FISH DESTH IN QUARANTINE

[nova918]

I need some experts advise ive had so many fish loss in quarantine…. For example in my 55 gallons quarantine im using copper power normally at 2.3 ppm checked always with hanna checker … tank is cycled correctly ammonia is at 0.0 and nitrite at 0.0 ppm … lets say i put a couple of fish in today even with copper starting at 2.0 ppm then ramping up … fish dye specifically at night every single one when i wake up every single fish is dead .. really good oxygen to in the water wave maker on top and air pumps in water actually two air stones … i cant get it keep loosing money and its just becoming a nightmare Can someone please help of what it might be or what needs to be done … during the day ph is around 7.9

 

[Euphyllia97]

I would suggest to try and quarantine one fish at a time or at least take some time inbetween. Tank could be cycled, but might not be ready for a big increase in bioload from one day to the other. Only takes one of your fish to die and wipeout the other with their ammonia

 

[JumboShrimp]

I agree. Trying slowing down the pace. Things can't be as well as you think-- ammonia being suspect.

 

[nova918]

I would suggest to try and quarantine one fish at a time or at least take some time inbetween. Tank could be cycled, but might not be ready for a big increase in bioload from one day to the other. Only takes one of your fish to die and wipeout the other with their ammonia

Ive put this tank trough stress test of ammonia putting the tank at 2.0 ppm of ammonia and in 24 hours ammonia and nitrite is back to 0 ppm .. even with all the fish dead in the tank i tested ammonia and nitrite and at 0 ppm i think it has something to do with the copper poisoning the fish specially at night i think ph drops and becoming more toxic … is 2.3 ppm to high other people had same issue? For bio load im seachem matrix rocks and filter sponges they use to be in other tanks but i heard supposedly that matrix wont hold copper or leech out ?

 

[JumboShrimp]

Here is what is currently working for me in a 15-gallon AIO: Sponges in the chamber, seeded with bottled bacteria. SeaChem ammonia badge. Copper Power to 2.5 ppm via Hanna Checker. API General Cure when finished with Copper-- dosing the GC twice, 8 days apart. Using two 'large' air stones continually. I do about a 40% water change every 4 or 5 days (provided everything is looking right to that point). Heater. PVC pipe. Plastic (fake) aquarium plants.

In this 15-gallon I've recently Qt'd two Butterfly fish at a time; and a Tomini Tang along with a Longnose Hawkfish.

I'd like to think if I can do it, anyone can.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Are you checking the salinity of the LFS water? They often keep much lower salinity. How many fish are you adding to the QT tank at one time?

 

[nova918]

Are you checking the salinity of the LFS water? They often keep much lower salinity. How many fish are you adding to the QT tank at one time?

My salinity 34.0 ppt they normally come around 25.0 ppt but i make sure i aclimate them slowly…. Im not sure but i have a suspicion that is the seachem matrix i have alot of them and alot came from other quarantine tanks that had copper i think they are leaching copper at night specially when PH drops and and making copper spikes killing the fish going to test with out the matrix and just sponge

 

[W31Olds]

Nova, the copper leaching theory doesn't make sense to me as you would see the increase during testing. Ammonia also not so much as a 55 Gallon Tank would take some time to reach critical levels unless you're putting very large fish in it. I suspect your acclimation procedure is causing the problem. 25 to 34 ppt is a big jump. I always match my QT tanks salinity to the bag water and just add the fish after floating for Temp. I then raise over the QT duration to match my DT. The only other thing might be contaminant in the water but not likely.

 

[exnisstech]

Are you buying the fish local or having them shipped? Asking because slow acclimation of shipped fish isn't recommended.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Ive put this tank trough stress test of ammonia putting the tank at 2.0 ppm of ammonia and in 24 hours ammonia and nitrite is back to 0 ppm .. even with all the fish dead in the tank i tested ammonia and nitrite and at 0 ppm i think it has something to do with the copper poisoning the fish specially at night i think ph drops and becoming more toxic … is 2.3 ppm to high other people had same issue? For bio load im seachem matrix rocks and filter sponges they use to be in other tanks but i heard supposedly that matrix wont hold copper or leech out ?

Which copper product are you using?

A fish only QT should not see a pH drop at night, the basic process is that in tanks with poor aeration, during the day, algae produces oxygen through photosynthesis and in doing so it takes up carbon dioxide which raises the pH. At night, the algae goes into reverse phase photosynthesis and produces carbon dioxide which drops the pH. Your QT should not have enough algae in it to cause that.