Angelfishes died

Question
QUESTION: Hi Renee.  You've helped me before with a different problem, so let's see what we can do with this.  I started a new 37g Marineland Eclipse 3 on January 19.  I used CaribSea Instant Aquarium gravel which I have used before with success.  After three days of running the new aquarium empty, I added six angelfish.  I tested before I added the angels, and showed no ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc. which is exactly what the gravel maker states, that the gravel provides a cycled aquarium instantly with the addition of the bacteria packets.  That was 6 days ago.  All the angels are dead or missing.  I found three of them sucked up on the intake of the filter and the other three are MIA.  I'm broken hearted because I continue to lose fish in each of my two aquariums for different reasons.  I'm determined not to give up though.  The aquarium still tests clean.  Why could all of them gone down so quickly?  I'm a little shaky tonight so if I have left out anything, just ask.  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hello again Patricia,

How horrifying to find your fish dead. I will do my best to help you with this.

What is the PH of your water?

Hardness?

Please let me know.  This might be your issue, also, if you keep losing fish, it is a water issue.  

Instead of tap water, this next time you put fish in, go to the fill station in a store and purchase water.  Save up some empty gallon jugs and spend the money on the water and use that to fill the tank with.  If there is an issue with your well water or tap water, then it will combat that and the fish will do good in it.

I'd like to see more readings, however.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-provide-ideal-water-for-angelfish.html is an excellent artiicle and it tackles the water requirements.  He also suggests using water from a fill station such as R/O water.  It's all I use and I swear by it.  Especially when fish keep dying or having issues and you are pretty sure it's not the system or the care by the owner.

Having read your upkeep before, I am relatively sure it's not you. It has to be water from your tap causing this situation.  Even treated water can still cause issues.

When you can, could you give me the readouts and no need to do so if you take them and see that they are off.  This would be the cause of their deaths.

If it's not the cause, we should take a look at where you are purchasing them and their sizes.  You'd want to purchase very healthy angelfish.  Sizes for purchase should be juvenile, but not too small...smaller = less likely to survive in a newer system.

Even an aquarium which has pre-cycled gravel will indeed spike and go through a small cycle.  It's pretty normal.  I do not, however, think it's the cause of your fish dying.

There may be one more issue.  Heating.  What degree are they being kept at?  

Patricia, can you send me a photo of your setup?  Perhaps something will stand out and/or prehaps it's your drinking water in your area.  It may be way too hard or way too soft for the angelfish.

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.  My PH is reading 7.8 and hardness is 300.  This is tap water.  I went and located a fill station, but I have concerns.  I'm middle aged and handicapped.  It is a strain to fill gallon jugs from the tap and I will need so much more at one time for a 20g, 14g and 37g.  Any easy ways to do this?  I have been buying some bottled distilled water occasionally.  Is this the same and do I save money at the fill station?  Also, the fish were dime to nickel sized.  I worried about that when I bought them from Petsmart.  I want to do a water change ang get more angels.  Would changing 20% and refilling with distilled water help?  Can't send a photo as I'm not terribly computer literate but I have pebble gravel and artificial plants with an Eclipse 3 biowheel hood.  Aquarium is 29 wide, 12 deep and 20 tall.  What now?  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Patricia,

I'm also disabled, middle-aged...so I know your quandry.  I take someone to assist me with carrying and doing the bottles.  I take five gallon blue bottles, paying to fill one at a time.  Far cheaper than going through a company.

I would indeed change all the water if you can.  I believe the problems are PH related and I do not recommend a PH down product.  In your area, PH is going to be too high for angelfish if you don't use the R/O water.

I would recommend changing all the water and starting with a fresh system of clean, crystal PH proper water.  The good thing is you just keep a five gallon bottle handy from there forward, filled with water, and use that to refill as the tank goes down, and to do water changes.  It won't cost that much everytime.  Just this time.  You may use 4 bottles a month, at most, for your tank.  2 to do 5 gallon water changes every other week and 2 to use as refills as the tank evaporates a bit.

I hope this helps. :)

Renee