Losing fish: Questions about Calcium ppm and water changes

[Chris918]

I have two display tanks currently up and running. One 45 JBJ and one IM 30 Fusion. Both were setup using 8 week cured pukani rock and use the same salt brand. These last two weeks I have lost a fish in each. I lost a chromis in the 30 and a Cardinal in the 45. I haven't changed anything recently. What I am starting to wonder is that it may be my Calcium. I use Coralife. Coralife has an above average concentration of Calcium and Magnesium. I don't have to add anything like kalk or 2 part because I have so few corals. My corals are growing nicely. My calcium this last test came back at around 500 ppm for both tanks. Is this a problem? Could this be killing the fish? I do a water change on each religiously every week. Around 5-10%. Could it be that because I have so few corals that the excess water changes are bringing the Calcium too high and it is negatively affecting the fish?

Thanks!

 

[mcgyvr]

That calcium level is not a problem at all and not the reason for the deaths..

I would suggest you basically forget about trying to figure out the reason.. Fish deaths happen and most of the time the reason is unknown..

Sorry for your loss..

 

[Chris918]

Okay thank you. Is a water change every week too much?

 

[thegrun]

Okay thank you. Is a water change every week too much?

No, that's a good thing. Did you have more than one Chromis? If so they are likely to kill each other off until only one is left, especially in a tank under 120 gallons.

 

[Chris918]

I did have 3 originally. One died after the move from quarantine and the other died yesterday. I thought chromis were a schooling fish that did best in groups. Have I heard wrong? What is your experience?

 

[nereefpat]

If so they are likely to kill each other off until only one is left, especially in a tank under 120 gallons.

This seems to be common.