Tank Crash

[robirwin1245]

I have a 200 Gallon FOWLR and sand. I had a 100 gallon and upgraded a month ago. I moved over my old live rock, water, bio-balls and fish to the new tank with 200 lbs of new sand. I waited 2 weeks then added 200 more pounds of live rock. Everything was find for a couple of weeks then starting last thursday we have had a fish die each day. The water has been checked daily with different test kits and by a fish store - water looks fine no Nitrite and no Ammonia - PH looks good. not sure what the problem is why one fish dies each day - up until they die they look fine and eat. Now we have two fish left, we lost two puffers, blue line trigger, and yellow tang...we have clown and a sail fin tang left. the clown isn't looking too good so it will likely be gone by morning leaving just one fish left.

we don't know what the problem is. sounds like some poison or something got in there and test kits can't detect that - but wouldn't know how that could have happened or if so why the fish didn't just die at about the same time.

[Livinlocal]

Can you tell us more about the system? Is it a, all in one? Does it have a sump? Does it have a skimmer? All of these will help us. It sounds like it might be a oxygen deficiency

[Livinlocal]

Or maybe a disease ?

[Livinlocal]

Also, was it a puffer that died first ? They can Poison the tank if they die and are not taken out of the system

[robirwin1245]

I got both puffers out before they were full on dead. There is a sump but no skimmer. It's like a 4 divider sump where the water runs under and over barriers - probably 60 gallon sump. No sign of disease.

[Livinlocal]

With no skimmer, do you have anything supplying oxygen? How are your powerheads set up?

[newellio]

Did you test copper or other metals?

[apax]

Is the new tank been cycled completely... You got new fresh sand.... doesn't bacteria need to build up for a while for a new system

[Livinlocal]

Is the new tank been cycled completely... You got new fresh sand.... doesn't bacteria need to build up for a while for a new system

Not necessarily if he used all the old water and rock from his old system. Adding the Santa may have a nutrient Spike, but he said the nutrients are in line

[apax]

Not necessarily if he used all the old water and rock from his old system. Adding the Santa may have a nutrient Spike, but he said the nutrients are in line

still a possibility.... Old stuff 100g to a new 200g... So half the Volume is new (water.. Live rock...etc) sand completely new plus no skimmer... Etc... . sounds like you overloaded the tank to quickly... But if ita cycled correctly then could be oxygen but some fish should gasp for air at the surface??? Right???? But definitely put a skimmer....

[robirwin1245]

It's been over a month and a half since the move - this started 6 days ago - lost 0 fish until more than a month went by then suddenly 1 fish a day for 5 days. No sign of ick or anything visible.

[robirwin1245]

I do think I have seen the fish breathing rapidly. I do have carbon and a poly filter in then tank. I put the poly filter in today. The clown looks a little discolored and his fins aren't as perfect as they were yesterday - maybe breathing hard too.

[robirwin1245]

Symptoms are - i - porcupine puffer got cloudy eyes and then rested on the floor the next day, later that day wouldn't move. dog faced puffer was laying on the floor a lot more than usual and then was upside down the next day, the yellow tang was also laying flat on the sand in the morning (night before swimming, eating, looking normal) - the tang looked to be breathing hard for a while....the clown right now appears a little discolored, fins frayed a little bit, swimming, maybe breathing a little hard. the last fish, a sail fin tang looks fine and swimming around (not problem so far)

[Livinlocal]

still a possibility.... Old stuff 100g to a new 200g... So half the Volume is new (water.. Live rock...etc) sand completely new plus no skimmer... Etc... . sounds like you overloaded the tank to quickly... But if ita cycled correctly then could be oxygen but some fish should gasp for air at the surface??? Right???? But definitely put a skimmer....

Not necessarily because we don’t know if he used Scripps water or mixed. If you use Scripps, there is no cycle time for fish.

[borg]

Not necessarily because we don’t know if he used Scripps water or mixed. If you use Scripps, there is no cycle time for fish.

Beneficial bacteria which is needed for a cycle lives on actual surfaces (rocks, filter media, etc), not on water. That said, Im sure it doesnt hurt, I just dont think it helps with a cycle all that much, if any at all.


Either way, I dont think its relevant here since the OP said they tested water everyday and didnt see any ammonia.