help/Advice needed

dlh · Oct 12, 2022

Background: My tank is a Innovative Marine Nuevo 10 gallon. The tank mis 9 months old. Started with a combination of Live and dry rock and live sand. , and bio balls.Cycled in the beginning with Dr Tims. Using a Innovative Marine nano skimmer and a Fluval Nano marine led light. My tank parameters are all perfect. I do a 20% water change weekly. No Corals yet, but did add 2 clownfish and a blue damsel about at the 4 month mark. On Saturday I noticed that the fish did not seem interested in eating? I feed flake, pelet, and frozen Brine and mysis. Normally they have a feeding frenzy, but for the last 5 days they have not eaten. This morning I found the blue damsel dead. The clowns seem lethargic. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. My first thought was to do a 5 gallon water change, but wanted to see if anyone with experience had any thoughts. Thanks in advance!

Mark Novack · Oct 13, 2022

Follow your first thought, observe and then repeat if needed. If I understand, the tank has had those fish for months and this came suddenly? Is there any blushing or spotting on the fish? Any power outage? Anything that could cause an ammonia spike, temperature change or other sudden shift? Pollutant? Unusually high nitrates for a long period (doubtful with your water changes but not impossible)? Those are hardy fish.

dlh · Oct 13, 2022

Mark Novack said:
Follow your first thought, observe and then repeat if needed. If I understand, the tank has had those fish for months and this came suddenly? Is there any blushing or spotting on the fish? Any power outage? Anything that could cause an ammonia spike, temperature change or other sudden shift? Pollutant? Unusually high nitrates for a long period (doubtful with your water changes but not impossible)? Those are hardy fish.

So you would do a large water change?

Mark Novack · Oct 13, 2022

Yes. Its the fastest positive change that you can give if its not visibly a disease. Carbon? That can help if its pollutant but a water change and carbon is faster.