Dead Fish

[bgarcia]

Hey this is my first post here, but I have been having an issue with my tank. I have a custom 40 gal cube and over the last 3-4 days I have lost a total of 3 fish. I'm not sure what my parameters are as of now. I work a lot of hours and travel some for work, but the tank has been running for approximately 1.5 years. I have lost a fish here and there since I have started but never this many in such a short period of time. This worries me because we are moving from FL to NC this Thursday, and I don't want to lose anything else. I had a gulf banded jawfish that had its eyes get cloudy over night and then looked like they were"popping" out. Then the next morning before I could do anything it had passed. I just got home from work and my male bullet hole clown is laying on the sand bed dead. This morning he was swimming like normal and eating, then when I got home I looked and he isn't alive. I don't know what is going on. After the first fish died on me I did a 10 gal waterchange. I haven't added any new additions to the tank in approx. 3 months. I don't even know where to begin. I guess I will start by checking my parameters.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[melypr1985]

When you say you haven't added anything new to the tank, are you including inverts like snails, starfish, macroalgae, hermits, corals ect? Anything wet.

Any heavy breathing in the fish that are left? Small white spots? Swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return? Excessive hiding?

 

[ngoodermuth]

Hi there, hopefully we can help you figure this out.

The first loss sound like an infection, possibly secondary to a parasite. Are the remaining fish behaving any differently? Scratching, yawning, swimming into flow, hiding, etc? Any unusual marks or discoloration on the other fish that passed?

Check all parameters, including ammonia, nitrate, etc. Also check all your equipment. Make sure nothing is rusting or coming apart, heaters are intact, magnets are ok.

Then post back and hopefully someone can help more.

 

[Maritimer]

I wish I could offer better advice than the two posters above me ... but I'm not sure that's possible.

Listen to them!

~Bruce

 

[bgarcia]

When you say you haven't added anything new to the tank, are you including inverts like snails, starfish, macroalgae, hermits, corals ect? Anything wet.

Any heavy breathing in the fish that are left? Small white spots? Swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return? Excessive hiding?

I have only added ro water and saltwater to the tank. I noticed this morning that one of the fish remaining in tank has small white spots that are like grains of salt on his fins. Could this be ick?

I have to find which box my test kit was packed in since we are moving in 2 days. I knew I should not have packed it yet.

I will find it once I'm off work today and be back with water parameters.

Thanks for responding.

 

[Brew12]

I have only added ro water and saltwater to the tank. I noticed this morning that one of the fish remaining in tank has small white spots that are like grains of salt on his fins. Could this be ick?

I have to find which box my test kit was packed in since we are moving in 2 days. I knew I should not have packed it yet.

I will find it once I'm off work today and be back with water parameters.

Thanks for responding.

Unfortunately, that sounds more like Velvet which would explain the rapid fish deaths.

I recommend reading this
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Unfortunately, the timing for this couldn't be worse with your upcoming move.

 

[melypr1985]

It could work out ok. set up the QT at the new house and move the fish directly into it. Start dosing copper and continue with the move. Running copper would cover both ich and velvet.

 

[bgarcia]

So, I was finally able to find my test kits after I got off of work today. I have been using the API reef masters test kit.

After testing my water, here are my results:

PH: 8.4
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm
kH: 8
Phosphates: 0.25 ppm
Calcium: 500 ppm

My nitrates are kind of high but I'm not sure what else it could be to kick everything off like it did.