Fish dying

[Citycop89]

As the title says, I got fish dying. Last week I lost my Singapore angel. There were no signs of disease or anything wrong the day before the angel dies. Next day, couldn’t find it until I was at work. Wife called and said the fish was laying on its side and barely swimming. By the time I got home I couldn’t find the angel and was dead the next day.

This morning I get up and come check the tank and I notice my two clowns are not swimming around. I take a look around and find both of them dead. I’ve had these clowns for over a year now. Yesterday, one of them was swimming around like normal and the other was just hanging out by a rock. This was odd because they are both usually all the over the place and eat well etc. When I noticed the one acting funny, it almost looked like a film on the fish. I didn’t see any white spots to think Ich and all of their fins looked intact.

I also have two Chromis, blue tang and yellow fox face in the tank. All are eating now. The tang seems to be skidish all the sudden and I noticed the top of its head to be damaged. At first I though this was from where it has slept at night since day 1, wiggling into my rock structure. Obviously I don’t think this anymore. Something is up.

I have an empty 29gallon I’m going to try and set up as a QT tank for the fish. Possibly treat with copper.

I have a leather coral, zoas, hammer and acan in the tank. Also various CUC. The emerald crab was trying to eat one of the clowns when I found them.

I will get some testing done and post parameters. I will also try to post pictures.

 

[HotRocks]

As the title says, I got fish dying. Last week I lost my Singapore angel. There were no signs of disease or anything wrong the day before the angel dies. Next day, couldn’t find it until I was at work. Wife called and said the fish was laying on its side and barely swimming. By the time I got home I couldn’t find the angel and was dead the next day.

This morning I get up and come check the tank and I notice my two clowns are not swimming around. I take a look around and find both of them dead. I’ve had these clowns for over a year now. Yesterday, one of them was swimming around like normal and the other was just hanging out by a rock. This was odd because they are both usually all the over the place and eat well etc. When I noticed the one acting funny, it almost looked like a film on the fish. I didn’t see any white spots to think Ich and all of their fins looked intact.

I also have two Chromis, blue tang and yellow fox face in the tank. All are eating now. The tang seems to be skidish all the sudden and I noticed the top of its head to be damaged. At first I though this was from where it has slept at night since day 1, wiggling into my rock structure. Obviously I don’t think this anymore. Something is up.

I have an empty 29gallon I’m going to try and set up as a QT tank for the fish. Possibly treat with copper.

I have a leather coral, zoas, hammer and acan in the tank. Also various CUC. The emerald crab was trying to eat one of the clowns when I found them.

I will get some testing done and post parameters. I will also try to post pictures.

Pictures would be of much help. Sorry to hear this is happening.

Have you by chance recently added anything new? Fish/coral/inverts? Without QT or fallow period?

I would like to see the tang. Did the clowns have any hazy look to them or like skin peeling?

 

[Citycop89]

Temp 78

1.024 salinity

Phosphate <.03

Ammonia 0

Nitrite .01 having to use higher sensitive view to determine. Matches .1 and divided by 10


PH 8

Nitrate .1 using higher sensitivity

 

[Citycop89]

Few weeks ago added some snails and crabs from reef cleaners.org. From local fish store I added a conch and sand sifting star. My local store is owned and ran by a husband and wife who QT all fish and corals before putting them up for sale.

Trying to get pics of the tang but proving difficult.

 

[Citycop89]

The one clown looks like it has a big hole in its side. This is the one that the emerald had a hold of so idk if it is from the crab.

 

[Citycop89]

Forgot to mention, all corals in the tank are new within the last 2-3 weeks. From the same store that QTs their products.

 

[Citycop89]

More pics

 

[HotRocks]

Does your LFS keep corals in a fishless system? For 76 days upon arrival?

Most coral systems at LFS's around here always have a fish or two hanging around in them.

I don't see much of a concern on the pics you've shared.

My fear is with the given timeline and new additions something unwanted was introduced into the tank. The question is what???

With the loss of the clowns Brook comes to mind first. The hole is likely from the crab picking at it.

Blue hippos are hard to judge just because of the way they constantly hide/wedge themselves in the rock.

 

[Citycop89]

With my conversations with them, they do not hold for that long. The corals are in a fishless system. They have given me the tour of the shop and I saw the tanks for corals and they are a dedicated system.

What do you think I should do?

 

[Lowell Lemon]

Make sure you don't have a broken heater or something leaking electric current into the water. A ground probe is a good idea.

 

[Citycop89]

Ok. I’ll look up how to check for stray current.

 

[HotRocks]

With my conversations with them, they do not hold for that long. The corals are in a fishless system. They have given me the tour of the shop and I saw the tanks for corals and they are a dedicated system.

What do you think I should do?

I would setup the QT as you had mentioned. Keep observing your fish. I'd be watching for scratching, flashing, swimming into power head flow, hiding excessively, or sensitivity to light. Let us know if you see any of these symptoms. If velvet has entered your system you will likely see symptoms from the hippo tang.

The loss of 3 fish that quickly definitely means something is going on.

 

[Citycop89]

Scratching is something only the tang has been seen doing. I researched that and the answers were watch for Ich and normal behavior for tang. Haven’t seen signs of Ich so didn’t think much of it. The Chromis are their normal self and same with the fox face. I’m lost. As soon as the little one is napping I’ll be checking for the stray voltage.

What do you mean by flashing?

 

[HotRocks]

Flashing is another word for a manuver that fish would exhibit kind of like scratching. Like swimming down to the sand and then scratching the gills on the sand. Or swiming towards a rock and rubbing it (usually targeting the gills) on the way by.

 

[declanisadog]

Check for stray current, but even if it's there, I doubt it's killing your fish.

 

[declanisadog]

Easiest way to check for stray current is to stick your finger in the tank with your shoes off. You'll feel it if it's there. You can also use a multimeter, but you will probably register something with that regardless.

 

[Citycop89]

Don’t feel anything with bare feet and finger in tank. I’ve attached a picture of the multimeter. Red in tank and black was in a ground.

 

[HotRocks]

Don’t feel anything with bare feet and finger in tank. I’ve attached a picture of the multimeter. Red in tank and black was in a ground.

@Brew12 Thoughts on this?

 

[declanisadog]

Basically nothing. I just tested my QT after seeing this, and it is .8

 

[Brew12]

Don’t feel anything with bare feet and finger in tank. I’ve attached a picture of the multimeter. Red in tank and black was in a ground.

Looks like you either use a ground probe or a titanium heater. Either way, voltage/current is not an issue in your tank.