Our Dead Sea is a beautifully custom made 180-gallon fish tank displayed in our lobby. It doesn’t keep fish alive.

When I started working here in April 2011, it was just a tank with sand rocks on the bottom. No fish, no nothing. I had wondered what the deal was, but never asked. I had later found out that the fish tank had been having problems, namely fish just kept dying. They had completely redid the entire tank, moved it to a new location and started fresh.

One day we got lifeless decorations of bleached corals and plain shells. A couple weeks later we got fish! A small number of Damsels that within days became Damsels-in-Distress, and a few eventually died. Out of 8 total Damsels, we had 3 that were surviving troopers and goin’ strong.

Weeks went by without another Damsel death green-lighting the OK to add more fish. I came in on a Monday to find a Lion Fish, and a Yellow Puffer. The Lion Fish was smooth, confident and beautiful enhancing our Dead Sea with grace.  The Yellow Puffer was a squashy, ugly yellow dog of a fish. He was clumsy. He was amusing. He was adorable. He made you love him wagging his tail, opening his mouth as if barking, and darting to food as fast as lightening.

Out with the old, in with the new, we switched our saltwater specialist. He brought us new found hope for our Dead Sea, a protein skimmer and live rock! The live rock is a permanent fixture, never to come out or change around. Unlike the bleached corals, it grows things, has color and is supposed to be better for the tank.

Our office enjoyed the 3 Damsels, the Lion Fish, and the Yellow Puffer… The blue damsel loved to be in his own corner of the tank. The two yellow Damsels played tag all day long. The Lion Fish swam elegantly around. And, Puffy McGrew, our Yellow Puffer glowed with his personality.

Two months down the road, Puffy McGrew was not himself swimming lethargically around the tank and he stopped eating. We gave him fish medicines, and eventually untangled him from the Dead Sea’s death grip. Far too soon he got sick again with blurry eyes and flinging himself against the rocks, and tank with labored breathing. With great sadness he swam into a rock cave and died.

Without another fish death for a couple weeks, with the exception of a missing blue Damsel whom we think was enjoyed as a snack by the Lion Fish, we were cleared once again to add more fish. Having a taste of Damsel, the Lion fish promptly enjoyed a meal of the 6 that were brought. We happily welcomed a Harlequin Tuskfish and a Trigger Fish. Although, they brought life and color to our Dead Sea, it felt empty without our beloved Yellow Puffer.

Without fail, or known cause the Dead Sea lived up to its name with the Trigger and then the Harlequin Tuskfish dying. Weeks later, the Dead Seas unrelenting face showed again taking our last hero, the Lion Fish. It was shocking and most of all frustrating.

Our newest saltwater mortician specialist has done numerous testing and water changes. We’ve even done some research ourselves. Everyone is at a loss as to why our fish do not stay alive in the Dead Sea. We tried again to overcome its darkness with a damaged Purple Tang, our saltwater specialist brought in. It was dead in less than a week.

We have 2 remaining yellow Damsels in the Dead Sea. Although discouraged, we will keep trying. We will be adding more small but hardy Damsels soon, so stay tuned for the continuing demise of the Dead Sea…