tank of dead fish & critters

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FoxFire110

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 22, 2010
147
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New Hampshire, USA
two of my teenagers upgraded from a 37 to a 55 gallon sw fo
They bought new sand with the bio in it as they wanted to replace the old sand because it was crushed shell sand and they were afraid that it would injure their critters. They filled the tank up, transfereing 1/2 the water from 37 into the 55, they used the fuval filter from the 37. salintiy was same in both tanks, temp the same. They used water conditioner Amquel plus and due to some misunderstanding the entire bottles was used (mistake was not caught till later). The fish were put into the 55
An hour later and 17 saltwater fish and critters are dead.

The 55: - 37
PH - 8.6 - 8.0
Alk - 3.6 - 2.8
GH 180 - 120
KH 240 - 180
nitrate 0 - 0
nitrite 0 - 0
ammonia 0 - 0


yes, I know and they know they should have tested their waters parameters first, they were so eager to see them in the new tank and assumed the water would be the same as it was from the same source.

they can't undo it and are heart broken over their pets deaths.

wondering if the big difference in parameters due to the excess AmQuel Plus
or ?

what would be the best way for them to fix the tank?

Any advice or ideas would be great
 
i would assume it was the water conditioner. and what you did well, its kind of like doing a massive water change. cuz think, half of 37 is about 18-19 gallons. thats about a 60% water change that you did and immediatly added fish. did you acclimate from one tank to the other?
 
Well several scenarios come to mind the water they used was not cleaned good enough or wasn't rid of all metals and so fourth. Also the fish if were just put right in a new tank regardless that all temp. was the same and 1/2 of old tank water was transfered they could have been shocked to bad since not properly acclimated and the stress made them pass. What type of water did they use tap? and Amquel to treat it correct? how old was the other tank?

mr.reef24
 
They used our well water, its what was in both tanks, no heavy metals or chlorine is in it. They used 20 gallons from the 37, it was a little over 6 months old.
No they did not acclimate them from one to the other assuming the water was the
same. Bad choice, yes
My guess was shock but never having messed with saltwater I figured I'd ask people that had, not sure if the excess AmQuel plus could be the culprit or a combo of both.

Opinions, susgestions and ideas are really appericiated

Thanks
 
The amquel isnt going to be an issue.

The difference in ph and disolved carbonates came from the new saltwater that was mixed and then added.

The deaths likely came about from improper acclimation techniques, because the parameters from either tank are good, imo.
 
The pH going from an 8.0 to an 8.6 is probably the biggest thing I see so far.
Should have done a 50% change on the 37 gallon, and used that water to start filling the new 55 gallon. Then fill the rest of the 55 and let it run awhile to stabilize. Let the 55 run for two weeks, then look at water chemistry. Nitrate @ zero says the tank isn't cycled yet. Curious that there isn't nitrate in the 37 gallon.
 
That is a shame. I think the acclimation or lack thereof and the massive amout of amquel must have been the issue. I would have tried to have the 55 run for a while, like a week, but at least a day or two. The fish died within the hour so there must have been something pretty off and from what you describe it must have been the amquel.
 
it is a damn shame, for the fish and the kids. they had been buying little fish one at a time, with their own money, Saved enough and purchased the new tank.
We drained the 55 as much as possible, filled it, drained it again, refilled it, drained it then filled again. They added 40 pounds new live rock, a conditioner and a liquid bacteria. Running the filter from the 37 with the same medium in it
what should they do if anything to the tank before adding a fish or two?
 
yes the sand was all scooped in one corner then the other a couple of times. the took the other live rock out.

the new live rock is full of things one was for sure a 3 inch fire worm, the other couple of things i've not figured out yet. Is it normal to get all these extra stuff when purchasing live rock?
I know the fire worm is a bad thing but what about all these other creepy things? should they return the rock to the lfs? ugh really starting to regret the day "I said sure you can switch to saltwater
 
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