Fish Die-off

[havoc_one]

I have not had much success keeping fish, and cannot seem to find a culprit. First, it was my Purple FireFish, and my Tailspot - the only fish in the 32 biocube - died for no apparent reason. We thought maybe lotion on hands while feeding contaminated the tank, did a small water change and purchased another Standard FireFish a week later - he, in 3 days, passed away too. Not before doing another 25% water change, then another 25 % water change a few days later. After a few days and things seemingly looking good, purchased a Royal Gramma, who seemed to be doing fine. Now today, less than 24 hours after stocking another standard FF and two OC Clowns, the tank is "tanking" again. Fire fish is dead, and both clowns are on their last leg as we speak. I moved them to a clean QT tank in attempts to save them but it is not looking good.

Other tank inhabitants are just a couple of Urchins, snails, hermits, and a Fire Red Shrimp - all inverts seem to be doing good.

Parameters:
PH 8.3 and stable
Salinity 1.024-025
Phos - 0-0.25
Ammonia 0 Consistently
Nitrate - 0 consistently
Nitrite - 0 Consistently
KH - 9
All With API test kits, refract, and a digital PH meter

Zoas and Duncan are NOT happy, and havent been in a few weeks with consistent low Phos and Nitro levels. Working on that with NeoNitro and NeoPhos

I dosed yesterday with Prazipro as the only explanation I could think of was flukes. Was careful to measure right and everyone seemed good last night (tsp and a half for my ~30 gallons of water). Took out Carbon, ran the skimmer with no cup overnight - noticed the microbubbles this morning, so turned it off and added a airstone.

Tested several times for stray voltage - none detected.

Fish act disoriented and breath heavily before passing - hang at the bottom of the tank, then swim weird before finally dying.

I have been dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos because of the low levels, and lack of fish/feeding to keep them up for the corals - could these be causing the sudden deaths? I searched and didn't see any reports of the small (less than 1 ml) dosing having any effect on the fish this dramatically.

 

[40g Nano]

It might be a disease or parasite

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have not had much success keeping fish, and cannot seem to find a culprit. First, it was my Purple FireFish, and my Tailspot - the only fish in the 32 biocube - died for no apparent reason. We thought maybe lotion on hands while feeding contaminated the tank, did a small water change and purchased another Standard FireFish a week later - he, in 3 days, passed away too. Not before doing another 25% water change, then another 25 % water change a few days later. After a few days and things seemingly looking good, purchased a Royal Gramma, who seemed to be doing fine. Now today, less than 24 hours after stocking another standard FF and two OC Clowns, the tank is "tanking" again. Fire fish is dead, and both clowns are on their last leg as we speak. I moved them to a clean QT tank in attempts to save them but it is not looking good.

Other tank inhabitants are just a couple of Urchins, snails, hermits, and a Fire Red Shrimp - all inverts seem to be doing good.

Parameters:
PH 8.3 and stable
Salinity 1.024-025
Phos - 0-0.25
Ammonia 0 Consistently
Nitrate - 0 consistently
Nitrite - 0 Consistently
KH - 9
All With API test kits, refract, and a digital PH meter

Zoas and Duncan are NOT happy, and havent been in a few weeks with consistent low Phos and Nitro levels. Working on that with NeoNitro and NeoPhos

I dosed yesterday with Prazipro as the only explanation I could think of was flukes. Was careful to measure right and everyone seemed good last night (tsp and a half for my ~30 gallons of water). Took out Carbon, ran the skimmer with no cup overnight - noticed the microbubbles this morning, so turned it off and added a airstone.

Tested several times for stray voltage - none detected.

Fish act disoriented and breath heavily before passing - hang at the bottom of the tank, then swim weird before finally dying.

I have been dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos because of the low levels, and lack of fish/feeding to keep them up for the corals - could these be causing the sudden deaths? I searched and didn't see any reports of the small (less than 1 ml) dosing having any effect on the fish this dramatically.

The general rule is that if you have a wide range of invertebrate species in the tank, and they are doing O.K., but the fish are dying, it is a fish parasite problem. Stray voltage is a "red herring", other than buying UL or CE listed devices, being sure to use GFCIs and not overloading circuits, there is no issue there. The behavior you noted in the fish before dying isn't a symptom of any specific disease, it is just what moribund (dying fish) tend to do.

You definitely should leave your tank fallow (fishless) for as long as you can; I would suggest 75 days. During that time, set up a stable quarantine tank (good biofilter). Then, acquire a few hardy fish and run them in the QT with a chelated copper product for 30 days, as well as Prazipro, for a total of 45 days (concurrent with the last 45 days of letting the tank lay fallow). Even this isn't a guarantee, but it would be what I would do. Good Luck!

