Hi all, I'm posting this in the newbie forum because I've only been doing saltwater for about 2 years and what I've learned so far is this hobby takes a while master (or at least get really competent.
Anyway...here's the deal: I have a 45 gallon show tank, 55 pounds of live rock, 1 Kenya Tree (the original plan was a Reef Tank, 2 years and a divorce later its become a FOWLR tank
), live sand floor, approx. 3 gallon sump, bio-balls (please don't kill me), protein skimmer.
Livestock: 2 clown fish, 2 cardinals, assorted crabs, snails, 1 fire fish (was 2, more on that later) and 1 urchin. Oh yeah, 1 emerald crab that I see on late, several beers, nights that I examine by flashlight. OK, enough of the set up. Oh wait, I also have a Ebo-Jager heater and my house has central air/heat and I keep it at a constant 69.
This tank has been set up for 2 years now. I do 20 gallon once a month (ok, more than once its been more like 6-8 weeks) water changes. I have vowed this year to not miss the 4 week water change; even setup my Outlook to remind me. I want to add a few more fish but every time I try they die. I have tried 2 yellow tangs and most recently 1 copper banded butterfly. I got the butterfly 1 week ago. Within ten minutes of putting him in the tank he was searching for food in the rock. The next day was feeding day and he ate the MYSIS (had to run to the freezer to verify spelling) no problem. Everything was going well. Today I get home from work to find him "sleeping on the sand". I also got 2 fire fish the same day and one is MIA for 4 days now. The urchin seems fine and is moving all over the tank. I will say that the last time I saw my emerald crab he seemed a little "washed out" in color. Sorry, I'm just trying to give you as much information as possible so I can solve, and then fix, this problem.
I have done a full battery of test using Marine Lab test kit and everything looks good. pH: 8.2 Sal. 1.024 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 5ppm Alk: ~2.5-2.6 Ammonia: 0.00-.04 (sorry I'm partially red/green color blind and this damn test is shades of green. The ex was my helper on this one).
So my question: Is there anything here that would hint to why my clown fish and cardinals have been in the tank for a year or more but anything new I add dies? I hope you can help as I feel racked with guilt every time a fish dies, and I won't be adding more until I get this figured out.
Thanks again,
Craig
Anyway...here's the deal: I have a 45 gallon show tank, 55 pounds of live rock, 1 Kenya Tree (the original plan was a Reef Tank, 2 years and a divorce later its become a FOWLR tank
), live sand floor, approx. 3 gallon sump, bio-balls (please don't kill me), protein skimmer. Livestock: 2 clown fish, 2 cardinals, assorted crabs, snails, 1 fire fish (was 2, more on that later) and 1 urchin. Oh yeah, 1 emerald crab that I see on late, several beers, nights that I examine by flashlight. OK, enough of the set up. Oh wait, I also have a Ebo-Jager heater and my house has central air/heat and I keep it at a constant 69.
This tank has been set up for 2 years now. I do 20 gallon once a month (ok, more than once its been more like 6-8 weeks) water changes. I have vowed this year to not miss the 4 week water change; even setup my Outlook to remind me. I want to add a few more fish but every time I try they die. I have tried 2 yellow tangs and most recently 1 copper banded butterfly. I got the butterfly 1 week ago. Within ten minutes of putting him in the tank he was searching for food in the rock. The next day was feeding day and he ate the MYSIS (had to run to the freezer to verify spelling) no problem. Everything was going well. Today I get home from work to find him "sleeping on the sand". I also got 2 fire fish the same day and one is MIA for 4 days now. The urchin seems fine and is moving all over the tank. I will say that the last time I saw my emerald crab he seemed a little "washed out" in color. Sorry, I'm just trying to give you as much information as possible so I can solve, and then fix, this problem.
I have done a full battery of test using Marine Lab test kit and everything looks good. pH: 8.2 Sal. 1.024 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: 5ppm Alk: ~2.5-2.6 Ammonia: 0.00-.04 (sorry I'm partially red/green color blind and this damn test is shades of green. The ex was my helper on this one).
So my question: Is there anything here that would hint to why my clown fish and cardinals have been in the tank for a year or more but anything new I add dies? I hope you can help as I feel racked with guilt every time a fish dies, and I won't be adding more until I get this figured out.
Thanks again,
Craig
