Fish wipeout, but not inverts

laineyg6 · Jul 24, 2015

frogman_reefer said:
Odd question, but do you get your water from a well?
One final question, do you own or have cucumbers? If one of those died that could cause it.

I am not on well water, but I have been known (on occasion, in desperation) to use city water treated with Prime. I have a tiny yellow cuke, but my LFS said they were NOT the kind that would cause a wipeout. I don't know the species name.

Harold Green said:
I'd do a complete water change a couple of times before trying any more fish. Out of curiosity you hadn't tried any new food before the crash?

No new food. I've been using Ocean Nutrition and at someone's suggestion, I even smelled it. It smells like fish food to me. ??? LOL Not sure what "bad" fish food smells like, but I guess I would notice. I have done a 50% water change and am letting it just run with the hermits, snails, serpent star and sea cucumber. Oh, and my pistol shrimp. I didn't want to shock the system too much. I fed them a tiny amount, earlier in the week (one time).

The thing that baffles me is that my inverts survived. They actually seem to be thriving! I struggle to keep turbos alive for long, and the one I have looks great! I always buy tiny ones (marble size). I lost my inverts previously (bad salt mix - my fault). I've had these fish for 2-3 years. Of course, water quality is what everyone is talking about since it's probably the most common cause of problems, but I haven't found anything other than the Alkalinity being a bit high that was a problem with the water.

RAD Aquatics! · Jul 25, 2015

I agree with Tahoe, I think it was likely an anoxic event in the tank. You should add a skimmer or at least get some air diffused inside. Surface agitation of the water is good too.

laineyg6 · Jul 25, 2015

Wow, ok. I have a HOB pump and a circulation pump (aimed at the surface) already and it's been fine for several years. I'm willing to give a skimmer a try though. Haven't ever found a suitable one before now.

What type of skimmer can you recommend? I found a HOB skimmer by Rio the other day. I was looking at that possibility after this happened.

djreef · Jul 26, 2015

I see you live in Lubbock. What's the systemic temperature? Stick your finger in there and feel the water if u don't have athermometer. Do you have a heater that may have malfunctioned?

Also, at higher pH ammonia is very toxic, so even small ammounts can be deadly to some species of fish.

DJ

Harold Green · Jul 26, 2015

Jumping back a moment, do you use ro water to fill the tank and if so have you tested it to insure the filter is still working? Lots of stories of tank crashes due to a change in water treatment methods.

laineyg6 · Jul 26, 2015

djreef said:
Do you have a heater that may have malfunctioned?

Also, at higher pH ammonia is very toxic, so even small ammounts can be deadly to some species of fish.

DJ

I checked the temperature right away as part of my "holy crap, what happened" checklist. It's 78 and feels normal to me. The pH/ammonia is a possibility, but what about the inverts?

laineyg6 · Jul 26, 2015

Harold Green said:
Jumping back a moment, do you use ro water to fill the tank and if so have you tested it to insure the filter is still working? Lots of stories of tank crashes due to a change in water treatment methods.

I use purchased RO water mostly and city water if I'm desperate. I treat with Prime if using city water to knock out chlorine and ammonia.

glb · Jul 26, 2015

I agree that that's way too many fish for a 10g tank. I've never had more than two fish in my 12g nano. I'd wait three months (in case it was velvet or brooklynella), do regular water changes, and once your parameters are stable, introduce only 1-2 fish. I'm really sorry about your fishies. I've had losses lately and I know it's sad.