Why do my fish keep dying?!?!?!

[josuhwa]

I posted on here a few weeks/month ago about my 72 bow front with canister filters and how my fish would not last over night. Since then I have closed the tank in utter disgust.

Now I have got the "bug" again.

I went out and picked up a JBJ 45 Rimless, set it up with 40 lbs of live sand, and 30 lbs of dry reef rock. I used some Bio-spree and added 2 green Chromis on Sept. 2nd. on Sept 30th I added 10 "turbo Snails" to keep it clean (it was getting fuzzy).

I use a 4 stage R.O. water maker and have changed the water (5 Gallons) every weekend with out question to keep the cycle in full swing. All water tests are coming back at zero on all tests.

last week I added a fire fish. with a very small zoo colony and everything was looking great!

This morning I wake up and all the fish are dead!!!

Now yesterday i did notice the zoo's were closed up and not open at all, I just thought they got spooked or something. I also noticed that the fish were swimming in a strange pattern. Kind of like they were heavy at the tail end and were not swimming level if that makes since. WHAT on EARTH is going on?

 

[tigerdragon]

Stray electrical current in tank? Any chemicals in house being used around tank?

 

[josuhwa]

I was thinking it was from the "Air Wick" sent thing but that is on the other end of the living room. I make sure there are no chemicals used to clean the glass or near the tank. I do have a Titanium Grounding probe that will be connected tonight after I leave the office. Thanks for the ideas, Is there any other thoughts from the forum?

 

[Robink]

How long did you let the tank cycle? Have you had the local fish store test your water for you?

 

[josuhwa]

Robink: With the bio-spree I put the chromis in right away, mind you they were just fine for over 40 days. I have my own test kits that are new and also have tested the water each week on the regular and all levels checked out at zero.

 

[LetItReef]

Acclimation maybe?

 

[Robink]

Ok. Just making sure. When I'm in doubt I always have someone else do a second check just to make sure.

 

[josuhwa]

LetItReef: I am pretty sure the fish were fully acclimated, the chromis were in the thank for about 45 days, the fire fish over a week and all was good. It was all this morning when I walked down the stairs and they were all dead.

Robink: You have a good point and I might just bring some of the water to my LFS for a second opinion.

Thanks again to everyone, I have no other ideas but I welcome anyone else's!

 

[NewEnglishMutt]

You have to have your water right, getting it tested at the LFS is almost a must for startup. Also make sure you have enough flow, my fish are very dependent on current flow, and good flow helps keep the water oxygenated too. Also what is your salinity level? Fluctuations in salinity from evaporation and irregular top offs can cause stress on the fish and corals too.

 

[gcrawford]

Did your test kits show the natural cycling process? I would not add live inhabitants until the tank goes through the process and you have measurable nitrates. I don't change any water until that cycle is complete. Any dry rock needs to go through this process imo before adding livestock. Also, I don't use products that claim to speed the process.

Attached are pics of testing my water during an initial cycle. These measurements were over a 60 day period if memory serves....

 

[josuhwa]

NewEnglishMutt: The current on the JBJ 45 has two outlet pumps that are in full swing, my levels of the salinity are constant at 30 or .024 all the time, I have been keeping the top offs very minimal because my water changes are extremely regular (every Sunday before the football games). This is just very strange seeing as everything was A.OK until this morning when I woke up to them all dead.

Is there anything to be said for the fish swimming yesterday evening like they had a "heavy Tail" I really am not sure but I would think that would be a clue of some kind but I cant find anything online about that kind of strange swimming with the fish.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Sorry for your loss! :sad: You'll recover from this one!:clap2:

 

[NewEnglishMutt]

How was their breathing? Did they have rapid gill movement or were they breathing slow and easy?