Total Failure

[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?

[Fox]

Phew that was a lot of information to go through but I believe I have the answers to all.

To start I would like to clarify a few things. Whenever I have bought fish I have always asked for the advice of the LFS and let them know the history of the tank, I always bring in a water sample and I let them know whats in the tank.

I would also like to clarify that it wasn't a manderine goby I had in there, (thats on my future wish list) its was a dragon goby...the guy who eats the sand and spits it out through his lungs...or did before he died...He is still in the tank somewhere...do I need to rip it apart to find him or will my cleaner shrimp make short work or him if they haven't already?

The tank is 33 gal, no sump with a protien skimmer, in tank fluval, T5 HO lights and a power head. I started the tank on Dec 29th and waiting 9 weeks before I and my LFS (Big Al's) was satisfied that it was cycled.

Anytime a fish was added I dripped them for about an hour...maybe a bit longer using some rubber tubing and a chip clip.

I am using Red Sea marine lab test kit and the quick dip 6 in 1 test strips.
My test results as of tonight are Alk 120-180, pH 7.0-7.4 (hard to tell), Salinity :1.022 Nitrites :0 Nitrates :0 and the one that of course caused the problem I am sure Ammonia : 1.0...

After seeing the ammonia test I did a 10-15% water change...hopefully not too much. I have been doing weekly water changes along with the freshwater tank every weekend...

I hope I answered everything...maybe the one thing I am missing is how often I am testing and what I am testing for...maybe I would have seen this coming. The odd thing is that all my inverts, corals and my anemone are doing great...everyone just keeps telling me I got bad fish but those bad fish are costing me good money...I hope I can get this worked it but its just heartbreaking and I just feel so defeated after soo many losses.

I just need hope that I am not a complete failure at this to keep going!

Thanks to all who replied...

[68shelby]

The only thing I see that looks odd is your Ph (low) Possibly ph shock. and I get roused everytime I take mine in and its at 8.3 how is the KH? As for the ammonia I assume its more your reading the test strip as nitrates are zero. I myself havent even dared keeping an anenome yet as i hear they are tough to keep. So you are doing something right.

[Fox]

Interesting...The pH has always been low which was why it was suggested I use the buff to help increase it...not sure how else to do it...

The ammonia, nitrite and nitrate reading were all from the test kit...only the alk and pH are from the test strips...

Thanks for the encouraging words...I just wish my clowns were still around to enjoy the annenome.

[naesco]

All very good advice.
Forget about what your LFS is saying. He makes money selling you fish and reselling them when they die.
In a small tank you should be only adding one fish at a time once a month. The tank adjusts slowly.
If an animal dies you must remove it or is will cause your tank to have an ammonia and than nitrite spike and kill everything.

Do not add any fish to your tank until everything stabilizes and do not add any further chemicals.
Patience is the key in this hobby, eh

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Fox

Phew that was a lot of information to go through but I believe I have the answers to all.

To start I would like to clarify a few things. Whenever I have bought fish I have always asked for the advice of the LFS and let them know the history of the tank, I always bring in a water sample and I let them know whats in the tank.

I would also like to clarify that it wasn't a manderine goby I had in there, (thats on my future wish list) its was a dragon goby...the guy who eats the sand and spits it out through his lungs...or did before he died...He is still in the tank somewhere...do I need to rip it apart to find him or will my cleaner shrimp make short work or him if they haven't already?

The tank is 33 gal, no sump with a protien skimmer, in tank fluval, T5 HO lights and a power head. I started the tank on Dec 29th and waiting 9 weeks before I and my LFS (Big Al's) was satisfied that it was cycled.

Anytime a fish was added I dripped them for about an hour...maybe a bit longer using some rubber tubing and a chip clip.

I am using Red Sea marine lab test kit and the quick dip 6 in 1 test strips.
My test results as of tonight are Alk 120-180, pH 7.0-7.4 (hard to tell), Salinity :1.022 Nitrites :0 Nitrates :0 and the one that of course caused the problem I am sure Ammonia : 1.0...

After seeing the ammonia test I did a 10-15% water change...hopefully not too much. I have been doing weekly water changes along with the freshwater tank every weekend...

I hope I answered everything...maybe the one thing I am missing is how often I am testing and what I am testing for...maybe I would have seen this coming. The odd thing is that all my inverts, corals and my anemone are doing great...everyone just keeps telling me I got bad fish but those bad fish are costing me good money...I hope I can get this worked it but its just heartbreaking and I just feel so defeated after soo many losses.

I just need hope that I am not a complete failure at this to keep going!

Thanks to all who replied...

Your salinity is low as is your ph...you also add to quickly. Don't listen to big als. Clean your fluval every week. Check your ammonia if it keeps rising the missing fish is probably decaying. You don't mention (or i Missed) a cleanup crew, this is an essential part of a tank as well. Test your own water most lfs use the tests till they run out who knows if they have expired (this is not all LFS, but with big als...well). Remember most ammonia tests rely on a valid ph test as well...ph is a certain level then ammonia toxicity is higher or lower. Save your money, stabilize your tank then try again.

The point in adding fish slowly to a tank is to build up the bacteria you need...which needs ammonia to form..but a tank can only process so much at one time...the bacteria doesn't keep growing and growing...it grows as more ammonia is added...to much the system cannot cope....so you have to think of it like this...every time you add a fish you are essentially doing a little cycle.
also...since you are new...try testing your replacement water for everything you test your tank for...see how everything compares...

[Fox]

Originally Posted by Pan

Your salinity is low as is your ph...you also add to quickly. Don't listen to big als. Clean your fluval every week. Check your ammonia if it keeps rising the missing fish is probably decaying. You don't mention (or i Missed) a cleanup crew, this is an essential part of a tank as well.

Is t suggested that I tear the tank up in order to find and remove the goby??

I will start cleaning the fluval weekly with the water changes...I do have a CUC in there consisting over small burrowing snails, big (I think Turbo) snails and some little hermit crabs...they are all doing fine.

Originally Posted by Pan

Test your own water most lfs use the tests till they run out who knows if they have expired (this is not all LFS, but with big als...well).

I do test my own...lately I have been needing replacement fish and so I doubt my test results and want a second opinion...

Originally Posted by Pan

Remember most ammonia tests rely on a valid ph test as well...ph is a certain level then ammonia toxicity is higher or lower. Save your money, stabilize your tank then try again.

The point in adding fish slowly to a tank is to build up the bacteria you need...which needs ammonia to form..but a tank can only process so much at one time...the bacteria doesn't keep growing and growing...it grows as more ammonia is added...to much the system cannot cope....so you have to think of it like this...every time you add a fish you are essentially doing a little cycle.
also...since you are new...try testing your replacement water for everything you test your tank for...see how everything compares...

Thanks!