Fish just keep dying one a week

[Undecidedmn]

2 year old established tank that is a fowler. 60 Gallons. Fish just die one a week, same way. Rapid breathing staying in one spot of the tank and then no strength stuck in either a powerheard or return. I have no idea why. Water parameters are excellent. I do a water change with store bought water 2-3 times a month 5-10 gallons. All invertebrates are fine. Have a bubble algae problem I am fighting with emeralds.

Six fish have died over the past few months. I have replaced a few but they go as well. Down to snails (which are huge), urchins, crabs, and three fish left. Thinking of getting a UV as it has to be a parasite or something? Do I have to breakdown the tank to get rid of this? Almost ready to shut down. Lost my clowns who were 3 years old. Heartbreaking.

 

[brandon429]

fish disease. what's your disease protocol/prevention plan in place

 

[brandon429]

things you add wet from pet stores/the fish themselves carry disease and can have delayed onset usually linked to a recent non quarantined addition, from another tank.

 

[Lavey29]

UV ain't gonna stop a disease in your tank. Stop adding more fish until you determine the cause and a proper course of action.

 

[Undecidedmn]

Ty. Stop adding fish more than a month ago. Just two replacements when I thought it was random deaths. I am doing water changes and does Seachem MetroPlex. What else should I do?

 

[Lavey29]

Ty. Stop adding fish more than a month ago. Just two replacements when I thought it was random deaths. I am doing water changes and does Seachem MetroPlex. What else should I do?

Rapid breathing is a symptom of velvet along with quick death. Unless you see other symptoms showing? Have you checked for stray voltage and made sure your filtration is functioning normally. Temp and salinity? Don't trust LFS water.

 

[Jekyl]

Some pics in white lighting and a short video of any fish with issues will help this.

 

[brandon429]

Assume the tank is infected per the stickies in the disease forum. Time for fallow and quarantine

 

[Undecidedmn]

No fish have issues right now. Just a scooter blenny, wrasse, cardinal and goby left. I do not think any stray voltage and filtration is working fine. Skimmer running well with Blue Chemipure and filter floss.

 

[brandon429]

This is how you know its disease: staggered fish loss, only fish, no protocols in place.

 

[brandon429]

There is no other mechanism for a staggered fish loss affecting only fish that has an entire forum of study dedicated and in place. For example, bad calcium levels don't cause that. Not a chemistry or filtration thing. Can't be contamination since losses are fish only. Recent adds from a pet store, disease is the first and last suspected cause for sure.

 

[Undecidedmn]

Thank you for all help. So I will catch the four fish left and go from there. Should I just break down the tank and rebuild 2 months down the road?

 

[RabidDragon]

"disease" typically indicates bacterial or fungal in origin, I'd also add parasites as another potential cause.

 

[brandon429]

no, breaking down the tank isn't in the stickies in the disease forum

make sure to get your disease preps solely from there, in the stickies

Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis

A forum for discussing treatment and diagnosing saltwater reef fish.

www.reef2reef.com

to run fallow you want your aged materials in the tank as the fish are held/prepped elsewhere.