can't keep fish alive

[budmania68]

I've had my saltwater tank for a few years now, but still don't know that much. What should I use for cems ? I will have the fish for awhile, then they will die. Why I don't know ? One time my kids turned the heat up and cooked them, but besides that I have no clue. My tank is 55 gl the filter is a fluval 204, have 2 cuculatores in the tank,2 heaters 1 is on set at 70-73, Salinity is 36-Specific gavity1.027.(I know it's a bit high) Tire of lossing my fish every 6 months or so. I do take care of the tank the water is clare. What am I doing wrong please help.

[Hendersonracing]

1.027 is very high for a FO Tank IMO

but I don't think that is the reason for the deaths? what kind of pumps do you have in the water? mabe you don't have enough oxygen in the water? do you do water changes? mabe high Nitrites & nitrates? It could be several things..Please post a few pics of the tank & equipement so some of the Experts( Bill & Tom, ect.) can figure this out for you!

[VWD]

We need more information, Water changes how often, Do you test your water? how often and what test? Do you use carpet fresh or some other type cleaner near the tank? More info the better to help you

[Loverotties]

What are all the water paremetrs?

[depitch]

Yes,

More data is need to assess this problem.

You could have sky high Nitrates/ Ammonia levels.

What is actual tank Temp??

You said your heater is set for 70-73 degrees??

My FOWLR is at 79.5-80.5 Degrees.

[OneDummHikk]

Ironically, a friend here was losing fish as well. Everything else in the tank was doing awesome (corals included) but the fish were dying. The culprit ended up being a pump with a cracked housing that was introducing very very tiny microbubbles into the display and killing the fish. May not be your problem but something to consider if you run out of options.

[tellycoleman]

what kind of fish keeps dying.

[budmania68]

I've check the levels for the water every thing is good,ph7.8,salt salinity&sp gravity 32,nitrite02&3ammonia0.25. The temp is at 74, should it be higher? Also how important is adding air to the water? A few pepole replied and I thank tou all. I,m new to the site, just gettig things going, dont know how to do thing realy goodwith this page(reef tank),so be pation please thank you. SO I've had many fish eals groupers,lion,puffers. The ting is I'll keep then for awhile then they'll die? I change the water evevry 6 month or so. I clean the whole tank with just hot water,no cems. The fish lived through changes, they just die in buches? The most I had in the tank at once is 6 (55 gal). And keept them alive for 1 yr. I just got 3 new fish, 2 from someone(eal &?) ,a grouper(store) plus live rock for some one, never had them. I posted pictures on my page about my tank . Needed a clr # to post, no clue how yet . Please help if can. Thank you Jim

[motorslave]

Your ph is low

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by budmania68

I've check the levels for the water every thing is good,ph7.8,salt salinity&sp gravity 32,nitrite02&3ammonia0.25.

nitrite and ammonia should be at 0, but don't think that is the fish issue.

Originally Posted by budmania68

The temp is at 74, should it be higher? Also how important is adding air to the water?

Is it Fish Only or a Reef Tank? A reef tank should be in the 78-80 degree range.

Do NOT add air to the water using an air pump. The way oxygen should be added is through surface agitation of the water. If the surface of your tank is relatively still, add a powerhead and point it at the surface of the water so that it looks like running water (of sorts). That will do the oxygenation for you. Adding an air pump puts bubbles into the water instead of dissolved oxygen and it leads to my last post here about the bubbles and the problems it can cause.

Bubbles in a SW tank are bad.

Originally Posted by budmania68

A few pepole replied and I thank tou all. I,m new to the site, just gettig things going, dont know how to do thing realy goodwith this page(reef tank),so be pation please thank you. SO I've had many fish eals groupers,lion,puffers. The ting is I'll keep then for awhile then they'll die? I change the water evevry 6 month or so.

A water change every 6 months? That could be part of the problem. Try doing water changes once a month and see how your test parameters change and see how it helps your fish out.

Originally Posted by budmania68

I clean the whole tank with just hot water,no cems. The fish lived through changes, they just die in buches? The most I had in the tank at once is 6 (55 gal). And keept them alive for 1 yr. I just got 3 new fish, 2 from someone(eal &?) ,a grouper(store) plus live rock for some one, never had them. I posted pictures on my page about my tank . Needed a clr # to post, no clue how yet . Please help if can. Thank you Jim

If you clean with just water, the water needs to be the same temperature of the tank water. If the tank is at 72 degrees, then clean with 72 degree water.

If you are having them die off in bunches, and not sporadically, then it points to a problem that is building up over time and water changes are the beginning of the solution to that problem.

[budmania68]

thank you

[dobejazz]

It sounds like you are adding way to many big fish and nowhere near enough water changes to keep water quality up - also if I am reading correctly you are draining the tank every 6 months and washing it with hot water?

[johnmaloney]

You are probably starting the cycle again when you clean like that. No need to do all that. Every week or so just take out 10% of the water and add a new 10%. You are topping off right?