HELP! Ecotech Radion Gen3 Pro killing fish?

[bucsmike]

Hi! I have been in the hobby for a few months but I bought a FOWLR tank that was setup for about 3 years so fully cycled etc. It had some pretty crappy lights on it so I bought 3 Ecotech Radion XR30W Pro lights for my 120gal. I setup the lights last night and they were on for maybe an hour at 30% light and then dropped to 7% moonlight with some blue and UV for a few hours before bed. The moonlight turned on again for about an hr or 2 this morning at which point I noticed 3 of my fish were dead. I am big on doing lots of research before doing anything and everything I read says lights shouldn't kill fish especially since I had the setting very low to acclimate but I have tested all other parameters and everything seems fine. I would understand maybe if I blasted the lights at 100% for hours and it shocked the fish but this doesn't make sense to me. Could the UV light have hurt them somehow? My Naso Tang's eyes also seem like they are peeling a bit and has been darting around the tank and my puffer doesn't look great either. Everyone was perfectly fine last night before the new lights so all signs point to the new lights but again it doesn't make sense to me.

Nitrate : 15
Nitrite : 0
PH: 7.8
Ammonia: 0

 

[bearpeidog]

I can't say I've ever heard of light killing fish - I had Metal halides and radions. Never had an issue. Do your fish have anywhere to hide if stressed?

I would test water Params and look for stray voltage. Was anything else changed with new lights? Any electrical work?

 

[bucsmike]

Ya there is tons of live rock with about 4-5 caves where they could hide if they wanted. I tested every test I have and nothing out of ordinary. Nothing else at all changed. Yesterday everything fine old led strip lights. Today after adding radions multiple dead fish and rest looking in bad shape. Needless to say I'm a little distraught trying to figure this out before anything else dies. Switched back to old lights temporarily in case that is the issue but like you said no one has ever heard of lights killing fish. At worst I would expect them to get a little shocked and hide or something. Will test stray voltage just in case its that but it would be an odd coincidence to say the least.

 

[ClownNut]

this is totally clickbait title. doesn't do anyone any good.
sorry to tell you, moving a tank can cause huge stress to fish, you might not experience enough to notice fish disease yet.
think of it as when we healthy and happy, we can fight off a lot of diseases, but when we stress the immune system is down disease act up.

 

[dendrite]

Perhaps something fell in or a contaminant got into the tank while you were working above or around it ; but light as you describe the situation ,no.

 

[Sk8r]

You don't mention alkalinity.
And stress is a factor.
So is the possibility of new electrical equipment having a stray current problem, which can be tested for. Google same, to be sure.

 

[bucsmike]

Tested stray voltage and current. Stray voltage 8.4V. And tank has been up and running with 0 problems for 4 months until I added the new lights. Don't know what else to test for everything seems completely fine. I can try alkalinity but I expect it will be the same as it was last test a week ago within range. Fish looked completely healthy last night and then this morning dead/look bad. I don't know what else it could be besides the lights somehow but I totally understand everyone saying it doesn't make sense because it doesn't make sense to me either. But when all other options have been excluded and the only thing that has changed in the last 24 hours is the lights it at least seems like its plausible it has something to do with the only change no matter how unlikely it seems.

 

[bucsmike]

Thanks for the feedback id be happy to change the title to something more constructive. I put the question mark at the end because that is the only thing that changed in the past 24 hours. Wasn't intended to be clickbait I apologize new to the forum.

 

[Mike Ordner]

You said that the tank was stable for four months, so something got into the water. Any kids in the house? Anyone using cleaning chemicals near the tank? Your lights were not the issue.

 

[bucsmike]

LFS store that is very knowledgable and well respected in the area threw every test they had at it and said same thing that its definitely not lights just odd coincidence as well. Tank has top covered so pretty much just my hands going in the tank etc. They gave me some stuff to treat for a bacterial infection just in case because nothing else appears to be wrong. Said maybe new lights stressed the already sick fish out but who knows really. Either that or something got in the tank somehow accidentally. Pretty bummed because I am very careful with the tank and have been upgrading to top of the line equipment to make sure everything is in tip top shape. But good to know that its def not my new very expensive lights haha. Thank you all sincerely for all your help/knowledge.

 

[j.falk]

Did you happen to put your hands in the aquarium after washing them with soap? That'll kill a tank off quick like you're describing.

 

[ajoe]

You said that the tank was stable for four months, so something got into the water. Any kids in the house? Anyone using cleaning chemicals near the tank? Your lights were not the issue.

plus one on this. lights can certainly stress out fish but with a place to hide this doesn't seem to be likely. water is likely the agent here. cleaning chemicals in the area, air fresheners, carpet cleaner, scented candles etc. any number of things can settle in from the air and adhere to the surface of your water. Build up of CO2 in the room can also affect the water. open some windows and get some fresh air in and any harsh chemicals out.

good luck. sucks loosing fish. we have all been there.

 

[bucsmike]

Ya first fish I've lost and with 3 at once it really sucks haha. I don't think any chemicals or anything got in the tank. The top has lids on it but of course always a possibility. It appears to be a bacterial infection of some kind. My fox face is starting to show signs like twitching and he has tiny brown spots appearing all over his body(Not the normal brown discoloration when he is sleeping/stressed). I am thinking the new lights must have stressed them out making them more susceptible to the bacteria or they may have already been infected and it made things worse. All I know is after this is over and I turn my radions back on I will be doing the worlds slowest acclamation period to make sure they aren't stressed at all so if it was a factor this doesn't happen again. I wonder if the Radions have a 1 year acclimation period??? *