Fish in new tank issue

Pravin

New member
Hello folks, I have setup a 6 feet saltwater tank and had it cycling for almost 35 days. Introduced a pair of blue damsel. Everything went fine for an hour but suddenly both damsels started heavy breathing, twitching their heads/gills, rapid swimming, and finally on the ground, almost dead. Immediately I transferred them to my established saltwater tank and they both revived in seconds. I'm not sure what's the issue I'm facing in my new tank. Can somebody help me get through this. SG - 1.024 pH - 8.2 Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - Nitrate - very minimal Tank size - 6 feet length x 1.5 feet width x 2.50 feet height. I tried to introduce same fishes after 2 days, they showed the same twitching behavior and was almost went into deathbed in an hour. But fortunately I transferred them to my another tank and they are doing well now. Kindly help me understand what issue I'm going through and how to rectify the same.
 
+10 to stray voltage.

What else is in tank and doing well after 35 days? Low oxygen is the only other thing that effects fish immediately and just as immediate, a recovery.

would you better describe in detail how you set this tank up.
 
Last edited:
“Kindly help me understand what issue I'm going through and how to rectify the same.“

@Pravin
Help us help you by providing details of the tank startup. Is anything alive in the tank: bacteria or snails. Do you have any substrate or live rock? Are the lights on a cycle? Does the tank show any algae?

Also, would you post a full tank shot of the tank in question. You mentioned having an established tank. How long have you been Reefing and how long has the established tank been set up.
 
Last edited:
Hello Kevin, Patrick

I double checked for the stray voltage with my electrician and it is negative. I'm doing saltwater aquarium for almost 3 years now.

Actually the new tank which I built has no option/place for a proper sump, tank is located inside a showcase compartment and no plumbing work or sump can be done. So I placed a partition tank made of acrylic sheet and placed inside the tank. Skimmer is placed outside the tank and skimmer pump is placed inside acrylic sump. I have used very-small size gravel and sansibar rocks. Salinity level never swinged, always at 1.024. Wave maker and return powerhead producing good water agitation.

I know sump is necessary, but due to no option of placing a sump, I made this acrylic internal sump (1.5 feet width x 2.50 feet height).

Placed brown-colour ceramic rings, sponges and ceramic balls as media (in good numbers).

Used nitrobacter beneficial bacteria powder.

Usually I mix salt in water and after a day Or two I will use sand and rock. But this tank is located in such a height where I should use a ladder from behind to work inside the tank. I can barely touch the bottom of tank even using ladder, so I placed rock first, added water, mixed salt. Tank capacity is almost 475 liters, as I don't have a drum or big container to premix the salt in water, I poured water in tank and mixed salt running wave maker and powerhead.

I have prepared many saltwater aquarium, but never saw fishes twitching their gills/head and making erratic swimming and lying in ground, almost to dying stage.

My established tanks - 2 feet tank and a 4 feet tank.

I didn't introduce any snails or invertebrates in my new tank so far. Found few tinges of green algae in 2-3 rocks. Tank is located outside doorstep, so tank gets enough outside light, so never switched on aquarium light so far.

Bear with me for the lengthy message.

Thanks in advance.
 
Attaching picture of the tank for ur reference. I forgot to mention that I'm using a canister filter also for additional support.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20220131_202006.jpg
    IMG_20220131_202006.jpg
    3.5 MB · Views: 4
Thank you for detailed description. Considering your access to this tank, I would get a pump to add water to the overhead display. I would suspect something in substrate or dry rock you used or old cannister filter. I would drain all water and remove rock & as much of substrate as possible. Fill with fresh water and circulate for a day. Drain & discard that water. Fill with water a second time and add some goldfish and observe for a week. If nothing bad happens drain this potable water and add water for your reef, salt it up and circulate.

A sump is not necessary for a reef tank. Note 55G Ornamental Seward Lagoon at 10 months old. Started with diver collected live sand & live rock. This set up has HOB, cannister filter and reverse flow undergravel. SUMPLESS & SKIMMERLESS.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    1.9 MB · Views: 4
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    2.2 MB · Views: 5
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    2.2 MB · Views: 5
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    2.1 MB · Views: 4
Last edited:
Thanks for the response Patrick. Will drain out water and restart the process once agin with fresh water. Will also keep an eye on dry rock and substrate.
 
Actually the new tank which I built

As in you constructed the actual tank? If so and if glass, was the silicone aquarium safe? Sorry if I misunderstood what you mean by "built", just trying to cover all the bases.
 
Hello Kharmaguru,

Yes, I built this tank and the silicone I've used is aquarium safe. and I'm using a particular brand of silicone paste for the past 4 years to prepare all tanks. Thanks for the response.
 
Subsea

Today I checked water parameters, ammonia and nitrite were zero. Nitrate was 20. I have introduced a pair of clown in my new tank. Four hours everything went well, they both happily wandered and finally started swimming at the same place (bottom, behind a rock). Suddenly one of the clown started to lie/fall on the ground. Immediately I transferred both to my other tank and they are doing good.

Also, in this 4-hour time period I noticed slight red mark near their gills. What might have caused this? Suggestions please.
 
Back
Top