I don't know what to think anymore. I. Just. Don't. Know.
We lost our royal gramma. It was MIA for over 2 days. It was eating and roaming the tank for the first few days I had it. Then I didn't see it at all on Sunday or Monday. I figured it buried itself within the rocks. I moved a few rocks around and it never popped out. I searched with a flashlight before bed lastnight and didn't seen any purple or yellow.
I woke up today and there it is laying on the sandbed dead. No signs of ich, fungus, wounds, or anything. Just lifeless swirling on the sand bed.
I'm to the point I have no idea what to do. I've got alot of money wrapped up in this and the wife is not happy about it.
I don't know what else to look for. I've tried 3 LFS and have had deaths from two of them so it must be something I am doing. Water tests are spot on at 0,0,<5 and 1.024 on my hydrometer. The only thing I can think of is the hydrometer is off. I did order a refractometer from the slowest shipping ebay seller I've ever had the non-pleasure to deal with. I hope that comes in the next day or two. But I wouldn't think that even a too high salinity would cause spontaneous death.
My new clown (added yesterday with candy cane and some zoas), old clown, chromis and hammer coral have been doing fine. I can't imagine one clown, one coral beauty, and one royal gramma deaths in one month isn't a coincidence. All the fish that have died have eaten for me. The clown had ich, the beauty and RG showed no visible signs of trauma or sickness.
I guess I need to invest in a QT. I have a 10G hospital tank from my freshwater days I can use to QT from now on. Seems like a racket that LFS only provide 24 hour guarantees. Maybe I'll try LA when the temps come up a bit to at least get a 14 day guarantee.
Anything else I can look for in my tank?
sorry for the rant, it's just been a disheartening last month or two.
