4 fish losses overnight... Sad...

Zhel · Mar 23, 2020

Hi all,

I have been active lately in posting some questions as I am puzzled on what’s going on with my tank.

I have 4 fish losses overnight... Apparently there were fighting going on there. Sad...

My 2 oldest fish (clownfish and anthias) who were buddy and inseparable since we got them, cardinal who got along with my 2 oldest and the 4 stripe.

Uh, heavy... I am obesrving and medicating my tank as I have still some fish that are thriving.

Readings are all good. All inverts alive, corals seem healthy.

Anyone have the same experience? I am trying to figure out what’s wrong. I am sad that my 2 oldest fish didn’t survive. I feel like my tank is empty...

nereefpat · Mar 23, 2020

What are the actual test results for everything you test?

Any new additions? How long have you had the fish?

Medicating, with what?

bjc451 · Mar 23, 2020

Parameters? Medication? Need way more details

laverda · Mar 23, 2020

Sorry for your losses. You really did not give any information for anyone to be able to help you.

Zhel · Mar 23, 2020

Sorry, mentioned readings are good... Salinity 1.024/1.025, temp 25.3, pH 8-8.2, ammonia, nitrite 0, nitirate ~0.

Had the fish since January. Last additional was 1 week ago when I replaced a goby that jumped out.

I am using microbe artemiss, reef safe herbal antibacterial if in case due to any disease.

bjc451 · Mar 23, 2020

How old is the tank

jy808 · Mar 23, 2020

Following.

bjc451 · Mar 23, 2020

I don’t know. But if 4 fish died and some are thriving with invert and corals and the tank only been set up since January seems like maybe we rushed things a bit. Need to know how much rock, how did you cycle, what kind of water source. Just spill the beans and give as much info bout system

Zhel · Mar 23, 2020

Yes, maybe tank is not fully cycled... Maybe there were fighting, maybe...

Tank was set up last Dec. Live rock ~50lb, sand, had the inverts first after 2 weeks. Then after 2 weeks fish were added. Corals just added last month but very little.

We didn’t buy fancy fish as it is our first tank.

I may have rushed things but we were happy that we started it as a family. It was our bonding moment with the kids last Dec, setting up a tank. Can’t resist kids who have been longing to get Nemo. Plus, we realized that me and my husband share the same hobby now

nereefpat · Mar 23, 2020

So, do you suspect disease? Or did the 4 stripe damsel kill the others?

Zhel · Mar 23, 2020

nereefpat said:
So, do you suspect disease? Or did the 4 stripe damsel kill the others?

Hi, actually I am 50/50 with both. If all the other fish will be healthy for next 2 weeks or so, I can eliminate the disease...

We showed the pictures to our LFS expert and said he can say there was a fight due to uneven damage on the fins and tail. Fish were ok the night before I saw the damage on the fins and tails. Just sudden...

DeniseAndy · Mar 23, 2020

I am so sorry.

What size tank are you running? I saw another post, but do not remember if it was mentioned. Also, did you qt the fish? What size were the fish? Any changes to tank at all. Water change, algae scrub, added a snail or coral, anything?

WiscoFishNut · Mar 23, 2020

Sorry for the fish losses

Were any of the fish looking "off" prior to the event? Swimming weird, not eating, lethargic?

Zhel · Mar 23, 2020

DeniseAndy said:
I am so sorry.

What size tank are you running? I saw another post, but do not remember if it was mentioned. Also, did you qt the fish? What size were the fish? Any changes to tank at all. Water change, algae scrub, added a snail or coral, anything?

Thank you.

50gal tank. No qt for the newly intoduced fish. Took chance as we were successful with the first ones. Fish are small ones, ~1”, but my first 2 are ~2” rests are ~1”.

Just the regular water change. I thoroughly scrub the glass to get the algae prior to water change. Snails, corals are old ones (3 months, ~2 months in).

Dbichler · Mar 23, 2020

Doubtful this was one fish killing four in one night. Most likely fighting caused stress induced ich or just too much added too fast and notenough bacteria to handle it.

Zhel · Mar 23, 2020

WiscoFishNut said:
Sorry for the fish losses Were any of the fish looking "off" prior to the event? Swimming weird, not eating, lethargic?

Thank you.

Yes, the anthias was weird coz he is like a space rocket in the tank, swimming corner to corner and “diving” for food so fast. I noticed the anthias was just under one of the arch rock, I was puzzled and saw damage on his fin. He is the oldest and king in the tank with the clownfish , inseparable since we got them. Then the 4 stripe was acting weird too as he was so lethargic on the other side of the tank and stayed in 1 place. Noticed 4 stripe was chasing the cardinal 2 days before and cardinal tail was also damaged.

They were eating like monsters the night before I noticed the damage on anthias fins and tail.

WiscoFishNut · Mar 23, 2020

I'm leaning towards stress induced disease given everything you've said in responses. I had a similar scenario with my 75g tank last summer. I didn't QT the fish, but all of them looked great up until they didn't. I added things probably way too quickly as well. We had a major storm knock out power and then within 24 hours all the fish died. The common thought on that scenario was that the fish probably had a disease the whole time, but were able to fight it off because I was keeping up with maintenance religiously, feeding good food, etc and then the stressful event occurred and pushed them over the edge. Not saying its the case in your scenario, but might be.