before you buy clowns. Go slow! Everything in this hobby takes time and patience to do correctly.

When the OP is ready to try a fish again, there’s no reason to not buy a clown again for the first fish. Silly in my opinion to change up your stocking plan by putting the cheapest fish you can find in there, especially if it’s something like a damsel that has a high likelihood of being a jerk to its other tank mates down the road. Clowns are extremely hardy, and a regular ocellaris shouldn’t cost more than $15 or so…

That said, I’d recommend going with one to start with. You can always add a 2nd after a week or so if the first one is doing well.

 

[BadSquishy]

When you float the bag make sure to turn the tank lights off, otherwise you could get a hot car effect inside the bag and cook the fish.

 

[stacksoner]

Get an ICP test. Stop experimenting with live animals.

 

[GHOSTLY]

I found that my blenny and fish die when added suddenly to a new area. The stress

 

[Kuhmens]

Get an ICP test. Stop experimenting with live animals.

Not to sure anyone here experimented with fish, Having lack of knowledge and lack of what is what happened, Lets not sling slugs at anyone here but the OP already made it clear they had a test kit, also posted the results of the test kit.

 

[Garf]

I’m assuming that a low water level will not trigger the thermostat and if the tube doesn’t break it could cook the fish and/or the cycle which would explain the symptoms. Just a punt.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

When the OP is ready to try a fish again, there’s no reason to not buy a clown again for the first fish. Silly in my opinion to change up your stocking plan by putting the cheapest fish you can find in there, especially if it’s something like a damsel that has a high likelihood of being a jerk to its other tank mates down the road. Clowns are extremely hardy, and a regular ocellaris shouldn’t cost more than $15 or so…

That said, I’d recommend going with one to start with. You can always add a 2nd after a week or so if the first one is doing well.

He doesn't have to buy a damsel. Chromis sell for $10. I sure haven't seen any clowns for under $30 each. My suggestion was to go with something inexpensive to start out with since he has already lost a chunk of change and is discouraged.