Problems with a new tank

[richardiv87]

I set my tank up around a month ago...all was going well, the tank had cycled (albeit quickly), and I went off to get my first fish...nothing fancy, just some damsels. Three of them. Lost all within 36 hours. OK, let the tank stand for a couple more weeks, and got another 2 - 1 left and healthy, the other not lasting very long - maybe 72 hours. This weekend, I went to get another damsel...lasted less than 24 hours. Whats going on?

More info...had a lot of shrooms growing, but have since died off since the living damsel has been present. Used to have some purplish tree like things also, now died off. Shrimp have come and gone (from the rock). Jellyfish have come and gone (from the rock also). Lots of algae on the rock and sand. Large amount of brown algae taking over the tank, which started a week ago...about a week after the living damsel took place. Worms and feather dusters still going strong. Starfish have come and gone (all from lr).

I added about 5 gallons of treated tap water with salt to top up the tank whilst the one living damsel was there...needed the salt due to salt creep.

Stats of the tank:
55gal
4.5" sand bed (now live, previously not)
80lbs figi lr
Salinity: 1.024
Temp: 76
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 15ppm
pH 8.2 - 8.3
No skimmer
No powerhead although the filter is doing rather a good job of moving water
Filter does have carbon in it.

At this point, seeing as though I seem to be having great difficulty sustaining any life, should I attempt to recycle the tank (thinking using the shrimp method), or other? If other - what is the other?

 

[OrionGirl]

Have the test results verified by the LFS. Check the tank for current (though you'd likely feel it if it was a significant problem. I think I recall asking about acclimation--but review that carefully as well. It's possible that the store keeps fish at a much lower salinity, and a sudden change to higher salinity conditions can be a problem. Any wounds or injuries on the dead fish? Any odd behavior prior to death, like flashing, darting to the surface, gasping, etc?

 

[TAFKARojo]

was the live rock cured? Uncured live rock can have some serious die back when added to water. Any hitchhickers could have died in the shipping process, meaning you would have a wealth of dying organisms in your tank. And as youre probably aware if you let something rot in your tank it produces a lower water quality but can be remedied with time filtration and water changes. I would also think about getting a couple power heads in there for water movement and a skimmer. Other than that you've got a good amount of sand and live rock, where did you get it from and how much did you pay for it.

I'm still new to the hobby but spend all my free time on it so take my opinion for what its worth but that's what it sounds like to me.

 

[richardiv87]

Acclimation about 2 hours...learned that lesson the hard way.

Think my wife said the latest fish may have had a chunk out of the side - would another smaller damsel do that, or more likely to have hit itself on a rock? No known behavior issues.

Sand from the loacal Home Depot - $2.97 for 50lbs. Still have 50lbs that I couldnt use (there's always the next tank). LR from two places, 20 lbs from my lfs @ 6.99/lb (less 20% discount - in there so much they know exactly what fish we have), and 60lbs from the Hidden Reef in Philadelphia for 3.79/lb. Both uncured at the time. Both Figi rock. Would have thought that the uncured rock would produce ammonia from the rotting things, but all of that is gone.

Also, cannot find the latest damsel! Just have one again I guess.

 

[OrionGirl]

The only other thing I can think of is that you ended up with one of the nastier sea slugs, and it released toxic chemicals when it died? I've never heard of this happening, but it's a possibility. Try running some carbon for a week--the toxins wouldn't be detectable by any hobbyist test kits, would be lethal, but I would expect them to break down quickly.

 

[richardiv87]

Well I found the other damsel...dead. The problem is that its so far under the rock that I would have to take the tank apart just to get to it (and ruining all of the stuff thats there). As I decided previously, time to recycle the tank, so I'll just leave the fish there for now. Should be gone soon anyway.