Coral Beauty Thoughts?

Hi,

I have a 55g FOWLR tank that has 1 Percula Clown, 1 Yellow Tang and 1 Chromis.
Running 2 powerheads, 1 biowheel filter and a Protein Skimmer.
Recently other than the Yellow Tang, I've lost every new fish I've introduced into the tank. 5 Anthias, a Strawberry Psuedo and a Coral Beauty. All bought from different LFS. The Yellow Tang and Psuedo from same LFS.

Parameters:
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Ph 8.2
Nitrate 10-15
Salinity 1.021
Temp 72

I am now considering purchasing a Coral Beauty online from a place that has a 15 day guareentee as I am unable to determine why the loss.

Thoughts?

 

Has your SG and temperature always been that low? While some reef fish may be able to adapt, it would probably take much longer than any feasible acclimation period, especially for the 72F temp. Most reefs rarely see temps in the 70s.

 

Are the fish healthy when you first buy them? No signs of disease or parasites? Are they eating? Those are crucial to long term success. Your nitrates are a tad high. This can cause stress but those levels are acceptable for some. I would consider a water change to lower the nitrates and also while your at it, raise your salinity. Aim for 1.024-1.026. Raise your temperature slowly to 78-82. I run my system between 80-82 degrees and never swing out of those temps. Are you acclimating your fish? This should be a time consuming process and much attention should be paid to this. Try to cause as little stress as possible on your fish. Meaning no lights in the tank and if possible a dimly lit room. You can do 1 of 3 things. The drip line method is very popular and little interaction is necessary with the fish once started. (I am not sure if this is true or not but I do not use this method because research has suggested this alters PH too much. The second method you could try is float the fish in the tank for about 30 minutes. Then carefully open the top and then add small amounts of water every 20 minutes to the bag. This is my preferred method but to each is his own. Do this repeatedly until you have doubled the water in the bag "TWICE". The next method I do not use and I would not recommend but some people I know do use this and are successful. They simply let the fish float in the bag for about 30 minutes and then after take a pen or pencil and poke 2-3 holes in the bag. This allows water to exchange from the bag with you tank water.

 

chyotrix, did you have ever seen your percula clowns change to a pinkish hue, especially early in the morning? Because I have seen them change to that color on very cold nights before I bought a better heater. It didn't kill them though (they're still there 5 years later), and I suspect is that if what is killing your fish killed a hardy Percula, your dwarf angel will suffer the same fate.

Everything else looks good IMHO, but there are a million unknowns. Did you have any fish in that tank before?

 

Hi,
I have used the drip method every time. Forgot to state that.
The SG meter we have shows that 1.024 and 1.026 is above range. Our SG has always run around 1.021-1.022
Temp is now up to 76 but I am slowly upping the temp to the 78-82 range.
The one LFS is reliable. When I lost my first 2 Anthias they did give me a credit even tho it's not their policy.

 

Vdantoni,
The Clown is still alive and well. He's been in the tank since the begining. It's been up for over 3 years. We do water changes every week. Approx 10%.
I had a Blue Fin Damsel in it that's why I didn't add any new fish for years, he was a bully. He was an old fish that came with the live rock we bought 3 years ago. He finally passed away 3 months ago.
The Chromis, Clown and Tang plus 3 Turbo Snails are what are left in the tank. All doing well. Most recent added fish is the Tang.

 

I see, thanks for the clarification. I wish I could help you.

 

Thanks for the input and info.
May have figured out what the issue may be.
Will know in a few months.

 

Considering it's a FOWLR, 1.020 isn't a huge issue, especially if you do not have an ATO unit. The fish will tolerate that, but it couldn't hurt to raise it a bit even to 1.022. I have a FOWLR, and I try to keep it on 1.024. As for the temperature, that's very low IMO. I never allow my tank below 75º, and typically keep it from 76º at night to 79º during the day unless its very hot out. You should try to avoid having the temperatureabove 80, especially because your fish have been adapting to a cooler temperature so any rise should be gradual over a few days if not a week.

You don't need to be as exact with a FOWLR so besides the low temp, I wouldn't be too worried (nitrates are within a tolerable range for fish), but don't over stock it. That tang might have put you at max capacity.

 

Honestly, every time I look at my coral beauty I wish I had waited for a flame angel. The colors of a flame angel would make it the centerpiece of the tank. The coral beauty tends to blend in with the rest. But it's a matter of taste I guess.