Why are my Fish Dying in my Saltwater Tank?

The salinity of the water for saltwater aquariums are- pH levels, filtration efficiency, and other quality issues must be maintained within ideal levels. If any one of the parameters that the fish cannot tolerate they die. Most fish can tolerate a range of temperatures in the tank, but sudden or dramatic temperature changes can cause stress, which will make the fish more susceptible to illness or death. If your fish were already stressed out, sick, or in poor condition before being introduced into a tank, even the best aquarium conditions may not keep them alive. So always checking and daily maintenance of the fish tank is important for healthy fish.

Cause of Sudden Death of Saltwater Fish

Following are reasons saltwater fish dying in tank-

  • When you see your fish is healthy and then suddenly all dies, it means it is due to environmental poisoning.
  • When the level of Ammonia or nitrite is high or pH levels and extreme temperatures can kill your fish.
  • Check equipment for failures like pumps, heaters, aerators, etc. If the heater is defective it can cause the water temperature to drop to unsafe levels.
  • Always avoid hand lotions and soap while placing your hand in the aquarium water or handling fish foods that will go into the tank.
  • Poor water conditions- Whenever the tank has bad water or the quality of water is not suitable for the fish's health. It leads to their death.

Prevention

  • Always change water slowly, swapping only small quantities at a time and waiting 2-3 days so that fish can acclimate to gradual chemistry changes.
  • Check the tank heater for proper function daily, and position the tank away from anything that might affect its temperatures, such as heating or cooling vents, sunny windows, or draughty areas.
  • Always wash your hands with unscented, non-antibacterial soap before reaching into the water for any reason.
  • Plan a strict feeding schedule and do not deviate from that schedule adjust feeding quantities until the fish consume all the food in 1-2 min, do not feed them extra.