Jay

 

[cancun]

I have not had much success keeping fish, and cannot seem to find a culprit. First, it was my Purple FireFish, and my Tailspot - the only fish in the 32 biocube - died for no apparent reason. We thought maybe lotion on hands while feeding contaminated the tank, did a small water change and purchased another Standard FireFish a week later - he, in 3 days, passed away too. Not before doing another 25% water change, then another 25 % water change a few days later. After a few days and things seemingly looking good, purchased a Royal Gramma, who seemed to be doing fine. Now today, less than 24 hours after stocking another standard FF and two OC Clowns, the tank is "tanking" again. Fire fish is dead, and both clowns are on their last leg as we speak. I moved them to a clean QT tank in attempts to save them but it is not looking good.

Other tank inhabitants are just a couple of Urchins, snails, hermits, and a Fire Red Shrimp - all inverts seem to be doing good.

Parameters:
PH 8.3 and stable
Salinity 1.024-025
Phos - 0-0.25
Ammonia 0 Consistently
Nitrate - 0 consistently
Nitrite - 0 Consistently
KH - 9
All With API test kits, refract, and a digital PH meter

Zoas and Duncan are NOT happy, and havent been in a few weeks with consistent low Phos and Nitro levels. Working on that with NeoNitro and NeoPhos

I dosed yesterday with Prazipro as the only explanation I could think of was flukes. Was careful to measure right and everyone seemed good last night (tsp and a half for my ~30 gallons of water). Took out Carbon, ran the skimmer with no cup overnight - noticed the microbubbles this morning, so turned it off and added a airstone.

Tested several times for stray voltage - none detected.

Fish act disoriented and breath heavily before passing - hang at the bottom of the tank, then swim weird before finally dying.

I have been dosing NeoNitro and NeoPhos because of the low levels, and lack of fish/feeding to keep them up for the corals - could these be causing the sudden deaths? I searched and didn't see any reports of the small (less than 1 ml) dosing having any effect on the fish this dramatically.

Excellent thoughts from everyone.....first sorry for your fish deaths for sure....a frustrating part of the hobby....one thought I had was how are you acclimating your new fish? Do you get then from a LFS or shipped? What salinity does the LFS or online retailer keep or ship their fish in?

 

[havoc_one]

Excellent thoughts from everyone.....first sorry for your fish deaths for sure....a frustrating part of the hobby....one thought I had was how are you acclimating your new fish? Do you get then from a LFS or shipped? What salinity does the LFS or online retailer keep or ship their fish in?

similar salinity, from my LFS, and the recent round of clowns and firefish were quite established fish from their system. I always drop acclimate everything for an hour or so in a 1gallon tank.

 

[havoc_one]

The general rule is that if you have a wide range of invertebrate species in the tank, and they are doing O.K., but the fish are dying, it is a fish parasite problem. Stray voltage is a "red herring", other than buying UL or CE listed devices, being sure to use GFCIs and not overloading circuits, there is no issue there. The behavior you noted in the fish before dying isn't a symptom of any specific disease, it is just what moribund (dying fish) tend to do.

You definitely should leave your tank fallow (fishless) for as long as you can; I would suggest 75 days. During that time, set up a stable quarantine tank (good biofilter). Then, acquire a few hardy fish and run them in the QT with a chelated copper product for 30 days, as well as Prazipro, for a total of 45 days (concurrent with the last 45 days of letting the tank lay fallow). Even this isn't a guarantee, but it would be what I would do. Good Luck!

Jay

I will do that. I think that is my only option at this point given there are no visible exterior issues with the fish. Maybe Brook or Some other gill issue. 76 days will tell

 

[proxy001]

going back to basics but, did you ever get a cycle? Do you have live rock? Good circulation/air exchange? What is the temperature?

 

[havoc_one]

going back to basics but, did you ever get a cycle? Do you have live rock? Good circulation/air exchange? What is the temperature?

Valid question for sure.
I did a cycle, and didn’t stock with that tailspot until it was ready - worked closely with my LFS on this process. Used live rock and sand from them. He and the first firefish were happy for a couple of months before all this stated.

IM thinking I got something on some corals or hermits that infected. Qt tank lesson learned there.

skimmer provides good air, and I upgraded my pump to the size up first thing so should be good there.

Temp is 75 or so. On the lower end I realize, but I would venture to guess not the main cause of issues

 

[cancun]

similar salinity, from my LFS, and the recent round of clowns and firefish were quite established fish from their system. I always drop acclimate everything for an hour or so in a 1gallon tank.

Gotcha.....well that ruled out a acclimation issue for sure. Just out of curiosity, and if all these fish came from the same LFS, have you talked to them about what is going on? Hang in there....and good for you to ask questions on here! This is a great place to get information!

 

[havoc_one]

Yeah, they

Gotcha.....well that ruled out a acclimation issue for sure. Just out of curiosity, and if all these fish came from the same LFS, have you talked to them about what is going on? Hang in there....and good for you to ask questions on here! This is a great place to get information!

Yes, they are good friends of ours and are just as perplexed as us. Like I mentioned, these fish were very happy and established in their systems, particularly the last round of fish.



Lessons - quarantine quarantine quarantine. I’m sure I picked something up from a place I got a couple of corals from, or something like that.
Tough lesson to learn, but I appreciate the help.
Thanks