new tank, dead damsels, help....

So that sounds like how they're dying, fighting for oxygen, breathing heavy and turning dark. Do my levels seem high enough to cause that though?
If it was poison or a toxin they would die immediately right? I think the longest one made it 10 days.

I am skimming with a protien skimmer and having to empty it every two days because it fills up with yellow stuff. So there is definitely something in there to skim off, probably organics from the cichlids if I guess.

Never really used anything as far as medications go on the cichlids. Maybe a low dose of copper to treat a parasite, but that's about it. Nothing that should be this toxic though.
 
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Update:
First I want to thank all those who responded and offered advice for my damsel fish problems, next it want to say that I spent all of the rest of the day breaking down my wet dry filter (29 gal. aquarium) and scrubbing every bit of gunk left over from my previous sloppy cichlids. This should lower the ammonia a bit as the remaining 2 fish already look a lot less stressed and are breathing normally. This as well as redesigning the drip plate to rest on the lip of the 29 gallon aquarium/filter so I have even water trickle and added strength to the plastic plate.
Hopefully, tomorrow I can catch the damsels, return them to LFS and cycle fishless with cocktail shrimp as so many of you recommend.

Thanks again everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!!
 
I have to confess I find it pretty distasteful for people to treat damsels as disposable cycle fodder because they're 'just damsels'. You haven't mentioned filtration beyond a wet dry and a skimmer, but if you haven't tried it before I'd try live rock based filtration, it works very well, and is far easier to maintain than less natural alternatives.
 
Originally posted by mogurnda
Sounds like a great plan. Those two give excellent advice, don't they?
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Yes they do, and it comes much appreciated. Believe me when I say thanks. No one at any of my LFS would have even come close to this kind of attention to my problems and great advice.
One guy actually told me "hey, Damsels die - that's just what they do!" :rolleyes:
I had no intention to lose any of my damselfish from the start, anytime I lose a fish (any fish) I feel the failure.
 
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Originally posted by wayne
I have to confess I find it pretty distasteful for people to treat damsels as disposable cycle fodder because they're 'just damsels'. You haven't mentioned filtration beyond a wet dry and a skimmer, but if you haven't tried it before I'd try live rock based filtration, it works very well, and is far easier to maintain than less natural alternatives.
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I'm planning to go with a majority (if not all) Triggers once I get past the cycle, would they graze on the live rock?
I've also been thinking of investing in a nice size canister filter as well.
 
Triggers will appreciate live rock in many ways. They will crunch on it, but that's good--like many fish, they need to have crunchies to keep their teeth in shape. Also, most triggers like to hise sometimes, and the nooks, crannies and caves in live rock are ideal for this.

Be careful mixing triggers. I would really talk with MSL before purchase--many triggers will not play well together. Having a big tank will provide you with more options, but triggers are notorious for overnight personality changes that result in one live trigger and a bunch of corpses. MSL has had great luck picking fish that will work together, and can probably help you in that respect.
 
OnionGirl, your wealth of knowledge is so appreciated everytime you post a reply, I feel fortunate to have gotten your attention enough to get several helpful replys from you already. Thanks :D
Is it feasable to begin my cycle with the shrimp then add liverock after I cycle as I add triggers and such? And you're right, I started a trigger thread in the general forum which got several great suggestions and pics from MonoSebaelover who has a great trigger collection.
 
As to the rock question, it would work fine just be sure the rock you are buying is cured rather than uncured. Generally most rocks in fish stores are cured but all the ones over the internet will have to be cured. What would be best is to begin your cycle with the little uncured rock and the shrimp, just my opinion though. And when picking out rocks try to get some with some large holes in them because like OG said they love to make homes in them. All of my triggs except the Queens (they are too big for most of the live rock plus at their size they don't really need protection :) ) have their little homes and they protect them during the day too. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.
 
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