How long should I hold out hope?

[sogdog]

My aquarium parameters swung due to equipment failure. I have returned it to stable, but a number of fish can not be found. 2 fire fish, 2 mandarin gobies, one chromie. My flame angelfish is confirmed dead. I saw one of the mandarins and it looked like it was in trouble but hid when I tried to quarantine him. It’s a 250g so they have tons of hiding spaces, but given the situation and that it took me almost a week to get everything stabilized, during which time things were going nuts, should I hold out hope that they’re just hiding?
The one part of this that gives me hope is that all of my shrimp are still alive and they’re usually the most sensitive

 

[Doctorgori]

what happened?

 

[sogdog]

what happened?

Apex head unit randomly gave out which caused my wav’s to go offline and they are only connected through 1link so waiting for my replacement and then I can use them again.

I did api tests for nitrite nitrate and ammonia and they are back down to virtually non existent. I’m running a 24w green killing machine in addition. The other part that blows my mind is my corals are doing great, and the remaining fish don’t even seem to be slightly stressed. They’re just going about as normal.

 

[Doctorgori]

I believe you but it just doesn’t sound like something that would kill fish and not corals
a ammonia spike. perhaps but I wudda thought that would zap corals 1st….and trust me I’ve killed a lot of fish. You sure there isn’t more to it maybe?

 

[sogdog]

I believe you but it just doesn’t sound like something that would kill fish and not corals
a ammonia spike. perhaps but I wudda thought that would zap corals 1st….and trust me I’ve killed a lot of fish. You sure there isn’t more to it maybe?

Absolutely not. I’m venturing into the hobby learning as I go. But I can still see the probes on the apex. Temp was stable. Salinity stayed 35 plus or minus a little before and after ato. Orp is good. I’m open to suggestions. I cut dosing since my trident is also down and have replaced that with 5g water changes daily. Only thing I dose other than that is reef ab+ 35ml daily.

 

[Doctorgori]

fire fish easily disappear for a number of reasons definitely check the floor and overflows …
how long has the tank been running and what type/brand rock you using?

 

[sogdog]

fire fish easily disappear for a number of reasons definitely check the floor and overflows …
how long has the tank been running and what type/brand rock you using?

Hoping they’re just hiding as well. Not like them to but maybe they just got scared with the instability. Tank has been up for a year. It’s live rock? I’m not entirely sure. Aquarium company I paid to get me started did all up to cycling it.

 

[Doctorgori]

I swear I’ve had fire fish disappear for weeks only to show up later… they do jump and they also seem to have a definitive sleeping/ retreat spot…
I have a 210 and couldn’t keep two mandarins …I know they do pair, but ymmv

 

[sogdog]

Unfortunately more bad news this morning. Woke up to my juvenile emperor dead, along with one of the blue mandarin gobies. I’m assuming the other is dead. Two clown fish have also joined the missing.
All shrimp and coral are okay though. Salt, ph, temp, orp all stable. API showing no nitrite nitrate or ammonia or very low levels depending when I test.

 

[Reeferjunkie]

Hey was just thinking maybe you have a cucumber in the system and it got stuck or stressed and released toxins into the water . Only fish and nothing wrong with coral or inverts seems odd

 

[littlefishy]

Wavemaker going out would cause ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to spike? Is this the only circulation in the system?
Since the inverts are ok my mind immediately goes to a fish specific disease outbreak caused by parameter swing stress.

 

[sogdog]

Wavemaker going out would cause ammonia, nitrite and nitrate to spike? Is this the only circulation in the system?
Since the inverts are ok my mind immediately goes to a fish specific disease outbreak caused by parameter swing stress.

My guess as well. There were a few days before the head unit was replaced and I could see the probes and I’m guessing things got weird during that time. I also thought it would be fine with the backup wave maker. So I do have flow currently between the wave maker and pump/overflow. The only things that went down that still aren’t on back up are my gro light (might lose chaeto but eh) and my trident. Waiting for a new EB832 which should be here any day.
I don’t know what a sea cucumber is but I’m pretty sure I don’t have one unless it’s a pest that can sneak into a tank. But even then I doubt it. Called the aquarium company to do a service for the tank. Maybe I’ll get some answers with that but I doubt it.

 

[davidcalgary29]

I'd take the remaining fish out (if you can catch them) and put them into a well-oxygenated hospital tank. Did you say that you have no water flow at all in the tank, aside from return pumps, until your new Apex arrives? Angels are particularly stressted by poorly oxygenated water, so I wouldn't be surprised to see losses there. Captive-bred fish and gobies are hardier, but I'd still get a powerhead in there, stat, and make sure that you're breaking surface tension to allow for proper gas exchange.

 

[T-J]

I'd take the remaining fish out (if you can catch them) and put them into a well-oxygenated hospital tank. Did you say that you have no water flow at all in the tank, aside from return pumps, until your new Apex arrives? Angels are particularly stressted by poorly oxygenated water, so I wouldn't be surprised to see losses there. Captive-bred fish and gobies are hardier, but I'd still get a powerhead in there, stat, and make sure that you're breaking surface tension to allow for proper gas exchange.

If they are running a skimmer, I can't imaging O2 levels would be an issue, even with the wavemakers going out.
I also don't believe all of this happened due to your wavemakers going out. Even with them out, your return pump is going, cycling your water through the sump. That should be enough water movement for your fish to be fine. Corals on the other hand would have shown signs of stress.
How long were the wavemakers out before you noticed?
I also tend to lean toward a fish disease being the issue.

 

[sogdog]

I saw the wave makers were out immediately as the apex went offline during routine maintenance when I was standing there. Plug and play power head was in within 6 hours. Fish disease I can believe, but no new fish has been added for months. Salt is tropic Marin pro reef. Food is tdo reef nutrition with hikari seaweed extreme.

 

[T-J]

I saw the wave makers were out immediately as the apex went offline during routine maintenance when I was standing there. Plug and play power head was in within 6 hours. Fish disease I can believe, but no new fish has been added for months. Salt is tropic Marin pro reef. Food is tdo reef nutrition with hikari seaweed extreme.

Yeah, I don't believe the powerhead failure is your issue.
Now to the conspiracy theory: Any chance your TM salt was made in the Turkey factory?

 

[sogdog]

Yeah, I don't believe the powerhead failure is your issue.
Now to the conspiracy theory: Any chance your TM salt was made in the Turkey factory?

It says made in Germany. Not sure how to check which factory?

 

[T-J]

It says made in Germany. Not sure how to check which factory?

 

[sogdog]

Another clown fish went down. If anyone can let share some insight with the picture let me know

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

Tail looks odd... Something attacking your fish?