RO water killing my fish?!

[i found nemo]

I need some professional opinions here on what has been going on with my tank. I know I have been in terrible need of new filters for my RO/DI system for a while now, because I have not changed them since I have owned the unit. Money has been tight and I haven't been able to come up with the extra cash. After months of pleading (and saving), I finally convinced my hubby to let me buy a whole new RO system and it came yesterday. I got it from Air Water and Ice and I opted for the drinking water/reef system combo. I got the free TDS meter with my order and of course the reading coming out of the new unit is 0. I did my weekly water top off the night before last with my old unit and yesterday I lost three fish. Also lost one last week. This is after losing two about two months ago. I tested the water coming out of the old unit and it is 046!!!! Straight from the faucet it reads 057. All of my corals and inverts are fine, and the only surviving fish are clowns and a damsel that are impossible to kill if I tried. I'm 99% sure the old filters are the problem, but want to confirm with the experts here. I'm so frustrated I'm about to give this hobby up at this point! Also what do I do to get this under control and not lose anything else?

 

[heathlindner25]

I'm not sure what's killing your fish, but if you're worried about it do a couple water changes with the new unit.

 

[dhmx220]

I don' think it's the Rodi unit, I use tapwater in my fish only tank, with a TDS of 37, no problem.

 

[i found nemo]

Strange!! I thought for sure this was the culprit?!

Edit: What confuses me is why the fish are dying instead of corals? I would think frogspawn, monti, and acans would be more sensitive than the fish. Two of the fish were green chromis and thought they were supposed to be pretty hardy?

 

[heathlindner25]

are you running a skimmer? maybe low oxygen.

 

[mrflameangel]

Good thought Heath.

I would have a complete set of test ran for your water. Either you, another reefer or a sponsor. Just make sure they are a good test kit. After you collect the water I would do at least 2 water changes one that day and the other the next day.

I don't believe the old ro unit is the cause. I would think some unknown contaminate could have been the problem. Or could you have moved rock or sand around in the tank the day before or moments prior to the deaths?

 

[i found nemo]

heathlindner25;886347 wrote: are you running a skimmer? maybe low oxygen.

Yes I am running a skimmer and it is working like it should.

 

[heathlindner25]

Poly-filter when in doubt, I don't know if testing your waters going to find the culprit

 

[i found nemo]

MrFlameangel;886348 wrote: Good thought Heath.

I would have a complete set of test ran for your water. Either you, another reefer or a sponsor. Just make sure they are a good test kit. After you collect the water I would do at least 2 water changes one that day and the other the next day.

I don't believe the old ro unit is the cause. I would think some unknown contaminate could have been the problem. Or could you have moved rock or sand around in the tank the day before or moments prior to the deaths?

I did a complete water test myself when I lost the fish 2 months ago and all was fine then. I think I will take it and have it tested somewhere though. I haven't moved anything at all, only scooped the dead fish out which were floating in the front of the tank.

 

[mrflameangel]

Lets just say every level was spot on. The next thing I would look at is something may have been introduced to the water, hand lotion, some type of smell good in a can or my wife's is the worst at spraying Lysol. Lets just say she is very careful with that now.

 

[heathlindner25]

MrFlameangel;886357 wrote: Lets just say every level was spot on. The next thing I would look at is something may have been introduced to the water, hand lotion, some type of smell good in a can or my wife's is the worst at spraying Lysol. Lets just say she is very careful with that now.

yeah I get out of a lot of cleaning the house with my tank" baby I can't use that I'm about to put my hands in my tank"..lol

 

[mrflameangel]

heathlindner25;886360 wrote: yeah I get out of a lot of cleaning the house with my tank" baby I can't use that I'm about to put my hands in my tank"..lol

Don't say that to loud cause its still working with my wife. Lol