Good Morning,
My son wanted a salt water tank for his birthday so we recently started this hobby.
I setup and maintained a 80 gallon saltwater tank for just under 10 years from 2002-2011. I then had thousands of Tilapia for 3-4 years before the business was bought out. Fortunately I had no problems with either to report. My sons story is very different.
During the first week of November we got a 10 gallon tank to house 2 Green Chromis' while acclimating his water. The fish went in on day 2 and died 3 days later. We used distilled water, InstaReef salt, 5 pounds of live rock, NiteOut 2, and the normal equipment for 10 gallon tanks. They were eating well (PE 1mm pellets) and active. The fish were already not guaranteed and the store told us our salt level was fluctuating too much in a 10 gallon tank with evaporation. I tested salinity at 1.023, then adjusted down a bit. We then got a clownfish to put in the tank at about day 10.
On day 48, we bought 2 more fish, a sea urchin, a Serpent Star fish and a refractometer. All fish are very small and the intention was to move up to larger tank. With in 2 days our Ruby Red Drogonet died. We took it to the store and they asked us to bring a vial of water. They tested the vial for Nitrites and then used the same water to test salt level on the refractometer. They said the salt level was so high it couldn't be measured and said we killed this fish by burning the gills. This was odd since I had always used a buoyancy meter with no issue but now was also using a refractometer. I tested salinity at 1.022 before the visit and when we got home. I then tested with the nitrite solution in some water and the salt level jumped about .010 so I knew the store was full of it.
We have been alternating 1 daily feeding of brine shrimp and PE pellets
In the past 2 days we set up a 30 gallon tank with NiteOur2. I pulled the fish and transferred the 10 gallon tank water over and acclimated the fish with a drip line for 3 hours. While transferring the clownfish we noticed one eye looked hazed. Today the clownfish looks like it is losing scales and the tips of the fins look bad but he is eating well. Is this ick or a sign that the salt was too high at some point?
Thanks in advance for the knowledge this community has!
My son wanted a salt water tank for his birthday so we recently started this hobby.
I setup and maintained a 80 gallon saltwater tank for just under 10 years from 2002-2011. I then had thousands of Tilapia for 3-4 years before the business was bought out. Fortunately I had no problems with either to report. My sons story is very different.
During the first week of November we got a 10 gallon tank to house 2 Green Chromis' while acclimating his water. The fish went in on day 2 and died 3 days later. We used distilled water, InstaReef salt, 5 pounds of live rock, NiteOut 2, and the normal equipment for 10 gallon tanks. They were eating well (PE 1mm pellets) and active. The fish were already not guaranteed and the store told us our salt level was fluctuating too much in a 10 gallon tank with evaporation. I tested salinity at 1.023, then adjusted down a bit. We then got a clownfish to put in the tank at about day 10.
On day 48, we bought 2 more fish, a sea urchin, a Serpent Star fish and a refractometer. All fish are very small and the intention was to move up to larger tank. With in 2 days our Ruby Red Drogonet died. We took it to the store and they asked us to bring a vial of water. They tested the vial for Nitrites and then used the same water to test salt level on the refractometer. They said the salt level was so high it couldn't be measured and said we killed this fish by burning the gills. This was odd since I had always used a buoyancy meter with no issue but now was also using a refractometer. I tested salinity at 1.022 before the visit and when we got home. I then tested with the nitrite solution in some water and the salt level jumped about .010 so I knew the store was full of it.
We have been alternating 1 daily feeding of brine shrimp and PE pellets
In the past 2 days we set up a 30 gallon tank with NiteOur2. I pulled the fish and transferred the 10 gallon tank water over and acclimated the fish with a drip line for 3 hours. While transferring the clownfish we noticed one eye looked hazed. Today the clownfish looks like it is losing scales and the tips of the fins look bad but he is eating well. Is this ick or a sign that the salt was too high at some point?
Thanks in advance for the knowledge this community has!
Last edited:
