New tank/clown fish die immediately

RJACKSON854 · Oct 21, 2020

Need help.....I started my new 32 gal tank last week and this week the water tested perfect. I placed two clown fish in the tank and they started shooting around the tank like bullets and died within a couple minutes. I took water to get tested immediately and still tested perfect. I was given a Mollie fish and it is doing very well, in fact it had babies. I then went to another store, got the water tested and purchased two clowns. Same thing happened with the first set. The only thing that I see with the water is that it is very cloudy with what looks like sand particulates. Attached is the video of the fish reacting to my water. Water temp is 76 degrees; this is very frustrating. Short of completing a whole tank reset I don't know what my options are at this point.

pH-7.4
Ammonia-0ppm
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 2ppm

driftin · Oct 21, 2020

Aside from other parameter questions (salinity, eg) - what was your acclimation procedure for adding them?

Mical · Oct 21, 2020

How about letting the tank CYCLE?

ScubaFish802 · Oct 21, 2020

driftin said:
Aside from other parameter questions (salinity, eg) - what was your acclimation procedure for adding them?

I was going to ask the same exact thing, post up your current parameters and your current acclimation process.

chiefifd · Oct 21, 2020

I can't get the attachment to open ... ;Blackeye

RJACKSON854 · Oct 21, 2020

driftin said:
Aside from other parameter questions (salinity, eg) - what was your acclimation procedure for adding them?

Floated them for approx. 30 min and then started to slowly introduce my water into the water in the bag. After awhile I introduced them into the tank and that's when they reacted.

Mical · Oct 21, 2020

I have high doubts that your water is/was "perfect". Your tank has to cycle through nitrites, nitrates & ammonia and if left to nature it takes 30 days or more. You can speed up the process with additives.

If you keep buying fish and they die, that tells me 2 things: #1) People telling you water is "PERFECT" don't know what they're doing & #2) Your tank is not cycled.

Slow down, research salt water tanks more and trust advice you get here - your wallet will thank you.

leighla · Oct 21, 2020

Starting a new tank is so many things-exciting, fun, challenging, frustrating and unfortunately sometimes heartbreaking.

So I suggest you take a breath and slow down.
One week is a fast cycle and for the forum to help we need more information.
How did you cycle the tank? What test kits are you using?
What salinity is the tank at?
How did you acclimate (what was the salinity the fish came from)?
Such immediate deaths indicate a shock to the system, so let’s really look at your parameters and introduction to the tank first.

ScubaFish802 · Oct 21, 2020

Mical said:
I have high doubts that your water is/was "perfect". Your tank has to cycle through nitrites, nitrates & ammonia and if left to nature it takes 30 days or more. You can speed up the process with additives.

If you keep buying fish and they die, that tells me 2 things: #1) People telling you water is "PERFECT" don't know what they're doing & #2) Your tank is not cycled.

Slow down, research salt water tanks more and trust advice you get here - your wallet will thank you.

If proper time is being given and a slow/gentle enough acclimation process I would have to agree with this, possible “new tank syndrome” happening when adding both new fish.

Hincapiej4 · Oct 21, 2020

Mical said:
How about letting the tank CYCLE?

I laughed. lol

Hincapiej4 · Oct 21, 2020

They look like they got dropped in acid....YOUR PH IS 7.4 BROSEF. CHECK AMMONIA

vetteguy53081 · Oct 21, 2020

In a nicer way, Unless you set up the tank and allowed it to seed, for at least 4-6 weeks and added bacteria, tested water and kept log of readings, you were likely on road to disaster.
Nothing goes fast in reefing and in fact you must literally drag the first few weeks before you can truly begin to stock fish and eventually coral.
A few persons asked about parameters. There is a reason and certain numbers are of High importance especially when starting out. I am providing you a chart below to use for reference. In the mean time. you should see steadily the following numbers BEFORE you can begin to walk into a pet store and purchase any livestock:

Temp range - 77-79
ph 8.0-8.3
salinity - 1.024-1.025
ammonia- .02 max
Nitrate .03 max

- How were fish introduced ( also called acclimated? ). if you floated them and let them out after a few minutes from the bag- Death was invited.
- What test kit(s) are you using?
- What water do you use for tank? RO or Tap water from faucet?

