I am having trouble keeping more than a few fish alive. I am baffled at the cause and thought the community could help.
I have a peaceful 75 gallon saltwater FOWLR tank (pict attached). The tank has been stable and up and running for a couple of years. However, I have been unable to maintain more than a few fish alive for more than 3 - 4 months. I feel like I should be able to maintain 4 - 5 fish without issue in a 75 gallon tank.
Recent parameters:
Temp 81 (range of 78 - 82)
pH 7.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 (sometimes goes up to 40)
Salinity 1.024
Alkalinity 300
It's currently stocked with a clownfish, sailfin tang, pin cushion urchin, chocolate starfish and a dozen snails -- all of which appear to be healthy. The clownfish and tang have done fine for the past couple of years. At various points over the past 2 years I have also added: firefish, coral beauty angel, pajama cardinal, pearlscale butterfly, hawkfish, chalk bass, lawnmower blenny. I have gotten these fish from a few different LFS. All these other fish have lasted a few months, but then died. None of the fish have been aggressive. I am not seeing any pattern of spots, bulging eyes, red gills, loss of appetite, etc.. What am I doing wrong?
I have an automatic fish feeder set to provide flake food 3 times a day, tank lights are on 12 hours a day, there are a few airstones and a power head. I do 5% or 4 gallon water changes once a week using home RO/DI water (TDS currently at 3). I have a AquaC Remora HOB protein skimmer that runs at night, 50 #s of live rock and 70#s of Argonite sand. Some brown & red algae, but it's under control. My primary (canister) filter is a Fluval 407.
I want to get a few more fish, but I am worried I have an undiagnosed issue and will condemn anything new. Any thoughts are appreciated.
I have a peaceful 75 gallon saltwater FOWLR tank (pict attached). The tank has been stable and up and running for a couple of years. However, I have been unable to maintain more than a few fish alive for more than 3 - 4 months. I feel like I should be able to maintain 4 - 5 fish without issue in a 75 gallon tank.
Recent parameters:
Temp 81 (range of 78 - 82)
pH 7.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 (sometimes goes up to 40)
Salinity 1.024
Alkalinity 300
It's currently stocked with a clownfish, sailfin tang, pin cushion urchin, chocolate starfish and a dozen snails -- all of which appear to be healthy. The clownfish and tang have done fine for the past couple of years. At various points over the past 2 years I have also added: firefish, coral beauty angel, pajama cardinal, pearlscale butterfly, hawkfish, chalk bass, lawnmower blenny. I have gotten these fish from a few different LFS. All these other fish have lasted a few months, but then died. None of the fish have been aggressive. I am not seeing any pattern of spots, bulging eyes, red gills, loss of appetite, etc.. What am I doing wrong?
I have an automatic fish feeder set to provide flake food 3 times a day, tank lights are on 12 hours a day, there are a few airstones and a power head. I do 5% or 4 gallon water changes once a week using home RO/DI water (TDS currently at 3). I have a AquaC Remora HOB protein skimmer that runs at night, 50 #s of live rock and 70#s of Argonite sand. Some brown & red algae, but it's under control. My primary (canister) filter is a Fluval 407.
I want to get a few more fish, but I am worried I have an undiagnosed issue and will condemn anything new. Any thoughts are appreciated.