bsatter
Guest
Hi all,
I'm a longtime freshwater guy. I've dabbled with brackish. I been keeping fish for 20 years. However, this is my first attempt a saltwater fish.
I'm having a horrible time keeping fish alive. I'm getting beyond frustrated, and I'm seriously thinking of just giving up. I'm wondering if anyone can help me troubleshoot.
Before we get started, I bought a new RODI water system with Rubbermaid trashcans. The output for the RODI is 0 TDS. I'm using Brightwell NeoMarine as a salt. I'm using a Hanna salinity checker to check salinity. The checker was calibrated last week using the fluid packets provided by Hanna.
Attempt 1
I set up a 20 gallon long QT with a small HOB and heater. I went to a well know lfs to discuss my first fish purchase. I was looking for something hardy and forgiving. I will be stocking a 210. The lfs suggested 4 clowns. I made the purchase. The drive home was only about 30 minutes. By the time I made it home, one of the fish had already died. After floating the bags, I placed the remaining fish in the QT. The salinity in the QT matched the salinity in the bag. The temp was about 80 degrees. Shortly there after, I noticed the fish not doing well. Not really moving. The LFS had mentioned they dosed copper. I dosed copper as well. Within 24 hours, the remaining fish were dead. I really chalked this up as sick fish and moved on. All of the fish came from the same tank at the LFS. However, I really didn't have any symptoms to diagnose.
Attempt 2
After much reading from the failed first attempt, I decided the tank transfer method would be my method of quarantine. I sent up 4 10 gallons and a 20 gallon. I achieved a salinity of 1.025 on all of the tanks. I placed my order from LiveAquaria. Again, I ordered 4 clowns and a lawnmower blenny. Once I received the fish, the salinity was 1.018 in the bag. I frantically tried to bring down the salinity in the tank while monitoring temps. I simultaneously acclimated the fish and brought the salinity down in the tank. The fish behaved excellent for 12 hours or so. Then they looked very stressed. It was almost like they were not getting enough O2. I had an airstone in the tank. I had an ammonia badge on tank which read that everything was fine. The PH was 8.4. I dosed with PraziPro (the only med in the tank). One by one, they all died over the next 24 hours. In retrospect, I thought this had to do with the swift change in salinity. I was unprepared for the really low salinity in the saltwater. In reviewing of the LA website, they do state that the salinity could be this low. I was really upset that I had killed these fish.
Attempt 3
Another week past, I done additional reading. I decided to make a 3rd attempt. Again, I was going to use the TTM for quarantine. Everything was cleaned and setup again. I made the same order--4 clowns and a blenny. I had my salinity at 1.018. This matched the bag for the clowns. The blenny was at 1.017. I acclimated him a little longer. Everyone came out of the bag beautiful. They even ate about 6 hours after being in the tank. I went to bed feeling pretty good. I woke up this morning. We were back to the stressed looking fish. The fish were hanging at the bottom. They look very disoriented. I tested the water. These were my numbers:
0 Nitrite
8.3 Ph
0 Nitrate
6.4 dkh Alkalinity
The ammonia badge was showing okay. While I thought it was near impossible for much ammonia to be present, I knew the symptoms were there for ammonia. I decided to test for ammonia using the RedSea kit. It was showing .4 which reads as .04 ammonia. (If I'm interpreting the test correctly.) I did a 50% water change matched with salinity and temp. I've already lost 1 of the clown and a the blenny.
The ammonia situation really surprised me. I tested my RODI water. There was zero ammonia. I tested one of the running tanks I have for the TTM. There have been no fish in this tank. There was ammonia present. In the fresh saltwater I just mixed, there is no ammonia present. The only circumstance I can think of ammonia entering the systems is the cat litter box in the room. In review, I've read this could cause ammonia in the air to be pumped in the tank. However, I'm really finding this hard to believe.
Is the ammonia my problem? Why am I killing fish? What else should I test for at this point?
I've never had a problem keeping fish alive. It can't be this hard.
