Some fish just not acclimating to my tank and disapearing, WHY

[JLAudio]

Some fish just not acclimating to my tank and disapearing, WHY?

All my paramaters are in check, only have like 8 fish in my 110 gallon, but I introduce new fish and some tend to just stay behind the rock and never acclimate, and I never see them again.

There doesnt appear to be an agressive bully, all my current members and corals look good, so why?

Only paramater which was off was ph, it was 8.8 on Aquarium Pharmaceuticals test, could this be the culprit? And my Phosphates at 1.0 instant ocean test (just bought reactor from JD aquatics, thanks master and house) Or my existing lifestock? Is it just part of the reefing game?

My current members:
2 Yellow tangs
1 hippo
1 coris wrasse M
1 fairy wrasse
2 GS maroon clown
1 mandarin

Fish I introduced currently missing or not acclimating or swimming and feeding:
Large fairy wrasse
pair fire fish
yellow goby

 

[masterswimmer]

You're welcome!

The high phosphates won't affect your fish acclimating. It's not good for algae though.

The high pH is certainly a possibility. Your current fish are already 'acclimated' to it being that high. You should really lower it. It isn't healthy that high.

The new fish, if they are acclimated VERY SLOWLY over a few hours might be able to make it through the high pH. But acclimation could be difficult because of it.

Also, when you introduce a new fish into a new tank and don't change the rockwork (most people don't rearrange the aquascape when adding new fish, but it helps) you should at least have the lights out. It gives the new fish a little protection and evens the playing field a bit.

Work on the pH. I think your success rate will increase.

swimmer

 

[Bob 1000]

If it's jumpers...I mean wrasse, that's your answer...

 

[ellebelle]

Also, you have some pretty aggressive fish in there already. Firefish and yellow clown gobies are super docile and they could have been bullied. Also, the coris wrasse or the other fairy wrasse could have bullied the new wrasse you added. Hard to say.

 

[caad3]

Sometimes Helps - Add a mirror inside or outside tank

I read this article and it actually helped when I introduced some new fish. I bought some small mirrors (magnet based school locker mirrors) added it to the corner and the front of my tank. It seemed that the bully's didn't like seeing somebody who looked like them. So they spent most of their time attacking/bullying the mirror and not my new additions.

 

[KathyC]

I agree that your PH is too high. What are all of your parameters? Something is keeping your PH up that high.

How recently were the missing fish added?

 

[JLAudio]

wrasse was added 10 days ago, fire fish and gobies last week. They may very well be alive, just seem to be taking a while to acclimate. I noticed my ph getting high once I started adding ESV, bionic solution, ALK and calcium

Should, I use a buffer to get it down, or just do the old faithful solution, up water changes and stop adding B-ionic?

 

[KathyC]

A buffer keeps things where they are..so a resounding NO to that question!

A water change can't hurt..a few of them over successive days will help even more.

Please tell me you are testing for all of the different things you are adding to your system!! A lot of that stuff is duplicates of each other - are you adding them all???? How much of what?
Stop the additions until you get a handle on all of your parameters. Then test first and ONLY add what is necessary!

 

[meschaefer]

wrasse was added 10 days ago, fire fish and gobies last week. They may very well be alive, just seem to be taking a while to acclimate. I noticed my ph getting high once I started adding ESV, bionic solution, ALK and calcium

Should, I use a buffer to get it down, or just do the old faithful solution, up water changes and stop adding B-ionic?

Either I am reading this wrong or you are are double dosing, if not triple dosing Alk and Clacium.

What are their levels, and what are you using to test them?

 

[JLAudio]

Im just adding the b-ionic calcium and alkalinity at the daily reccomended dose and a fish solution product to give it some other essential minerals. Thats it. I try and do 5 gallons of water changes a week.

I havent tested calcium in a month or so, but was at 400 last I checked, and alk was 3 mEq/l (If memory serves)

Im going to stop dosing tank with B-ionic, and test calcium, alk, and ph again tommorow

 

[Paul B]

I have had dozens of firefish and all of them I lost by them jumping out especially with agressive fish, but they will jump out for no apparent reason also. Yellow clown gobies are tough to keep also. I have a few but I have to hatch brine shrimp every day to keep them alive. They don't usually eat many normal foods. He may be dead behind a rock.
I don't think there is anything wrong with your water just your choice of fish.
Good luck.
Paul

 

[JLAudio]

This is what ive been thinking paul, but the loss of the large fairy wrasse really irritates me. Partially because Ive been so successful with wrasses in my tank, he was soo expensive and large and stunning. The other wrasses didnt pay him any mind and he was eating a little at first, then just went behind the rocks and that the last ive seen him, probably about 5 days ago

 

[Deanos]

This is what ive been thinking paul, but the loss of the large fairy wrasse really irritates me. Partially because Ive been so successful with wrasses in my tank, he was soo expensive and large and stunning. The other wrasses didnt pay him any mind and he was eating a little at first, then just went behind the rocks and that the last ive seen him, probably about 5 days ago

I've had the same thing happen. Went into the rocks and never showed up again :sad2:

 

[JLAudio]

I guess its just part of the game (damn expensive game!) Well imma get my ph perfect and phosphates already working down, so I can at least say my water is perfect, and dont have to feel guilty