There are times, however, when the parameters of your tank are pristine, but your fish still end up dying.
Fish are very sensitive to stress, sickness and even being moved around. It is common for most marine fish to either develop a fatal sickness while being transported to the local fish store, or pass away due to stress. The easiest way to determine this is to check your water. Make sure that your pH, alkalinity, nitrates and nitrites are all in the acceptable parameters. If this seems to be the case, then it's time to start looking at the fish themselves.
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Acclimation
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Acclimate your new fish to your aquarium water before letting them swim free. This is done emptying half of the water that came with the fish in the bag, and replacing it with water from your aquarium.
Once that is done, then float the bag in your tank for a minimum of 10 minutes. This will allow the water in the bag to match the temperature of the water in your tank. This will in turn make sure that your fish is not being placed in water that is too warm or too cold. This reduces the shock that the fish will endure by being placed in an unfamiliar environment. Once that ample amount of time has gone by, gently turn the bag upside down and let your fish "swim" out of the bag into your tank. Avoid dumping the fish out. Fish are hemophiliacs and even the slightest bruise could cause them to bleed internally.
Minimize Stress
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Quarantine any aggressive fish that you may have living in your tank before you introduce a new one.
This will eliminate the aggressive fish beating up on the new addition, until they can become familiar with their new surroundings. This will usually take a few hours. When transported, the fish's immune system weakens and causes it to stress. The best thing for your fish to do is to find a safe, welcomed hiding spot to hang out in. As the fish feels more at home it will hide less and start to explore the tank.
This can take as long as 24 hours. If you re-introduce your aggressive fish back into the tank, make sure you keep an eye on them. If the new fish is being attacked, you may have to separate them again.
Watch for Sickness
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Watch your new fish carefully, if you notice little white spots on the body of your new fish there is a good chance it has Ich. Ich is (Ichthyophthirius Multifilis) a common parasite that attacks fish and feeds off their skin and fluids. According to Kokos Goldfish website, the symptoms of Ich include; "Tiny white spots scattered over the fish like grains of salt, slimy skin due to heavy mucus layer, frequent rubbing or flicking against the substrate or ornaments, abnormal swimming behavior, breathing difficulties, lethargy and loss of appetite, fraying fins and/or cloudy eyes." If not treated early, Ich results in the death of your fish. Ich is also very contagious. If one fish has it, the others may get it, too. If you fish become sick with Ich, there is medication readily available at your local fish and pet store.
Tank Cleaning
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Maintain a healthy tank at all times. Change your water on a regular basis and make sure to clean out all filters pumps and other media with salt water only. On Average you should change out 20 percent of your water every two to three weeks. Also minimize over feeding. Food left uneaten in a tank can cause sulfate levels to rise, in essence poisoning your fish. Make sure you also use trace element and mineral supplements on a regular basis, too. Most local fish and pet stores will also offer fish vitamins or food rich in vitamins.
Be Proactive
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Take a proactive approach when it comes to your fish. Remember you are trying to mimic a natural reef in the comfort of your own home. There is going to be a learning curve. With time and practice your fish will not only stop dying, but they be healthy and thriving.
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