I just don't get it?!
i have a 20g SW tank that has been up and running since January. Some specs are 4.5" DSB, 35+# of LR, HOT refugium, 130w of 50/50 and 2 402 powehead facing the front glass. Water profile is T 78 -80degrees, sg of 1.023, ph 8.3, Ca 400, and no detectable N's. I add Kent Ca, Aragamilk, and coral vit.
Everything in the tank has pretty much been there since late Feb. when money got tight so we decided to slow down on developing this tank.
I have button polyps, xenia, various caulerpa, and coralline algae that all came in on the rocks and has thrived. I also have various hermit crabs,snails and 3 peppermint shrimp. I just feed formula 1.
However, since we started we have gone through 3 pairs of damsels and a cardinal. they always last 3 - 11 days. I always check the water and it reads the same. I have also tried changing my test kit brands. They all seem accurate!
Four times now we have attempted adding fish and are lucky if they last a week. I acclimate for 1 to 2hrs. Feed sparingly. only once has a damsel eaten, but the cardinal (our last attempt) Ate like crazy. Then one day, they just go belly up, blow around in the current and die.
how is it that I can have thriving reef tank that can't keep a fish alive?
i have a 20g SW tank that has been up and running since January. Some specs are 4.5" DSB, 35+# of LR, HOT refugium, 130w of 50/50 and 2 402 powehead facing the front glass. Water profile is T 78 -80degrees, sg of 1.023, ph 8.3, Ca 400, and no detectable N's. I add Kent Ca, Aragamilk, and coral vit.
Everything in the tank has pretty much been there since late Feb. when money got tight so we decided to slow down on developing this tank.
I have button polyps, xenia, various caulerpa, and coralline algae that all came in on the rocks and has thrived. I also have various hermit crabs,snails and 3 peppermint shrimp. I just feed formula 1.
However, since we started we have gone through 3 pairs of damsels and a cardinal. they always last 3 - 11 days. I always check the water and it reads the same. I have also tried changing my test kit brands. They all seem accurate!
Four times now we have attempted adding fish and are lucky if they last a week. I acclimate for 1 to 2hrs. Feed sparingly. only once has a damsel eaten, but the cardinal (our last attempt) Ate like crazy. Then one day, they just go belly up, blow around in the current and die.
how is it that I can have thriving reef tank that can't keep a fish alive?