URGENT

[Kenny_Graham]

OK GUYS,

I listened and heard the word, but:

I've done everything wright after talking to everyone. I got my new 24 gallon Aqua Deluxe up and runnigg this morning. I moved all my live rock, sand, water out of my 55 gallon reef yesterday. All water test were very good.

Today I put in my six line wrasse, chaulk, strawberry pseudochrmis, fire goby, lawnmawer blenny, crabs & snails. Tonight all were dead. It appears the fire goby jumped into the filter and plugged it. The temperature was 82 degrees. I know I forgot to put a strainer on the pump. Any thoughts.

I still have some fish left in the 55. Some small. I hate to put in the blue damsels. Any thoughts.

This is getting costly..

[dsfdbutterfly]

Kenny,

It sounds like a possible mini cycle along with a temp rise. The fish blocking the filter may have also increased this possibility. Other than that I don't have a clue. As long as everything was washed out and taken care of even these small things shouldn't have killed them all so quickly. But the combination of it all may have sent it over the edge. You may want to start out a little slower. Add only one at a time and even if you think the water is the same acclimate them to the new tank water. Just food for thought as I'm not sure exactly what happened.

Angie

[mummra]

if you had a deep sand bed of any more than 2", then moving it and disturbing the bottom layers could have released both detrius and possibly sulfur compounds (both of these could have resulted in fish death) that are present when denitrification is present. disturbing sand beds with out washing it out and letting it dry is problamatic IME. i did not read if you had a DSB or not or if you washed out the sand but it is possible that it could have caused a mini cycle like Angie suggested.

[lReef lKeeper]

i could not have said it better myself guys. you never want to desturb a sandbed because of the exact reasons you are seeing now. when i moved mine over from the 2nd 55 to my wifes 29, i rinsed it madly in some extra saltwater before placing it in the new tank. it would probably help dramaticly if you used carbon and even a canister filter, to help clear up the problem.

[Kenny_Graham]

Thanks all, I think you may be write about the sand. I did wash it, but I didn't. dry the sand. What do you think I should do now. I hate to tear it all down now. The only fish I still have is 2 Blue Damsels, 2 Clowns and 2 large Coral Banded Shrimp. I heard that the Shrimps could start eating other fish as they mature?

[dsfdbutterfly]

Kenny,

I'm sorry you have to be going through this and that you have lost so much already. If I were you leave the tank and allow it to finish it's cycle. Since this was all sand from a previous tank it shouldn't take too long. However, it may take a few days for the levels to show you anything. I would cycle it for two weeks and check your levels. At that time I would do a 10% water change and make sure that nothing changes on you. How are you set up for cleaning? Do you have a skimmer and all that yet? If not than continue with a 10% water change each week. Start with the cheap stuff to make sure everything is cool. Add your cleanup crew in (little at a time if you like). Make sure that they survive before you add the fish. About the shrimp I have no idea. I only have a peppermint shrimp and he is pretty reef safe. Hope this helps.

Angie

[Kenny_Graham]

Thanks I'll try that also, I do have a fussion. For right now while there is nothing in the tank I also put on my Prisim and my 280. That ot to do it for now.

[RWalston]

How many fish did you add at one time. Do you thank that adding 5 fish at one time to a 24 gallon system was wise. Even though you took some sand and rock from a previous system that does not necessarily mean that it will be able to sustain the bio load you placed on it. You should have set up the new tank and let the parameters stabilized before adding any fish. You need to add 1 fish at a time say over a course of 1 fish a week to let the system come to terms with the load. When your fish jumped into the filter and died it started to decompose right away and the result was an even higher strain on the system. Sorry if I come across as being stern that is not the intent of this, just want to help you understand what happened so you can avoid it in the future. Just remember only bad things happen fast in this hobby.

Rich

[Whoyah]

Kenny,

I am sorry to say but many of us (if not all) have fallen victim to the same kind of thing. In the years that I have been doing this, I have unknowingly caused the death of many reef creatures and felt terrible for it. It is a hard lesson to learn but hopefully you take it and move forward and not make the same mistake.Patience and knowledge are some of the biggest keys to this hobby. One of the best thing about this forum, is the ability to ask questions and learn from other people mistakes. Good luck and keep trying. If I can do it, so can you.

[ramoth41]

Just a thought .... but do you have a fan? The temp could have caused the fire fish to jump (that and the pseudochromis!) Small tanks get hot because of all the lights ect! Fire fish are notroius jumpers I've had several leap out! Our nano was so hard to keep cool