RJACKSON854 · Oct 21, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
In a nicer way, Unless you set up the tank and allowed it to seed, for at least 4-6 weeks and added bacteria, tested water and kept log of readind, you were likely on road to disaster.
Nothing goes fast in reefing and in fact you must literally drag the first few weeks before you can truly begin to stock fish and eventually coral.
A few persons asked about parameters. There is a reason and certain numbers are of High importance especially when starting out. I am providing you a chart below to use for reference. In the mean time. you should see steadily the following numbers BEFORE you can begin to walk into a pet store and purchase any livestock:

Temp range - 77-79
ph 8.0-8.3
salinity - 1.024-1.025
ammonia- .02 max
Nitrate .03 max

How were fish introduced ( also called acclimated? ). if you floated them and let them out after a few minutes from the bag- Death was invited.
What test kit(s) are you using?
What water do you use for tank? RO or Tap water from faucet?

I used RO water; I do not have a protein skimmer as I was told it was not necessary for my tank. Which I don't know if that is 100% accurate. As far as raising the PH should I just purchase a pH up product for saltwater fish?

Hincapiej4 · Oct 21, 2020

NO. not unless you REALLY NEED TO. And the only reason you'd need to that badly is if your ALK is really low.

Surface agitation would help with PH...

EDIT: And a skimmer......

vetteguy53081 · Oct 21, 2020

RJACKSON854 said:
I used RO water; I do not have a protein skimmer as I was told it was not necessary for my tank. Which I don't know if that is 100% accurate. As far as raising the PH should I just purchase a pH up product for saltwater fish?

No on ph - Raise it slowly. Seachem Aqua Vitro 8.4 is best to accomplish this.
Protein skimmer - Not yet but once you have a few fish and/or coral . . . you may want to consider one.

Kinjirra · Oct 21, 2020

WHOA those guys died fast! Silly question but nobody has asked...what type of water did you use? RODI or Tap and if tap did you dechlorinate it? Your testing stated Ammonia of 0.0 so unless you tested wrong an uncycled tank wouldnt insta kill a fish from everything I have read and understand..otherwise you couldnt Start a cycle with fish using bottle bac since its not a cycled tank.

EDIT: Fast moving thread...so you stated RO water....did you still dechlorinate cuze I dont think just RO will remove it completely...but I could be wrong

NeptuneRjo · Oct 21, 2020

This may be a silly question but whats the salinity and did you perhaps put salt in the tank?

RJACKSON854 · Oct 21, 2020

NeptuneRjo said:
This may be a silly question but whats the salinity and did you perhaps put salt in the tank?

Salinity is 1.025

RJACKSON854 · Oct 21, 2020

Kinjirra said:
WHOA those guys died fast! Silly question but nobody has asked...what type of water did you use? RODI or Tap and if tap did you dechlorinate it? Your testing stated Ammonia of 0.0 so unless you tested wrong an uncycled tank wouldnt insta kill a fish from everything I have read and understand..otherwise you couldnt Start a cycle with fish using bottle bac since its not a cycled tank.

EDIT: Fast moving thread...so you stated RO water....did you still dechlorinate cuze I dont think just RO will remove it completely...but I could be wrong

I had the water tested for Chorine Contamination at the store where I purchased the RO water; tested negative. I used fritzyme 9 when I started the tank as well.

cshouston · Oct 21, 2020

I think it was pH shock. If you’re changing more than .2 units of pH you need to go VERY slowly and drip acclimate them. 30 minute float and some water added won’t cut it. Surface agitation at the top of the tank will help so point your powerhead towards the surface. If you have too much CO2 in your home, opening a window during the day can help.

Ask your fish store what the pH of their water is. I’m going to bet it’s 8.0 or higher. Dropping to 7.4 so fast can stress a fish to death.