gmdelaney
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Rank amateur looking for help. I started up a 50 gallon using ~70# of dry (dead) rock. Purchased one live rock from local fish store and added it along with a shrimp to the tank. I let the tank cycle for 6 weeks. At that time the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels were all 0. pH = 8.3, SG = 1.023. Introduced snails. After 2 weeks, all snails alive and seemingly thriving. Introduced 3 green chromis. After 2 weeks all were doing just fine. I then introduced 2 clowns and 1 Coral Beauty dwarf angel. By day 2, all were eating and seemed to be OK. Day 3, one clown disappeared. Day 4, found the other clown dead. Day 7, found angel dead. All original snails and chromis doing just fine. Since then, I have introduced other fish and just as the clowns and angel, all seemed to be doing just fine. Actively swimming and eating. All have died or disappeared within 3-7 days. Did weekly 10% water changes during this period and tested once to twice a week. Never had any trace of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. pH always 8.2 - 8.3, SG 1.022 to 1.024. What really puzzles me is the fact that the original green chromis are all still doing just fine as well as all of the snails. The snails even laid eggs. Any/all suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.