Fish Dying!!! Need some advice on Reef Tank

[Reefer PT]

You have twice the size tank as I do and I have twice the amount of skimming and water turn over than you. I would upgrade the skimmer to something for 3-400 gal. get a bigger return pump. I believe the recommendation is 5-7 times the volume per hour. Also invest in a water softener for your whole house. Your skin must be like a crocodile with water that hard. Also 32 fish is a bit much. When I had my 180 gal tank I had only 18 fish in it and in my 93 I only have 10 and consider it well stocked.

 

[hantzum]

Any reason for keeping salinity at 1.021? Also with kH beong that high I suppose you're using tap water. I would suggest investing in a RO/DI unit and stop adding additives which you cannot test for.

I am using RO?DI water. I learned my lesson years ago using tap. Every ounce of water going into that tank is RO

 

[hantzum]

You have twice the size tank as I do and I have twice the amount of skimming and water turn over than you. I would upgrade the skimmer to something for 3-400 gal. get a bigger return pump. I believe the recommendation is 5-7 times the volume per hour. Also invest in a water softener for your whole house. Your skin must be like a crocodile with water that hard. Also 32 fish is a bit much. When I had my 180 gal tank I had only 18 fish in it and in my 93 I only have 10 and consider it well stocked.

Okay, since I started this thread I have had once more fish die and the other tang that was acting weird I got out and QT'ed. The rest of thank is still lively with no dead loss. I have done three water changes and slightly bumped the salinity from the original 1.0215 to 1.02225. Very small amount. My goal is to get it to 1.024 over the next month. So, my water changes were 50 gallons first day, 30 gallons second day, and 15 gallons yesterday with another 15 gallon one due today. I have retested the water conditions and the ammonia has not changed. It is still showing .25-5ppm. My DKH has changed from the initial 15 and is around 10 and all other parameters are in check where they need to be. My question is, do I need to go buy another master test kit again? The one Im using for the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and PH is about 5 years old. Its a chemical test kit. Im sure most of you have used it or seen it. Fill the tube up to 5mm of water and add drops of the test fluid and shake and wait 5 min to compare colors with card. Anyone think that might be the prob since I have changed over half the water in the tank and the ammonia is still there? New test kit in order perhaps?
To answer the obvious, no I do not have anything dead in the tank.

Thanks

 

[Reefahholic]

Did you QT the fish?

Get all the fish out and get them in some QT's. I would start copper treatment and observe the fish to rule out ICH or Velvet.

You need a bigger skimmer.

Your temp is low.

Too many fish to add at one time. You probably fouled your water.

Get your salinity to a normal level.

If your gonna keep the fish in the tank, dose some AmQuel.

 

[Rognin]

Okay, since I started this thread I have had once more fish die and the other tang that was acting weird I got out and QT'ed. The rest of thank is still lively with no dead loss. I have done three water changes and slightly bumped the salinity from the original 1.0215 to 1.02225. Very small amount. My goal is to get it to 1.024 over the next month. So, my water changes were 50 gallons first day, 30 gallons second day, and 15 gallons yesterday with another 15 gallon one due today. I have retested the water conditions and the ammonia has not changed. It is still showing .25-5ppm. My DKH has changed from the initial 15 and is around 10 and all other parameters are in check where they need to be. My question is, do I need to go buy another master test kit again? The one Im using for the ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, and PH is about 5 years old. Its a chemical test kit. Im sure most of you have used it or seen it. Fill the tube up to 5mm of water and add drops of the test fluid and shake and wait 5 min to compare colors with card. Anyone think that might be the prob since I have changed over half the water in the tank and the ammonia is still there? New test kit in order perhaps?
To answer the obvious, no I do not have anything dead in the tank.

Thanks

Test kits have a 1 to 2 year life span. Always check BB dates, even on medication (those go bad also).

As for your flow, 2-3 time the volume of your tank should flow through your sump. You can get more flow through power heads to reach the desired flow within the tank.