Dead and gasping fish

[Llg]

Hello. I have had these two fish for 3 weeks. The tailspot blenny was found dead this morning and the firefish is gasping. When I went to remove the tailspot from the tank, I got shocked.

I floated the firefish in freshwater. No flukes. No signs of ich on either fish. I had noticed that the firefish was making all kinds of burrows in the sand yesterday, but didn't think much of it. Blenny was out eating last night.

Xenia, gsp and hammer are closed up. Cleaner shrimp is active with no issues.

Nitrite was high this morning - blue/purple on APi scale, but assumed this was due to the dead blenny.

Nitrate less than 5
Ammonia 0
Salinity 1.025

Could this be stray voltage or a fish disease? I am confused since the corals seem unhappy but the shrimp is fine.

I did a large water change to bring the nitrite back to close to 0

Thanks

 

[jassermd]

If you got shocked when you pulled the fish, odds are very high that you have stray voltage.
Safety first! Do you have a grounding probe? And I assume you have everything plugged into a GFCI outlet.

Check you pumps, powerheads, and heaters. I'd start with the heater... I'm betting you have an exposed wire or something along those lines. You got shocked... that has to come from somewhere.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

When you say, you got shocked, as in electrical? Get a voltage multimeter - $15 at WalMart - and put your equipment, one by one, in a bucket and test the water. Also, purchase a grounding probe and a GFCI plug in outlet for your tank (if you don't have one already).

 

[Breadbox]

Does this 'stray voltage' problem even exist(for fishes at least)? I remember Jay Hemdal saying there isn't any observable correlation between 'stray voltage' and fish health.

Moreover, stray voltage shouldn't do anything unless it establishes connection to the ground(it can now flow), which means a grounding probe makes a non problem into a real problem!

I know for a fact that I do not get zapped if I touch the water wearing slippers(no ground connection) while touching the water without shoe means I get tingles on my finger tip.

I'm unsure how it affects fishes tho.

 

[Dburr1014]

When you say, you got shocked, as in electrical? Get a voltage multimeter - $15 at WalMart - and put your equipment, one by one, in a bucket and test the water. Also, purchase a grounding probe and a GFCI plug in outlet for your tank (if you don't have one already).

Why wouldn't he just unplug one thing at a time until V reads zero (or close to zero).
Black probe in the ground of an outlet and red in the tank. Check, unplug, check, unplug, check... Ect.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Why wouldn't he just unplug one thing at a time until V reads zero (or close to zero).
Black probe in the ground of an outlet and red in the tank. Check, unplug, check, unplug, check... Ect.

You can certainly try that and see if you have luck.

You may have a bug and stray voltage.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I think we just got worried that the OP got shocked. Not good! I do not think it causes fish death though.

The first are relatively new as they are only in for 3 weeks. Could be lots of things. Did they go through qt?

The xenia and gsp closed could mean something is slightly off. The hammer can depend on how long you have had it.

Nitrate should not be at 0. For what you have, aim for 10-20.

Do you have any other fish?

 

[Llg]

Thanks. I feed heavily and have the corals in there for 3 weeks as well. They looked fine yesterday. When I say "shocked", it would have been like running my feetbon carpet and then touching something. They were in copper treatment and then given gc with focus on food.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thanks. I feed heavily and have the corals in there for 3 weeks as well. They looked fine yesterday. When I say "shocked", it would have been like running my feetbon carpet and then touching something. They were in copper treatment and then given gc with focus on food.

At first, I'd be worried about your safety. Sometimes, tanks can have minor electrical issues and if you have a cut on your finger, you'll get a shock. Still, you'll want to test the voltage and be sure you isolate the device that is causing this.

Normally, I tell people if the invertebrates are fine, but the fish are dying, then it is clearly a fish disease. In this case, with the corals clamping up, I'm not so sure. I also tell people that stray voltage won't harm their fish (same reason birds can perch on high tension lines - not electrical potential). However, if you have a fault to ground, that is a different situation, and I suppose that could affect fish and corals.

Jay

 

[Llg]

Thanks.

My firefish didn't make it. Here is the picture. The ammonia and nitrites are higher tonight, but likely from the dead fish. Shrimp is fine and so are the snails. The hammer coral looks ok, but the xenia, gsp and the mushroom coral are closed up. I changed out the heater tonight until I can get a grounding probe. I am baffled as well. Will probably leave the tank fallow just in case.

 

[blaxsun]

Honestly, if it's enough of a jolt that you noticed when you stuck your hand in - I can't see how it wouldn't also be affecting the reef inhabitants. Here's hoping it was a faulty heater and that solves the issue without further losses.

 

[Dom]

Moreover, stray voltage shouldn't do anything unless it establishes connection to the ground(it can now flow), which means a grounding probe makes a non problem into a real problem!

So you are saying it is better to bet electrocuted by completing the circuit with your body than it is to have a grounding probe and risk the fish?