Help Fish Dying

[old salt]

Yes, I am considering a 100% water change. I have a wet/dry sump. As long as I don't clean it, I should not have to recycle.

 

[nharwood]

Could any of your equipment be allowing stray voltage into the water on an intermittent basis?

 

[piscator]

Could any of your equipment be allowing stray voltage into the water on an intermittent basis?

How would you test that?

 

[fishroomlady]

^^+1 that is the only thing I can think of as well. I'm not sure how to test for it though :( everything else you are doing right. Your fish should not be dying especially so quickly with no sign of illness.

 

[gpdno]

Voltmeter. You can get one for about $10 at Radio Shack.

 

[gpdno]

Also, you can buy a Titanium Ground Probe for about $10 from an online store such as Marine Depot. The Titanium Ground Probe plugs into a spare outlet and the probe tip is placed in the tank water. I have mine in my sump. That way if you every have a stray voltage source, the probe will take it to ground sparing your inhabitants.

 

[old salt]

I got my voltmeter out and tested for any stray voltage and found none.I watched for 20 minutes and did not get a reading. Even turned on the heater ( the only thing that was not on at that time)and still not reading. I also have a 100g freshwater tank and I decided to test it for stray voltage. I was surprised I got a reading of 10 volts. Through the process of elimination I found the stray voltage was coming from my heater. But I am not having the same problem with fish dying like with the saltwater! I googled "aquarium stray voltage" and from what I read the jury is still out about stray voltage being a problem. I took several pH readings during the night and this morning and it was 8.2 every time. Appreciate all of your help with this problem

 

[gpdno]

What do you have in way of invertebrates in the tanks. Any chance you have a mantis shrimp hiding in your rock work?

 

[old salt]

No invertebrates, my rock was dry rock. Most of the fish have died during the night, acted fine during the day.

 

[gpdno]

Okay dying at night... Do you have a sump and/or refugium? If so, is the photoperiod opposite the main tank. If you don't have a sump what is your tank photoperiod. If you have the tank dark during a long period at night you might be getting a build-up of CO2. That could drop you pH significantly. Maybe you are getting a large pH swing. Have you check the pH of the tank in the middle of the night?

 

[old salt]

I have a sump (wet/dry), no refugium. Lights are on 7am-7pm. I stayed up last night and ran pH test. Every test reading was 8.2

 

[eliramos]

is all your equipment new?
i was at my lfs one time and this lady had the same problem she kept coming back with dead fish, all parameters in check every time she finally had someone come to the house and give the system a once over.
Come to find out she had some metal tubing or something touching her water and had began rusting and leeching into the system.So maybe just do a double check and make sure nothing is there thats not supposed to be maybe a screw or pipe, have you ever used windex to clean the glass?
I'm just grasping straws here but it has to be something tiny your missing.

 

[old salt]

Thanks for responding ELIRAMOS. Yes, everything is brand new my wallet will tell you that! LOL I wish I knew someone who would come and look over my system. We don't have a reef club here. I have a 100g freshwater (2 years) tank and I had no problem starting it up.

 

[piscator]

Is it bad to clean the outside of the tank with windex?

 

[Mike in CT]

As long as you spray it on the cloth and not on the tank you will probably be alright but why take the chance? RODI water is great for cleaning glass and it won't leave spots or kill your tank! :)

 

[piscator]

Well that's good to know. Thanks!

 

[gpdno]

Is it bad to clean the outside of the tank with windex?

Yes.
1. The ammonia in Windex is toxic to your tank critters.
2. For an acrylic tank, repeated exposure to ammonia will cause irreparable micro cracks and the tanks will slowly start leaking over time.

 

[eliramos]

Thanks for responding ELIRAMOS. Yes, everything is brand new my wallet will tell you that! LOL I wish I knew someone who would come and look over my system. We don't have a reef club here. I have a 100g freshwater (2 years) tank and I had no problem starting it up.

Oh man that's rough,
Is your current tank open top?

 

[Nurse Payne]

I honestly don't think It's something you're doing wrong. If you've only bought fish from one place, it MUST be your problem. Did your lone survivor make it?

 

[old salt]

Yes, my tank is open top. The damsel is still holding the record (thirteen days and counting).