Thanks!
Billy
I'm a longtime freshwater guy. I've dabbled with brackish. I been keeping fish for 20 years. However, this is my first attempt a saltwater fish.
I'm having a horrible time keeping fish alive. I'm getting beyond frustrated, and I'm seriously thinking of just giving up. I'm wondering if anyone can help me troubleshoot.
Before we get started, I bought a new RODI water system with Rubbermaid trashcans. The output for the RODI is 0 TDS. I'm using Brightwell NeoMarine as a salt. I'm using a Hanna salinity checker to check salinity. The checker was calibrated last week using the fluid packets provided by Hanna.
Attempt 1
I set up a 20 gallon long QT with a small HOB and heater. I went to a well know lfs to discuss my first fish purchase. I was looking for something hardy and forgiving. I will be stocking a 210. The lfs suggested 4 clowns. I made the purchase. The drive home was only about 30 minutes. By the time I made it home, one of the fish had already died. After floating the bags, I placed the remaining fish in the QT. The salinity in the QT matched the salinity in the bag. The temp was about 80 degrees. Shortly there after, I noticed the fish not doing well. Not really moving. The LFS had mentioned they dosed copper. I dosed copper as well. Within 24 hours, the remaining fish were dead. I really chalked this up as sick fish and moved on. All of the fish came from the same tank at the LFS. However, I really didn't have any symptoms to diagnose.
Attempt 2
After much reading from the failed first attempt, I decided the tank transfer method would be my method of quarantine. I sent up 4 10 gallons and a 20 gallon. I achieved a salinity of 1.025 on all of the tanks. I placed my order from LiveAquaria. Again, I ordered 4 clowns and a lawnmower blenny. Once I received the fish, the salinity was 1.018 in the bag. I frantically tried to bring down the salinity in the tank while monitoring temps. I simultaneously acclimated the fish and brought the salinity down in the tank. The fish behaved excellent for 12 hours or so. Then they looked very stressed. It was almost like they were not getting enough O2. I had an airstone in the tank. I had an ammonia badge on tank which read that everything was fine. The PH was 8.4. I dosed with PraziPro (the only med in the tank). One by one, they all died over the next 24 hours. In retrospect, I thought this had to do with the swift change in salinity. I was unprepared for the really low salinity in the saltwater. In reviewing of the LA website, they do state that the salinity could be this low. I was really upset that I had killed these fish.
Attempt 3
Another week past, I done additional reading. I decided to make a 3rd attempt. Again, I was going to use the TTM for quarantine. Everything was cleaned and setup again. I made the same order--4 clowns and a blenny. I had my salinity at 1.018. This matched the bag for the clowns. The blenny was at 1.017. I acclimated him a little longer. Everyone came out of the bag beautiful. They even ate about 6 hours after being in the tank. I went to bed feeling pretty good. I woke up this morning. We were back to the stressed looking fish. The fish were hanging at the bottom. They look very disoriented. I tested the water. These were my numbers:
0 Nitrite
8.3 Ph
0 Nitrate
6.4 dkh Alkalinity
The ammonia badge was showing okay. While I thought it was near impossible for much ammonia to be present, I knew the symptoms were there for ammonia. I decided to test for ammonia using the RedSea kit. It was showing .4 which reads as .04 ammonia. (If I'm interpreting the test correctly.) I did a 50% water change matched with salinity and temp. I've already lost 1 of the clown and a the blenny.
The ammonia situation really surprised me. I tested my RODI water. There was zero ammonia. I tested one of the running tanks I have for the TTM. There have been no fish in this tank. There was ammonia present. In the fresh saltwater I just mixed, there is no ammonia present. The only circumstance I can think of ammonia entering the systems is the cat litter box in the room. In review, I've read this could cause ammonia in the air to be pumped in the tank. However, I'm really finding this hard to believe.
Is the ammonia my problem? Why am I killing fish? What else should I test for at this point?
I've never had a problem keeping fish alive. It can't be this hard.
Thanks!
Billy