Cycle and Dead Fish

[Lyss]

Could another answer be improper acclimation, or in some cases something off in the tank that current inhabitants have acclimated to but a new addition hasn’t? I’m just 100% curious as to why we always jump to the fish had a disease, even if there’s no clear visible evidence, (realizing that majority of time it probably did) — but should we not probe about other possibilities as well? I’m genuinely just honestly wondering that.

So I feel like this is valid but not getting any answers. Not saying this is the case for this particular death but for example say in the case of someone w/long-term fish who experiences every new addition die -- it's entirely possible something is going on, like the temp has gone up to 90 degrees but a faulty heater is displaying it as 79... All inhabitants would have acclimated to this over time but any new fish added aren't going to be able to. Same with improper acclimation -- when the LFS keeps fish at a much lower salinity than a 30-minute or hour-long acclimation can adjust for. I also know when I was young I had no concept of acclimation or how to do that right and screwed it up at least once.

Just saying, I was frustrated early on here when I had a legitimate electrical issue and everyone was telling me my fish had Brook and to treat/fallow my tank. I'm just saying we do a disservice if we don't probe for ALL potential reasons, including disease, to best help an individual.

 

[GrampsReef]

Most do have this. This may be an issue of shipping stress, others, or acclimation stress. I don't think based on your graph that it was your tank parameters. Why did the salinitty go to zero>?

It was at 1.028 and the store told me to bring it down to 1.025 before acclimating the new fish. So, I did a 3 gallon water change to get the salinity down to 1.025. It is an hour drive from the store to my house. I'd say that it was about 1 hour and 20 minutes before I started to add water from my tank into the bag. Then another30 minutes to finish the acclimation. So, the fish was in the bag for around 1 hour and 50 minutes to 2 hours before it was released into my tank.

 

[GrampsReef]

It was asked above but I also am wondering about the analytics showing salinity and also ph having dropped to 0. I don’t see carbonate hardness on there at all. What’s up w/that?

Thanks. The salinity is at 1.025. PH is at 0.78. Carbonate Hardness is at 161ppm.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Three days? Mine have arrived next day within 16 hours. But yes, shipping/stress can go under #1 or #3.

Day one: pickup in Toronto around 1500, to YYZ
Day two: arrives in YEG by 0400. Then Fedex makes the package SIT IN A WAREHOUSE for an entire day.
Day three: arrival by truck in Peace River.

Next-day shipping used to be an option, but Fedex changed their shipping policies and they will no longer attempt to make a transfer to ensure same-day deliveries from Edmonton to northern destinations. I still pay $60-$70 for "overnight" shipping, of course.

 

[DrZoidburg]

2 hours is a fairly long time. Did they add any "blue water", or air from a O2 tank? Lfs near me has said usually have problems over 2 hours so they ask, and do this if needed. Was it breathing hard? The big name companies say they use O2 I don't know for sure. If you matched salinity before adding fish like they said this probably not an issue. Anything high stress it is better to acclimate slower. Invest in a few 5 gallon buckets and cheap air pumps. I like to run a air pump while acclimating. Then temp acclimate. As one said above sometimes even healthy fish don't make it. Imo that mark on fish wouldn't be the direct cause. It could of happened after it died like another fish nibbling on it, or even scrape marks from handling. Tangs have a really thin skin easily damaged. Even maybe rot away a little if it isn't taken out quick enough.

 

[GrampsReef]

2 hours is a fairly long time. Did they add any "blue water", or air from a O2 tank? Lfs near me has said usually have problems over 2 hours so they ask, and do this if needed. Was it breathing hard? The big name companies say they use O2 I don't know for sure. If you matched salinity before adding fish like they said this probably not an issue. Anything high stress it is better to acclimate slower. Invest in a few 5 gallon buckets and cheap air pumps. I like to run a air pump while acclimating. Then temp acclimate. As one said above sometimes even healthy fish don't make it. Imo that mark on fish wouldn't be the direct cause. It could of happened after it died like another fish nibbling on it, or even scrape marks from handling. Tangs have a really thin skin easily damaged. Even maybe rot away a little if it isn't taken out quick enough.

I don't know what "Blue Water" is so I doubt they added it. They did not add O2. They told me they had copper in the water so I should not put their water in my tank. So, I didn't. I have not called the shop yet. I'm hesitant because I don't know why the fish died. I usually just place the bag in my tank to get the temp right. Then pour 1/2 of the bag's water into a bucket and add some of my water into the bag. I'll add more of my water a few times. Then I'll pour the fish out in a net over the bucket and put the fish into my tank. Do you pour the fish out of the bag into the bucket first and acclimate it there? I am going to get a quarantine tank before my next fish.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Blue water methylene blue.. Helps with some things. I would call them anyway maybe they can help or honor a guarantee. When I do this I usually drip acclimate into the bucket for around an hour or more. Pour the bag right in if there is enough water or tilt the bucket so the fish is in enough. Propped up with a chunk of wood or pvc fitting. With air pump going. After drip acclimation. Then transfer fish to a smaller container with this water trying not to get any floating bits in, and float this container clamped in display or quarantine tank until the temperature matches. I use a good thermometer for this. Then I wet my hand and catch fish to avoid putting anything in my tanks.

 

[Idech]

I've been really lucky with fish purchases from eastern Canada,

May I ask where ? I might use them too.

 

[GrampsReef]

May I ask where ? I might use them too.

Exotic Aquatics in Plano Texas.

 

[davidcalgary29]

May I ask where ? I might use them too.

Candy Corals and Fragbox. Fragbox, in particular, have been great to deal with.

 

[Idech]

Candy Corals and Fragbox. Fragbox, in particular, have been great to deal with.

Ahhhh, I’ve bought from Fragbox and I really like them. Candy corals is on my list too but I haven’t tried them yet.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Ahhhh, I’ve bought from Fragbox and I really like them. Candy corals is on my list too but I haven’t tried them yet.

I've had a few pieces, including a cynarina, die in transit. Fragbox sent free replacements after I sent them the photo evidence. I hope that they yell at FedEx every time that this happens.

Their shipping cost also tends to be the most reasonable of any company that I deal with. They sell a number of "free shipping" pieces, and if you bundle your order around them, you can get your shipping on the entire order for free. It's a nice bonus.

 

[Idech]

Their shipping cost also tends to be the most reasonable of any company that I deal with. They sell a number of "free shipping" pieces, and if you bundle your order around them, you can get your shipping on the entire order for free. It's a nice bonus.

Yes, but shipping is still expensive and it forces us to buy more at a time. Shipping here takes less than a day, which I like.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Yes, but shipping is still expensive and it forces us to buy more at a time. Shipping here takes less than a day, which I like.

Shipping problems force me to take trips to Edmonton, which is not ideal, and especially in winter. I was just thinking that, when I lived in Toronto, I never thought "hm, I'd better drive to Montreal for supplies!", and yet that's what I'm doing on a monthly basis because the couriers can't get their act together, or charge $100 to ship $80 of frozen food.