Please help, losing fish

[lees]

Closed tops don't allow for gas exchange. Sounds like you got some kinda bacterial or viral infection. Any new fish added lately.

 

[bobz]

I would also test the new salt water mix to make sure there are no problems with it, just to eliminate it as a possible source of the problems. It stinks but sometimes one fish dying is enough to start a chain reaction that takes hold of a tank. I'd try and get the clown out of the tank if you can. I think it decaying would cause more stress than trying to remove it, unless you have a tremendous clean up crew that can elimimate it quickly.

 

[legalreefer]

No new fish lately. I did get some nasarius (sp) snails two weeks ago. I guess it could be time to do minor aquascaping/rearanging.

 

[legalreefer]

bobz;313554 wrote: I would also test the new salt water mix to make sure there are no problems with it, just to eliminate it as a possible source of the problems. It stinks but sometimes one fish dying is enough to start a chain reaction that takes hold of a tank. I'd try and get the clown out of the tank if you can. I think it decaying would cause more stress than trying to remove it, unless you have a tremendous clean up crew that can elimimate it quickly.

Do you mean test for everything before it is mixed with the tank's water? It is too late for that. It was the last bit of salt in the bag. I have been using that bag now for a few months. I assume it doesnt have a shelf life.

 

[lees]

Do you have a QT? I remember back when I lost a dottyback and a clown within about 2 days of each other. Moved my sickest fish into QT and treated both tanks with Pimafix and Melafix. These are all natural extracts made by API that treat fungal and bacterial infections. It says they are safe for invertebrates and I had no losses during treatment. I'm not advocating treating your tank or fish without knowing what is wrong,just sharing my experience. The more I know now I think I had Brooklynella. This can kill fish in a matter of hours. I believe it is similar to Ich in appearance. You may notice tiny white spots on your fish or excessive slime coat. Usually when the symptoms appear it's too late.

 

[legalreefer]

Nope, no QT and a little bit of slime coat. Im not excluding that, but dont all fish get a slime coat when they die?

 

[lees]

I noticed the slime coat on my clown just before he died. Never seen anything on the dottyback though it just went missing and found under a rock. Do you have any overly aggressive fish that could be doing this

 

[legalreefer]

No. My LFS says it could be the damsel. But he swims around with them all. No aggression what so ever towards fish that arent damsels.

 

[lees]

IDK? maybe send JennM a pm . She would probably be able yo help you out. Probably the most knowledgeable person I know fishwise

 

[ralph atl]

Barbara;313618 wrote: Don't be discouraged. How long have you been doing saltwater? My first saltwater was also a 55 (that I had converted from my chilid tank). I didn't have a sump either, and was running a Seaclone 100 as a hang on back skimmer.

Don't give up. Stuff happens sometimes. Take a breath, go slow, do as much study and research as possible. I know this is discouraging, but most of us have been through something like this (although not exactly the same, but we can sympathize).

so true........................do any of your fish have spots on them? White or black like salt or pepper?

 

[xyzpdq0121]

LeeS;313564 wrote: The more I know now I think I had Brooklynella. This can kill fish in a matter of hours. I believe it is similar to Ich in appearance. You may notice tiny white spots on your fish or excessive slime coat. Usually when the symptoms appear it's too late.

Just to correct you, Brook and Ich look VERY different from eachother. You could say that ich and velvet look simular (athought not really) but Brrok looks like cotton patches and problems with the coat while Ich looks like pimples or salt on the skin. Not to be a jerk, just do not want people thinking one thing over the other.

Here is a picture of Brook:

 

[lees]

Thanks Brandon.

 

[jesspete]

Do check your new water for more than just salinity. You want to make sure the params of the new water are close to the tank water. salinity, temp, pH, etc. I didn't know to do that for the longest time. We just mixed and dumped!

 

[xyzpdq0121]

LeeS;313703 wrote: Thanks Brandon.

NP, I did not want it to come off like I was being a pompous jerk. Just trying to correct the info out there. It does remind me that I need to find time to finish rewriting my Ich stuff and get the new brook research out there before Brook "season" hits again.

 

[jesspete]

Just mentioned this in another thread, but are you testing your water change water for pH, ammonia, salinity, temp, etc? They should match current tank conditions (well, except ammonia)

 

[lees]

Xyzpdq0121;313729 wrote: NP, I did not want it to come off like I was being a pompous jerk. Just trying to correct the info out there. It does remind me that I need to find time to finish rewriting my Ich stuff and get the new brook research out there before Brook "season" hits again.

No I didn't take it that way at all. Thanks for the descriptions. I never really have seen good photos but based on what I have read they look very similar.

 

[oldschool52]

You never mentioned the temp of the tank. If you have AC in the room is your temp dropping in the tank at night more than a couple of degrees? You didn't say if your skimmer was actually skimming. Have you checked the phosphate levels? High phosphate can stress fish and corals. Some salts do have a high phosphate. And for the record the problem salt was Oceanic. I use IO salt and Reef Crystals. Have used IO for 35+ years with excellent results, always consitent. Hope this helps. (Check phosphates)

 

[legalreefer]

The tank stays between 76 and 78 degrees. Funny thing is at work today I was thinking why no one asked about the temp. When I add new water, I put the bucket higher than the tank and let it drip into a high flow steam. I let it drip about 4 drops per second. I do not have a phosphate tester. With the high levels of algea, I do suspect a readable number. I was unaware high levels can stress fish and corals. I have been thinking of buying a phosban reactor. I just havent gotten extra cash lately. I bought an expensive engagment ring.

About the skimmer. I have yet to perfect the overflow box. So some times the skimmer is down. I do not have any nitrates in there, so I wasnt worried about running it 24/7. I keep a power head in there to help with flow.

 

[legalreefer]

Fortunately I have not loss anymore fish. Whatever was wrong I hope is gone. I finally got my overflow and return tuned just right. But I have found that there is a lot of evaporation everyday. I thought it might be a leak, but nothing is damp or wet, thank goodness!