My fish are dying

I started my first salt water reef tank at the end of April of this year. It's a 32 gallon tank to which I added
30 pounds of Arononite Substrate
15 pounds of live sand
about 25 pounds of live rock

150 Watt submersble Auariun heater
Skilter 250 ( this filters and skims protien)
1 Aquaclear 20 powerhead

On Sept. 5th all tests showed the water was good, bought 3 green chromis and one bluefin damsel
over the next few weeks a total of 8 chromis joined the group and none survived.
Oct. 1 only the bluefin survived
bought two clownfish - one only lasted a day.
Did a water change(about 6 gallons) using prepared salt water
Oct. 3 added a mushroom coral and more live rock
started adding phytoplankton

All tests show water good - PH 7.8 and started adding Pro Buffer dKH
Now it is 8 +

bought a Turbo Snail
bought a cleaner shrimp

This month I was given a sailfin tang who survived about 10 days, since it was a gift, and I thought that his demise was caused by bullying by the bluefin, I disposed of the bluefin and replaced it with a second sailfin tang.

Tang was in trouble in about two days. I isolated him in a breeder tank and did another water change.

Today: Mushroom coral, snail, and shrimp are thriving.
Only one clownfish survives.

What can be the problem. Help! Suggestions.

 

Did you cycle the tank? The sailfin tangs are way to big for that tank, and the skilter isnt the best filter there is. The smallest tangs should be in a 55gallon or higher (preferably). What kind of lights do you have?

 

Too many fish at once too.
We have all done this, try to slow it down.

 

what is your heat? at also is staying at a decent temp? snails and shrooms will live at a less temperature then fish. way to many fish too and tangs need at least a 75 and then not for long. Imo they get huge sailfins can get to 17inches top to bottom in capativity.

 

Need to know your water param's, all of them. Have you checked for copper?

 

how about acclimating? do you do that with your fish?

 

to much CO2 vs O2, need to redox the system

 

I agree with the gang here on the sailfin tangs they are a nice fish but suited to a larger tank , also even then they can be hit and miss.
Afetr 5mths your tank should be well enough established to house fish as hardy as cromis. however , what tests were done exactly and how much are you feeding these fish of your.

welcome to the 3reef

 

dont sailfins need like 120+ gallons.i belive they do.smaller tanks require less fish and alot mor time for the water to adjust each time.

 

Try increasing frequency/amount of water changes until bio-filter becomes better established.

BTW...Skilter skimmers notoriously inefficient unless modded.


See: Skilter 250 Modification