HELP!!

[Lcombs]

Normally every Saturday I do a 4 gallon water change in my 24 gal tank. Yesterday I think i made a terrible decision and decided to change more of the water (roughly 7 gallons). This morning I woke up two a lot of dead fish in my tank and I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to save the rest of them. My nitrates were extremely high yesterday so I thought by changing a little more water it may help the situation... new to this and I think I made a bad call. I don't know if it was the drastic difference that caused the problems but that's the only thing I can think of. I lost a 2 domino damsels, clown fish, red fire shrimp and a yellow dotty back. I still have one clown fish, one banghai cardinal, 2 emerald crabs, hermits, 2 sea urchins, a star fish (seems to be struggling) and a red fire shrimp alive. I've noticed a few bristle worms and brittle sea stars that generally only come out at night laying on the sand this afternoon. They are still moving but I know that's not normal for those guys in my tank to be out when the lights on. Please help!! Is there anything I can do at this point to save the rest in my tank?

I test PH, Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia using the API test kit. Yesterday they were all in the normal range except for Nitrate, it was around 20ppm. My nitrates tend to be around 5.0 ppm and I test every 2-3 days. This morning I tested and they were all in the normal range including the nitrates. (pH 7.8, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 0ppm)

 

[andrewey]

I would pull all your dead/dying fish immediately. I would add prime preventatively. Have you checked your salinity before and after the water change? Did you match your salinity and temperature of the incoming water to your tank water? What was the source of your water?

 

[Dom]

Sorry for your difficulties.

Nitrates of 20 is nothing to panic about. But you were correct in your thinking; elevated nitrates can be corrected with water changes.

Have you added anything new to the tank in the last few days? Do you quarantine before putting new inhabitants into the display?

 

[Tamberav]

Normally every Saturday I do a 4 gallon water change in my 24 gal tank. Yesterday I think i made a terrible decision and decided to change more of the water (roughly 7 gallons). This morning I woke up two a lot of dead fish in my tank and I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to save the rest of them. My nitrates were extremely high yesterday so I thought by changing a little more water it may help the situation... new to this and I think I made a bad call. I don't know if it was the drastic difference that caused the problems but that's the only thing I can think of. I lost a 2 domino damsels, clown fish, red fire shrimp and a yellow dotty back. I still have one clown fish, one banghai cardinal, 2 emerald crabs, hermits, 2 sea urchins, a star fish (seems to be struggling) and a red fire shrimp alive. I've noticed a few bristle worms and brittle sea stars that generally only come out at night laying on the sand this afternoon. They are still moving but I know that's not normal for those guys in my tank to be out when the lights on. Please help!! Is there anything I can do at this point to save the rest in my tank?

I test PH, Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia using the API test kit. Yesterday they were all in the normal range except for Nitrate, it was around 20ppm. My nitrates tend to be around 5.0 ppm and I test every 2-3 days. This morning I tested and they were all in the normal range including the nitrates. (pH 7.8, Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm, Nitrate 0ppm)

Check the salinity of your tank.

Do you make your own water or buy from a LFS?

I do large % water changes sometimes, almost 100% on my 5g without issue. Sounds like something is wrong with the water you put in there or perhaps you stirred up tons of crud when you did it?


Zero for Nitrate is not a normal range and going from "extremely high" to zero is not normal from 7g water change.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Rarely does a water change have that type of effect on the fish unless something was drastically wrong with the water or something contaminated it. I regularly do 100% water changes on my 6g and even my 40g once in a while.

So, first, we do need to know how old the tank is, how you cycled, how long have you had the fish, were they qt'd, could anything have gotten in the water, did you add anything recently, parameters.

 

[Lcombs]

I would pull all your dead/dying fish immediately. I would add prime preventatively. Have you checked your salinity before and after the water change? Did you match your salinity and temperature of the incoming water to your tank water? What was the source of your water?

I matched the salinity and temperature to the incoming water. I have premade buckets of water that I use for each water change, water from our faucet that I add pro reef salt mix and prime chlorine and contaminate remover.

My tank has been up and running since February of this year so still very new but have never had any issues. My most recent fish that i added was the cardinals but that has been about three weeks ago. All of my fish come from my LFS and all the clean up crew has been purchased through liveaquaria, all of my CUC have been in there since March.

 

[DeniseAndy]

If your tap water had a contaminant, could be a possible issue. Many people use tap water, while not the best, can be used. However, it depends on where you live. I could not use tap after I moved a few miles into a new area back when I kept fish only.
Also, the water will change often if tap. I would suggest getting RO/DI set up when you can. You can use distilled water too.
Could also be disease if fish were not treated prior to you adding them into tank.
Parameters seem okay, so gut feel is disease or water contaminant. Sorry. I hope the rest make it through for you.