Please Help. I Don't Know What's Going On

[saltyfilmfolks]

@melypr1985 why do they do this. Hypo for pests?

 

[cmcoker]

I would continue monitoring your levels, but also consider dropping your salinity, I believe it's recommended not to raise SG for fish more than 0.002 per day.

So options to consider :
match what your lfs runs - verify SG for new addition and you should be able to temp acclimate and dump.

or drop SG within 0.002 and drip acclimate new additions

Setup a QT tank and match SG to lfs and bring the livestock up to match your DT over several days.

Given what you plan for the tank, 1 fish, I would drop the DT to match the lfs, give the tank time to adjust and monitor for any indication of cycling. Add any shrimps or invertebrates you want. Then raise to desired SG over a week or so. Then start adding corals.

 

[melypr1985]

@melypr1985 why do they do this. Hypo for pests?

It saves salt for the store.... My store has a 900 gallon fish only system. We do weekly 300 gallon water changes, so we save quite a bit of salt in the long run. It's also what the fish are shipped in. Every supplier we order from ships their fish around 1.019, so that's what I keep my system at for easy acclimation. Less stress on the fish and they don't have to sit in ammonia for several hours while they drip acclimate. We use copper in our fish system so ammonia reducers during acclimation aren't possible.

True hypo is 1.009 so we arn't very close to that at all. Hence the copper

 

[cmcoker]

@melypr1985 does your sg vary much day to day at the store ? I always wonder how removing water for sales affects the salinity day to day, do y'all check salinity and decide to topoff with salt or ro?

 

[salttanklife]

I would continue monitoring your levels, but also consider dropping your salinity, I believe it's recommended not to raise SG for fish more than 0.002 per day.

So options to consider :
match what your lfs runs - verify SG for new addition and you should be able to temp acclimate and dump.

or drop SG within 0.002 and drip acclimate new additions

Setup a QT tank and match SG to lfs and bring the livestock up to match your DT over several days.

Given what you plan for the tank, 1 fish, I would drop the DT to match the lfs, give the tank time to adjust and monitor for any indication of cycling. Add any shrimps or invertebrates you want. Then raise to desired SG over a week or so. Then start adding corals.

If she's planning to keep coral, I wouldn't recommend dropping her tank to the lfs. The salinity would be to low

 

[cmcoker]

If she's planning to keep coral, I wouldn't recommend dropping her tank to the lfs. The salinity would be to low

Read the entire post, I address that.. Corals added last after raising SG. OP said wanted one fish so it doesn't seem unreasonable to wait on coral..

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It saves salt for the store....

 

[lion king]

If there is nothing in your tank, bring the sg down in the tank to match the sg in the bag. Then slowly bring up the tank where you want it, or you can slowly bring up the sg in the bag for 2 hours to match the tank. Like others have said it's likely osmotic shock.

 

[Edward Seaton]

I recently downsized my tank from a 55 gal to a 10 gal nano. My idea for the tank was a one clown fish and corals. When I downsized I gave all my fish away. I reused almost everything from the 55 including some live rock, the heater, and the filter. I have a crushed coral bottom, a new light and also all the water was fresh mixed salt water. I left it run a few days. All my parameters were in check. I then went and purchased a clown from a local pet store and it was dead within 24 hours. I checked my parameters again and still they were good. I thought I was missing something so I took some water for the local pet store to check and they also said everything was in check. I went home and did about a 3 gal change and waited a few days and went and purchased a shrimp...again dead within 24 hours...can someone please tell me what is going on. I never had fish die like this.

I am new to saltwater but I have had freshwater tanks all my life and I would say check your water temperature if you are using the same heater from the 55 gal and then moved to a 10 gal you could be putting them is shock.

 

[salttanklife]

I usually let the bag float and bring to temp and dump. It has always worked before. I tried the drip acclimation process and it has never worked for me.

When you say "dump" are you saying that you're dumping water from the lfs as well? If so, you could be dumping copper in your tank if your lfs treats their fish only tanks with copper. This could be a problem with invertebrates and coral in the future from my understanding.

 

[Edward Seaton]

I think I wouldn't use the pet store water. Is that something you do with saltwater?

 

[melypr1985]

I am new to saltwater but I have had freshwater tanks all my life and I would say check your water temperature if you are using the same heater from the 55 gal and then moved to a 10 gal you could be putting them is shock.

Very good point! I agree

When you say "dump" are you saying that you're dumping water from the lfs as well? If so, you could be dumping copper in your tank if your lfs treats their fish only tanks with copper. This could be a problem with invertebrates and coral in the future from my understanding.

Also a good point. I forgot about the shrimp that didn't make it. I know we use copper in our water and there are other stores that do as well. That's something to ask the LFS where the fish are coming from too.

I think I wouldn't use the pet store water. Is that something you do with saltwater?

Typically no. You don't want to be in the habit of putting the store's water in your tank. It's a good habit to be in, where you net the fish out of the bag and add only the fish to your QT or display. Same goes for the fish from your QT tank to display. You want as little water transferring from tank to tank as possible.