Help please i don’t understand

[Jacob2004]

Hello im still new to marine fish keeping i have a 90 gallon tank with 2 canister filters and i try and add some new fish but every time i do one or two of my old fish dies.i check the water parameters and there fine. I have a airstone to help produce oxygen and i think ive got a good amount of hiding spots i just dont understand and can’t really find anything about it. If i could get help i would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Sorry to hear about your fish losses. Could you maybe let us know some more information about your tank, like did you set it up with live rock and sand, and how did you cycle it? What media is in your canister filters? A photo of the tank can often be a big help.

What kind of fish are you trying to add, and how are you acclimating and introducing them to your tank? Are you seeing signs of aggression or signs of fish disease?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A full tank pic will really help

 

[Jacob2004]

Yes of course.i got live sand and live rock in the tank.i cycled it for 4 weeks until the ammonia was zero on three test.and ive got carbon and marine balls and fluval bio max cylinders and fluval ammonia remover pack and fluvals peat packs and fluvals zeo carb packs. And yesterday I introduced a sailfin tang three corals and royal gramma and a cleaner wrasse.there were no signs of aggression with the cleaner wrasse and the gramma but my two heniochus butterflys were quite aggressive to the sailfin so i put him in a breeders box for the night then i woke up and they were both gone.and i drip acclimate every fish and coral for 10 minutes.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks for the additional extra info and pic! I'm sure others will offer their suggestions too, but I have a few first thoughts.

I'd remove the peat based filter material. Peat moss is used in freshwater aquaria to LOWER pH. In saltwater tanks you want your pH up to ideally over 8.0 and right at 8.3 is about perfect. Most of us struggle to keep their pH that high. I would think the peat stuff is counterproductive in a reef tank.

Same with the ammonia removing media. In a reef tank, your live rock and sand are populated with bacteria that process ammonia into nitrite, and finally nitrate. You want your rocks and sand to be the bio-filter of your tank. Using the ammonia removing media is again to me, counterproductive. Just let the bacteria in your system naturally process ammonia.

That Fluval ZeoCarb also has an ammonia reducing agent in there. Again, I'd suggest removing that.

Your regular carbon, and the bio medias are fine.

I think if it was me, I'd load that canister filter with some filter floss or PolyFil (which is the same thing, but cheaper; found at Walmart and Craft stores) for mechanical filtration. I'd try to remove and replace that once a week (more often is even better). I'd run the regular carbon, and I'd use the bio media you have.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Poly-Fil...3JWVyVx0czZ2nfgdVM6OCBTcW_7Um9wAaAhoVEALw_wcB

Again, just my initial thoughts, I'm sure others will be by soon to offer further suggestions.

And weird about the fish dying, sounds like you add something new, and an old fish dies?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Probably not what killed the butterfly, but you're putting fish that need a MUCH larger tank together in that 90...
Butterflies can be tough to keep under the best circumstances, and both the butterflies and most tangs need a 5 foot tank minimum, preferably a 6 foot.

For a 90, stick to one of the bristletooth tangs and no butterflies.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Also, you definitely seem new to the hobby and should probably do a bit more research before buying any more livestock. Did you start out with freshwater tanks? Because salt is a completely different hobby...

Keep asking questions though and we'll get you on the right track. Check out the sticky threads in the various forums (especially this one), and there are some good videos from BRS and others that will help you with the basics.

 

[Bigfishy1]

Are you only testing for anomia? Are you testing for nitrite and nitrate? Did you use any bacteria to help with the process? Four weeks does not sound like enough time for the time to mature. With saltwater fish you want to take it slow and continue the test as you add new Fish.

 

[Jacob2004]

Are you only testing for anomia? Are you testing for nitrite and nitrate? Did you use any bacteria to help with the process? Four weeks does not sound like enough time for the time to mature. With saltwater fish you want to take it slow and continue the test as you add new Fish.

I tested for anomia nitrate nitrite and ph

 

[Jacob2004]

Also, you definitely seem new to the hobby and should probably do a bit more research before buying any more livestock. Did you start out with freshwater tanks? Because salt is a completely different hobby...

