What happened?

About a week ago, I noticed a build up of (I am pretty sure they are) diatoms. So I changed to feeding my fish ever other day - once per day.

Friday, I installed two Koralia 2 power heads.

This morning, my two damsels were acting weird. Staying real low to the ground and stuff.

As of now, they're both dead. Shrimp eating one.

I checked my numbers Saturday - they seemed fine.

PH 8.2 (but honestly, I can't read that API PH test that came in the Saltwater test kit, 8.0-8.4, my water could be any of those, but it does remain the same shade in the vial each test)

Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20

So I checked them again today and they haven't changed (or changed within a 30 hour window and then back again).

My clown fish are doing fine and acting normal.

But both damsels died. I don't get it.

 

do you have a ground probe, its prolly not that but it good to have one and helps narrow down the possibilities.

 

I will get a ground probe this week. Does it matter how it's placed? Do they go into the substrate or dangle in the water?

As the rest of the ocean seems unaffected - I'm thinking it was something else though. I don't really have any clue though.

My best guess is they need to eat a substantial more than clowns? They all seemed to get about the same amount of food in my once every other day feedings. Or perhaps the stress of cycling finally got to both of them in the same day . . . and the clowns are just tougher. . . :-/

 

possible that the PH's threw a lot of sediment flying around the system, like stirring up the sand bed? clowns and damsels are in the same family so I would think you could watch one and have a good idea how the other would respond.

 

no it can go anywhere also long as there is a water connection between it and the main tank. no they don't need more food then clowns(well maybe there more active but thats not why they died.)

 

I only have a main tank - can it go directly into it (ground probe, that is)? I guess I should go research these on my own (right Geek?) now that the thread has taken a turn in direction slightly.

The PH did churn up some stuff, mostly from the LR it appears - I kept them up high and didn't notice any tornado's in my CC substrate. But there was a sudden increase in flotsam moving around (not a ton, just several small pieces). How is this bad for the fish? In the short term I mean.

I fed the fishies to my unidentified anemones ID Anemone please

 

Peredhil, the ground probe should not go into substrate. You want as much of its surface area contacting the water as possible.

Sorry to hear about the damsels.

 

Sorry to hear about your damsels. I know this probably wont make it any easier, but this does happen sometimes when you first start up a tank.
I doubt it was electrical current, specially if your inverts made it through (they are usually the first to go), but set-up that grounding probe regardless.

 

honestly you got lucky
it could have been the clowns
hang in there

 

What were your nitrates at before this happened