Total Failure

[Chaloupa]

First off...too many fish being added at the same time to a new small tank.

You just finished your cycle....added 2 fish, then a couple weeks later you added 4 more....you are causing mini cycles to happen with your tank each time....add fish SLOWLY.....1 fish at a time...or in the case of the clown pair once the tank has been established for a while longer...then add the pair. Your tank is not ready for a few fish at a time...and it can't cope. When you say your levels are "fine"...more info would really help. This hobby is about patience and trust me, with my first tank I rushed it BADLY and lost many fish as I just didn't slow down. Once you slow down you will LOVE your tank and the hobby! And you have asked questions which is fantastic! I didn't even know about Canreef when I started...I may have done a much better job if I had!

Also a mandarin dragonette will not do well in a tank that small..unless it's eating frozen foods very very very well....as there will not be enough pods to keep it fed. They also require a well established tank.....sorry but it's not the best choice for your tank.....

Just my opinion on what could be going wrong..you can keep corals..you're not doing everything wrong AT ALL!

[Myka]

Chaloupa has good advice. I agree on the Mandarin...do not consider one in a tank smaller than 75g except in rare instances. I would suggest you do not use a pH buffer for your tank unless your pH is less than 7.8, in which case you likely need to adjust something else, and not use buffer at all. What kind of buffer are you using? How often are you using it? What does the pH read before using it? What does the pH read after using it?

If you provide more information like tank size, when you started it, when you first had 0 nitrite and 0 ammonia, what all your levels are (specific gravity, temp, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, and phosphate), what brand test kits you use, what additives you use, what salt, what your daily/weekly/monthly maintenance schedule is, etc. Provide as much info as possible.

Taking a read through my guide for just starting out, and also the chemistry guide would be a good read to skim through to see if you're missing anything that may be a key to your tank's current challenges.

[Nixon]

just a shot in the dark here but how are you acclimating these fish? too short of an acclimation time? just a thought.

[untamed]

I wouldn't be using any kind of buffer...especially as you are just starting out. pH is not likely to be the problem.

[parkinsn]

Originally Posted by untamed

I wouldn't be using any kind of buffer...especially as you are just starting out. pH is not likely to be the problem.

Agreed. Your Ph will also be directly affected by your KH so if you post you tank perimeters your KH may reflect the problem with PH. Also KH, Mg and Ca have to be in line with each other for one to stay up they all have to be at proper level's.

[FlamesFan]

Possibly bad luck? I have an established tank and still manage to have issues with fish. I belive it's mostly due to the fish being either cyanide caught or stressed from all the transfers they go through. Most of the deaths i've had come within the first month of being added. If they last more than a month, they live a nice life in my tank.

[reeferious]

did you test for ammonia?