bruise

when woke up this morning i found the cb dead at the bottom of the tank. i really don't know what could have caused it other than the cut. the rest of the fish looked fine. all fins perfect, colors were bright.
parameters:
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-5
sg- 1.023
pH- 7.7

it was the only fish in the tank so it wasn't attacked.

 

I am sorry to hear about this. Your ph seems to be a little low, it should be between 8.1 and 8.3, don't know if it contributed to the loss. Is this where it normally is?

 

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

 

the pH was at 7.7 since the tank was set up, i tried some baking soda but it didn't make a difference. it didn't swing though.

 

I am not an expert here, so I hope others will chime in, but you should get your ph up into the range that I mentioned earlier. Please read this article:

What are pH and Acid?

 

i forgot to mention that i have two small hermit crabs in the tank. aren't these supposed to be more susceptible to poor water conditions than fish?

 

i was typing while you posted. will give it a read

 

no problem, like I said, this might not have contributed to the loss of your cb, but maintaining these levels will keep all of your inhabitants happy and healthy. Sometimes hermits can be some pretty tough little boogers.

 

i think i'll have to go with a buffer because the pH was at this level when the tank was set up so it can't be because of waste or ammonia.
does purple up act as a buffer?

 

Here is a link to suggested water parameters. These are just a good guide to go by. Some people prefer some of these levels to be a little higher, but for newbies like us, this is a great start.

Saltwater Aquarium Water Parameters Guide