My fish keep dying

[Tim_G]

I have a 55 gal saltwater tank that has been set up since July. I am currently running a fluval 406 canister with Phosguard, carbon and chemipure. I also have a sea clone HOB skimmer that I empty 1-2 times a week. Skim mate is very dark. My sg is 1.024 am 0 trite 0 trate 0 kh 12 ph 8.2 temp 79 phosphate .5 calcium 440. 2 months ago all my fish died. They were in the tank for 3 months very happy and healthy. All died at one time overnight. They were a small yellow tang, coral beauty, 2 pajama cardinals. I did. 50% WC and let it sit for a month running the filters. Added 3 green chromis, all died within 24 hours. Went to my LFS and explained the situation, they said do another water change then add a hearty fish.. This weekend I bought another coral beauty, died within 6 hours. I do have coral, rhodactis mushroom, fine grape , a colony of plays, pulsing Xenia and a colony of zoos. They are all thriving, however the zoos have only been opening halfway. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can fix or what the problem may be? I am running 2 x 54w t5 HO bulbs one actinic and one Ocean Sun.

 

[Tim_G]

I mean been set up since January **

 

[Tim_G]

After reading on other posts, I feel it could be marine velvet as soon after introduced to the DT they have very rapid breathing then begin acting lethargic. I drip acclimate for at least 30 minutes before introducing.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

After reading on other posts, I feel it could be marine velvet as soon after introduced to the DT they have very rapid breathing then begin acting lethargic. I drip acclimate for at least 30 minutes before introducing.

Test your copper and ammonia

 

[Bectan01]

Do you have any live rock in the tank? How much? Agree test for amm and copper...

 

[Tim_G]

I have 60 lbs of live rock 1 1/2 in deep live sand bed. No copper no ammonia.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I have 60 lbs of live rock 1 1/2 in deep live sand bed. No copper no ammonia.

Do you QT they could have a bacteria.

 

[Tim_G]

I do not, but am going to start a qt tank. I am thinking one of the fish introduced it.. If I run a uv sterilizer will it kill the pathogens/ velvet already in the DT?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I had one fish kill four before so I QT everything now. I would not add the uv but that's me others may say different.

 

[Tim_G]

I do not but am going to start one this week. I think a fish I purchased my have introduced the problem. My issue now is that I feel the harmful bacteria/ parasites have reproduced and infected my tank.. If I run a uv sterilizer, will it kill the problem?

 

[Tim_G]

Never mind that last post greentree. How would u recommend getting rid of the disease in my DT now?

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I do not but am going to start one this week. I think a fish I purchased my have introduced the problem. My issue now is that I feel the harmful bacteria/ parasites have reproduced and infected my tank.. If I run a uv sterilizer, will it kill the problem?

I would say water change that's what I did. I don't do uv's cause I think it will also kill the good stuff in the water also but that's me. I never did uv and never will. QT for me bro all day lol.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Are you using ro/di water?

 

[Tim_G]

No I am using tap supplemented with prime. Mix water and sal and let it sit for 24 hrs. I am also going to start switching to rodi water. I am gonna do WC and start qt. I am gonna let tank sit for a few weeks and then qt a hearty fish and see if that makes a difference... Switching topics, my second q was about zoos only opening halfway, they are not melting or dying just not opening fully-- any ideas?

 

[Hesselrode]

I had this issue. I didn't have enough lighting, updated lighting now they are always open.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

No I am using tap supplemented with prime. Mix water and sal and let it sit for 24 hrs. I am also going to start switching to rodi water. I am gonna do WC and start qt. I am gonna let tank sit for a few weeks and then qt a hearty fish and see if that makes a difference... Switching topics, my second q was about zoos only opening halfway, they are not melting or dying just not opening fully-- any ideas?

When last you did a test on you DT and the water after it sits for 24.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

? Those prime take everything out of the tap water

 

[Tim_G]

Prime takes all metals and chorine/chloramine out of the water. I always test the water after mixing with cheap test strips for sw. I use API liquid tests for the DT and do that every other day. I have also taken the same water to 3 of my LFS and all tests resulted with my results in the first post of the thread.

 

[carey]

A uv will not get all of any parasite or illness. It will only get what goes through it thats in the water, not anything on the sand or the rock.

 

[Tim_G]

Carey.. I have read a lot of your posts, u seem to have a really good grasp.. Do you have any ideas for my situation? I am trying to gather as much advice as I can so i don't keep wasting money.