Fish dying off, no idea why!

Richards_reef · Jan 9, 2018

So I use one gram of carbon per gallon of aquarium volume when I run carbon . I only run carbon periodically and I have a mixed reef. Some people run it 24/7. I only run carbon for 1 week maybe, at most, every month or two. Do you know what carbon does and why to run it?

citymouse · Jan 9, 2018

Richards_reef said:
So I use one gram of carbon per gallon of aquarium volume when I run carbon . I only run carbon periodically and I have a mixed reef. Some people run it 24/7. I only run carbon for 1 week maybe, at most, every month or two. Do you know what carbon does and why to run it?

I have no idea what it does or why :). I barely know what the skimmer is doing in my sump, I'm a newbie when it comes to sumps and all that go with it. My first tank had 2 canister filters since it was freshwater before I switched to salt, it was easy! This tank is so much more complicated, but I'm learning as I go.

Richards_reef · Jan 9, 2018

OK so for me I use carbon if I fear of any toxins are in the tank, the tank smells off, or I just want it to give that extra sparkle. Carbon removes mostly metals, chemical compounds. It is also a great smell reducer when used properly. It's sort of a sponge. It can only take in so much, and to the best of my knowledge if you use too much it can take out some stuff you might not want out of the water.
You can also use carbon to remove most medications in quarantine tanks.

citymouse · Jan 9, 2018

Richards_reef said:
OK so for me I use carbon if I fear of any toxins are in the tank, the tank smells off, or I just want it to give that extra sparkle. Carbon removes mostly metals, chemical compounds. It is also a great smell reducer when used properly. It's sort of a sponge. It can only take in so much, and to the best of my knowledge if you use too much it can take out some stuff you might not want out of the water.
You can also use carbon to remove most medications in quarantine tanks.

Thank you, I need to add this to my list of things to buy for this tank. I didn't know going in that this was going to be the most expensive thing I've ever done! Still have to pay for that skimmer! Just when I think it's good, more stuff is needed! And I haven't even added new fish yet, other than the Chromis, but we know how that worked out. I'm afraid to add up the total cost so far, I feel it best I don't really know...lol

Richards_reef · Jan 9, 2018

No problem. Yeah this is a very expensive hobby. Do your research on r2r and other sites, maybe buy a book and watch YouTube videos like brs 52 week. Don't just go purchase everything that they show. Really all that's needed for this hobby is a tank, stand, light, skimmer, flow, an auto top off, and rockwork. Keep up with water changes, and most importantly take it slow. The only things to happen fast is this hobby are not good. This hobby will definitely test your patience.
If you have any more questions feel free to ask. :)

Brew12 · Jan 9, 2018

citymouse said:
Also, now curious why people haven't been successful with them? Do they fight? Mine have always been peaceful. I have a 20g quarantine tank, they were always together in there and in the new one (except the 2 that left the group).

I used to be curious about this when I looked into getting a school. What I came up with is that they will not attack each other when they are highly stressed or feel threatened. When in a store or QT system, they never get comfortable. Once they go into a tank they are in a more natural situation and that is when the aggression starts.
I won't say it hasn't or can't be done, but I haven't seen anyone maintain a school of chromis in a tank that didn't also have a good number of semi aggressive fish. This keeps them shoaling for protection and makes them less aggressive towards each other.

Tbell805 · Jan 9, 2018

My guess is you have a bully. Chromis can be punks and once one gets it in his pea-brain that he is the boss he will kill the rest. He also might bully other small fish. When I had my final Chromis he would pick on my clowns. Finally he bit the dust and my tank went back to being peaceful.

citymouse · Jan 9, 2018

Tbell805 said:
My guess is you have a bully. Chromis can be punks and once one gets it in his pea-brain that he is the boss he will kill the rest. He also might bully other small fish. When I had my final Chromis he would pick on my clowns. Finally he bit the dust and my tank went back to being peaceful.

I'm hoping that's all it was, seems sudden for a bully to kill off the others though, they were all schooling on New Years and now I only see 3 out of 11 all separated from each other. They're pretty small and my 2 clowns are full grown, the female will kick anyone's butt! When I was trying to catch the clowns to move them, she started beating on the male clown! She was fine once they got over the net scare.