Okay so I have a 65 gallon saltwater tank. I have had it set up for about 6 months now and I have been doing this hobby for quite awhile,now even before the 6 months. Recently every new fish I get does within 3 to 4 weeks. I have checked all my parameters and the only,one that seems high is my,nitrates. Its about 80 to 100ppm. Is that enough to kill,new fish? And I understand that water changes help,reduce nitrate levels. Is there any other reason why my,fish die. The only ones that won't die are my snowflake eel and 3 damsels. I have bought expensive fish and they die within a month. I need help...also does algae kill fish?
Need help asap!
- Thread starter Blehfs10
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More info is needed on the new additions that are dying..
Any behavioral changes before they die, such as flashing, hiding, not eating, etc.
Are they quarantined?
How are you acclimation?
What kind of fish?
Are the damsels beating them up?
Any behavioral changes before they die, such as flashing, hiding, not eating, etc.
Are they quarantined?
How are you acclimation?
What kind of fish?
Are the damsels beating them up?
80!?!
Yes that's more than enough to kill fish. I freak out above 25 but I also have corals.
Nitrates are why you're having the algae issues too though they aren't killing your fish.
Your algae is growing from all the nitrates.
What filtration do you run?
I ran a protein skimmer but couldn't get nitrates below 30 ppm because I overstocked the tank. I took a fish out and hooked a nitrate reactor up to the skimmer. Now I'm lucky to see 5 ppm.
What are your water change schedule?
Also your tank looks very bare. Some like the minimalistic look but there's a thread going around that looks at lack of landscape and hiding places contributing to stress on the fish. That leads to decreased immunity, leading to easy death. I whole heartedly agree with that hypothesis but I'm sure there's plenty of people who are successful with little rockwork.
Yes that's more than enough to kill fish. I freak out above 25 but I also have corals.
Nitrates are why you're having the algae issues too though they aren't killing your fish.
Your algae is growing from all the nitrates.
What filtration do you run?
I ran a protein skimmer but couldn't get nitrates below 30 ppm because I overstocked the tank. I took a fish out and hooked a nitrate reactor up to the skimmer. Now I'm lucky to see 5 ppm.
What are your water change schedule?
Also your tank looks very bare. Some like the minimalistic look but there's a thread going around that looks at lack of landscape and hiding places contributing to stress on the fish. That leads to decreased immunity, leading to easy death. I whole heartedly agree with that hypothesis but I'm sure there's plenty of people who are successful with little rockwork.
melypr1985
totally addicted
Do the fish show signs of anything before they die? White spots, Red sores, flashing, scratching, heavy breathing, tattered fins, hiding a lot, lack of appetite? Are those damsels beating up on them? Nitrates don't actually hurt fish until they are extremely high. If they are actually at 100ppm then we might have cause for concern, but I really don't think that's it at all.
Ok so I acclimate them by hanging there bag in the tank. Then either slowly adding tank water to it or doing a slow drip acclamation system. One of the damsels I had was besting some up so I had to get rid of him. But even after that still the new fish would die in 3 weeks. Before the yellow tang dies he was heavy breathing on the bottom and had blood lines on his fins and they looks a little damaged. Both coral beauties before they died would swim erotically after the 3 week period then I would find them on the bottom. I just can't figure it out
FYI take a look at this link:
http://www.saltwater-aquarium-online-guide.com/saltwater-aquarium-nitrate.html
It's by no means the end all-be all but it's worth the read
"For reef aquariums, the suggested level is < 1.0 ppm, for FOWLR (fish only with live rock Aquarium), < 30 ppm is the suggested and acceptable level and < 0.25 ppm for Coral Reefs but not more than 5 ppm."
http://www.saltwater-aquarium-online-guide.com/saltwater-aquarium-nitrate.html
It's by no means the end all-be all but it's worth the read
"For reef aquariums, the suggested level is < 1.0 ppm, for FOWLR (fish only with live rock Aquarium), < 30 ppm is the suggested and acceptable level and < 0.25 ppm for Coral Reefs but not more than 5 ppm."
I only,have 2. 75 gallon hang over the back filters. I have a powerhead as well. And 2 sets of lights on each side. Both are the natural reef sun. Is there a possibility that something from that powerhead is getting into the wayer...like oil or something. Because I got that like 3 months ago. I don't know if that is contributing to my deaths. My water change schedules are once every like 3 to 4 weeks because I read that you shouldn't do weekly water changes until your tank is established...like over a year old
melypr1985
totally addicted
Probably, coupled with a bacteria in the water that is moving from one fish to another as you introduce them causing infections (red sores). I would remove the fish you currently have to QT and treat with TTM since the eel won't do well with copper. You'll watch for other symptoms on these fish as you go through TTM. Leave the display fallow (fishless) for 76 days. QT any other fish before introducing them in the future to avoid this kind of heartache.
Here are a few links to read: Tank Transfer Method
Copper
How to Quarantine
Is water changes the only way to lower nitrate? If so how do YOU do water changes..I take like 10 percent water out and replace with saltwater and stress coat. Am I doing water changes wrongly?
I really think it's just your nitrates.
It's very unrealistic to think that every single fish you add have some sort of mystery disease, especially since you have multiple (especially a finicky eel) that have been in there the whole time.
If you don't change the filter media in those hob filters, that only adds to the problem.
Frop
Valuable Member
Ya 80 seems way high to me.. I put my first stuff in at 20 and they told me that was high and stuff could die. Damsels are suppose to be really hardy fish and cheap which is why people start their tanks with them. I'd imagine they're alive because their reputation must be true.
It's not unrealistic if the fish in the tank are carriers and infecting the new fish.
I don't think it would take 4 weeks for nitrate poisoning but that is very much In line with several different diseases that may or may not be compounded by damsels beating up on the newcomers.
Edit to add, I do believe it should be addressed as it is not an ideal environment for the livestock
I have multiple reef tanks but for example:
My 25 gallon.
Every 2 weeks I take out 5 gallons of water and make up fresh saltwater with rodi. I add nothing else. I used to do every week until I was stripping too much nutrients out of my system. My 25 gal is only a year old. Started to stabilize around the 5 month mark. (Self sustaining with water changes.)
I would change 50% to get your nitrates under control. Once you do that, test the water for nitrates the next day. If it's over 50, do another 50%.
Example:
If you have 100 nitrates day one- a 50% change will knock it down to 50.
Day two-50 nitrates, do a 50% water change, knocks it down to 25.
if you're going to do that, don't change your filter media because you have very little surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on. You don't want to start a mini cycle because you wiped out your bacteria colonies.
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