Keep asking questions though and we'll get you on the right track. Check out the sticky threads in the various forums (especially this one), and there are some good videos from BRS and others that will help you with the basics.

What would you recommend id get fish wise if i may ask?

 

[Dom]

Thanks for the additional extra info and pic! I'm sure others will offer their suggestions too, but I have a few first thoughts.

I'd remove the peat based filter material. Peat moss is used in freshwater aquaria to LOWER pH. In saltwater tanks you want your pH up to ideally over 8.0 and right at 8.3 is about perfect. Most of us struggle to keep their pH that high. I would think the peat stuff is counterproductive in a reef tank.

Same with the ammonia removing media. In a reef tank, your live rock and sand are populated with bacteria that process ammonia into nitrite, and finally nitrate. You want your rocks and sand to be the bio-filter of your tank. Using the ammonia removing media is again to me, counterproductive. Just let the bacteria in your system naturally process ammonia.

That Fluval ZeoCarb also has an ammonia reducing agent in there. Again, I'd suggest removing that.

Your regular carbon, and the bio medias are fine.

I think if it was me, I'd load that canister filter with some filter floss or PolyFil (which is the same thing, but cheaper; found at Walmart and Craft stores) for mechanical filtration. I'd try to remove and replace that once a week (more often is even better). I'd run the regular carbon, and I'd use the bio media you have.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Poly-Fil...3JWVyVx0czZ2nfgdVM6OCBTcW_7Um9wAaAhoVEALw_wcB

Again, just my initial thoughts, I'm sure others will be by soon to offer further suggestions.

And weird about the fish dying, sounds like you add something new, and an old fish dies?

Sage advice.

 

[Reefering1]

What would you recommend id get fish wise if i may ask?

Lots of fish go well in a 90. Even a yellow, purple or tomini. But not a sailfin, blue, naso, pbt, or others that get well over 1' or are overly aggressive

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

What would you recommend id get fish wise if i may ask?

So many to choose from... do you have a list of fish you like?
What do you have now besides the gramma and the sailfin? (which really needs a new home - for one, as you've seen, they can be aggressive, and 2, because the tank is too small)

 

[Jacob2004]

Ive got a cleaner wrasse and a sixline wrasse and a cleaner shrimp

 

[Jacob2004]

Ive got a cleaner wrasse and a sixline wrasse and a cleaner shrimp

I just like colors in my tank i plan on getting some clown fish just havent found the right pair.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

In my 90, I had 2 clowns, a bristletooth tang, royal gramma, Midas blenny, six line wrasse, several gobies, one spot foxface (these are the smallest variety of rabbit fish- don't get another kind because they get too big), and a marine betta.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I just like colors in my tank i plan on getting some clown fish just havent found the right pair.

For color, you're on the right track. The six line and gramma are very pretty. A Midas blenny or foxface would add a nice shot of yellow (unless you're planning on spending the $ for a yellow tang... I would pick 2 of the three of foxface, yellow tang, and bristletooth tang). Cardinals are kind of unique.

I think the main thing is to go slow. Add one species at a time and wait until you find the "perfect fit" for your situation. (You'll probably save some $ this way too )

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

i drip acclimate every fish and coral for 10 minutes.

Not to beat a dead horse, but ths isn't freshwater. You may need to adjust your acclimation process a bit.

Do you have an LFS that you feel comfortable with?

 

[Jacob2004]

Not to beat a dead horse, but ths isn't freshwater. You may need to adjust your acclimation process a bit.

Do you have an LFS that you feel comfortable with?

Yes i do but hes also the guy who said a sailfin tang would do fine in my tank. Hes got 20+ years of experience in fish keeping.But now i dont know because apparently the sailfin isnt gonna be fine in the tank.

 

[Jacob2004]

I also plan on upgrading when my house is done being built next spring and I’ll probably upgrade to a 180 or 200 if i can find one so do yall think i could keep just what i got till then?