Oh no!!!

Discussion in 'Live Rock' started by Nightstick, Apr 5, 2009.

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  1. Nightstick

    Nightstick Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2009
    Messages:
    493
    Location:
    South Elgin,IL
    I just added 15lbs of established live rock that I bought from some one and... I woke up this morning and two of my starter damsel fish where dead! The other three damsels are breathing pretty heavily. I tested my water before I added the rock and this morning after I discovered the dead fish. All readings where normal. What happened what did I do wrong? PLEASE HELP!!!:-[
     
    Nightstick, Apr 5, 2009
    Nightstick, Apr 5, 2009
    #1

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  2. unclejed

    unclejed Whip-Lash Squid

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    2,964
    Location:
    Clinton Township, Michigan
    Explain what levels are "normal". Did you check Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate?
     
    unclejed, Apr 5, 2009
    unclejed, Apr 5, 2009
    #2
  3. psiclone

    psiclone Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2009
    Messages:
    476
    Location:
    Reno,NV
    Are you still cycling?
     
    psiclone, Apr 5, 2009
    psiclone, Apr 5, 2009
    #3
  4. tronb24

    tronb24 Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2008
    Messages:
    368
    Location:
    Largo, FL
    I'm guessing a possible ammonia spike from the rock. Like psiclone asked, are you still cycling?
     
    tronb24, Apr 5, 2009
    tronb24, Apr 5, 2009
    #4
  5. Nightstick

    Nightstick Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2009
    Messages:
    493
    Location:
    South Elgin,IL
    I didn't think I was still cycling, levels have been stable for a few weeks. Below are my levels, please help! Only the damsels have died not the snail or hermits!

    ammonia .25
    nitrite 0
    nitrate 0
    salt 1.022
    hph 8.2
    ph 7.6

    that is all i test for, should i be testing others?
     
    Nightstick, Apr 5, 2009
    Nightstick, Apr 5, 2009
    #5
  6. Dasco

    Dasco Vagabond Butterfly

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2009
    Messages:
    1,657
    Location:
    Lowell Mass
    ya if you have amonia showin up on tests you sent your tank back in to minicycle not good for fish or anything in tank.
     
    Dasco, Apr 5, 2009
    Dasco, Apr 5, 2009
    #6

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  7. Stingray

    Stingray Blue Ringed Angel

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,555
    Location:
    West Midlands,UK
    Do you have a skimmer?, if not point a power head or the return from the filter up at the surface to agitate the water, just an idea but if there gasping may be a oxygen issue,?
     
    Stingray, Apr 5, 2009
    Stingray, Apr 5, 2009
    #7
  8. trelane

    trelane Peppermint Shrimp

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2008
    Messages:
    402
    I think stingray might be heading in the right direction here. Adding rock changes the water flow throughout the tank. It's possible that there is an O2 deprived portion of your tank.

    .25 does indicate a cycle, and Ammonia is bad, HOWEVER you are damsel safe up to 1ppm.

    *mumbles something about cycling with damsels = dead damsels for any number of reasons*
     
    trelane, Apr 5, 2009
    trelane, Apr 5, 2009
    #8
  9. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2008
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    Location:
    SE Kansas
    PH is way to low for my liking. Get it up with surface agitation.
     
    jonjonwells, Apr 5, 2009
    jonjonwells, Apr 5, 2009
    #9
  10. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    Messages:
    5,958
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    i think its the ammonia, ammonia is extremely toxic any level is unsafe for fish

    i wouldnt say any level of ammonia(besides zero) is damsel safe.
     
    sostoudt, Apr 5, 2009
    sostoudt, Apr 5, 2009
    #10
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