why did my DAMSELS die

Question
Hi,
I just purchased a 28 gal quad nano fish aquarium. I bought live rocks and live sand. The live was cured and I let it set 24 hours and cleaned it with a tooth brush as directed by one of the store retailers. The live rock did not have an odor when I purchased it. I brought some water to be tested to the store and everything was fine. The guy test for everything in the water. He said everything was fine and I could add the fish 2 Allen damsels. Well 2 days later they were dead, they hid behind the live rocks and died together I guess they were side by side. What happen did something kill them from the rock. I set them in the water in the plastic bag that I purchased them in. I was told to pour half of the water out every 10 min. add a cup of the aquarium water and do this 3 consecutive times, then get a fish net dip fish out of the bag and place them in the aquarium and throw remaining water out. I'm about ready to change the tank into a fresh water tank. I've spent approximately $600.00 and I can't keep a fish over 2 days. This is discussing

Answer
Regina,

Sorry to hear about your problems...  The people at the fish store did not help you the way they should have... and it is that problem wthroughout our hobby that is trule a disserevice to you and other customers as well as the wildlife that you and i seem to want to try to help...

There is zero chance that a tank that is two days old can keep fish a live... especially when the person has little to no experience and information to help...

Basically, there is a process to setting up and keepign aquariums... fresh water and salt water alike... the processes and lingo and goals are different, but they both need to be followed...


For a salt water aquarium, the first six months is kind of difficult, and not for the uninformed...  You really need to learn a bunch of stuff, and be able to do a bunch of stuff... after the first six months or so, things get a lot easy, and you may forget a lot of what you learned...

During this first few months, there are things that need to be accomplished to be able to sustain fish and critters... also during that period you will practice the 'routines' of maintenance that must be done periodically...  but during the first month or two, you can proactice them without worry as usually folks/you dont put fish and critters at risk...

basically this is the 'cycling' period...

during this period, the tank is doing things chemically, and organically, at the same time, you are going through the motions of maintenance and not risking the fish, since there shouldnt be anything in the tank during that time...

I dont want to detail the entire process, as i am not sure you want or are prepared to hear it now...  IT would be best if you could read a little on 'setting up a saltwater aquarium'  (search term), and then asking me more specific and detailed questions that you might not understand...

please revew the articls at www.reefkeeping.com  and at   www.about.com    or anywhere really...


if you would like to post more questions at my new forum at www.thelittleocean.com   you will be able to get information form lots of other reef keeper and myself...

good luck and dont switch to fresh water yet... give us a chance first...hehehe


bill