where did I go wrong?

isn't 30mins kinda short for acclimation?

 

I don't think so, not for fish. You don't want a really long acclimation b/c IMO it stresses the fish out more.

As for my other question, if you didn't have any biological filtration, then a buildup of ammonia or nitrite could have caused their deaths. It may be testing 0 now, but did you test the water when they died?

 

Yes I agree.

QT tanks should always be set up that way the bio is already there. I dont think the problem was the QT though. The fish wasn't there long enough to have to much ammonia build up unless he was way overfeeding.
JMO

 

Whats in the QT? was there any kind of filtration? Was the QT cycled? If not could the fish have been killed by a ammonia or nitrite spike? Just a couple questions to help figure this out.

Jake

 

I am in agreement with guitarman. I personally have mixed feelings on QTs. Yes they can help prevent infecting a beautiful coral filled DT but they are also the deathbed of most newly aqcuired fish... You take a STERILE tank with NO biofiltration, add fish and viola, NH3 builds up in a matter of hours with no way for it to be removed... The fish then are suffering NH3 poisoning before you realize and assume its a treatable illness.

If you are going to set up a sterile QT you should ALWAYS use an established filter to have at least some form of biological filtration. Many people will take the media from a hang on that they plan to use on the QT and hide it in the DT or sump. Over the weeks or whathave you between fish purchases the media becomes innoculated with bacteria. When you then add a new fish to QT you take out the media, put in the filter then run it on the QT. You now have an established biofilter on your sterile tank. Trust me this will SAVE YOUR FISH!!!

Also, aside from that, I can personally tell you that flames are not holding up as well as they used to even from a year ago. Not sure what the problem is but they are just not shipping well.

Remember, if you do get a new flame, and decide to treat with Cu REMEMBER that they are EXTREMELY sensitive to sudden additions of copper. Bring it up to treatment level over the course of a few days...

Sorry for your losses!

 

Well, Frag and some others hit on some of the other potential problems. DTs are closer in line to LFS because they are both established environments (unless something major happened at a LFS and one of the systems was re-done). Now, that is for fish, coral are another issue. LFS parameters for mag, calc and other elements may be way out of line in regards to a DT.

 

JJK,

I think you should setup a QT and cycle it. Have it set up all the time with a couple of Chromis. Therefore it is basicaly a FO tank. This IMO is the best way to bring new fish to your home without risking all the fish in you DT.

Just my 2 cents

 

Guys, thank you for all the very helpful comments. Just to clarify, though, my QT had lots of previously-established biological filtration. First of all, it had a bag full of Seachem Matrix which was left over from when all my fish were in QT for 8 weeks. From that time onward I periodically dropped flake food into the tank to keep the bacteria alive. It also had an Emperor 400 filter with biowheel, with previously-used filters - which were no doubt full of bacteria.

I measured ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every day, including after the fish died - and they all measured zero (well, a bit of nitrate).

So I'm still stumped. I'm a fan of QT because I'd rather keep my DT pristine (BTW, no sign of ich or any disease at all since leaving my DT fallow for 8 wks - all 6 of my fish are in great health). So I will be using QT in the future. But here's the difference from now on - I have a chunk of live rock that I keep in my fuge, covered in chaeto and algae. I will add that to my QT (to be kept there forever). It will provide biological filtration and give the fish something to graze on to make them feel more at home. I wonder if that will make the fish live longer. I'm determined to have a flame angel in my tank - I know I can do it.

I'll keep you updated.