How long should I hold out hope?

[sogdog]

Tail looks odd... Something attacking your fish?

Not as far as I know. I only found the body because a fish swam by and kicked it up from a hiding spot. I hadn’t seen this fish in almost a day prior. It’s possible something made a snack of the body. Just for my sanity, I only keep peaceful aquariums. Never seen any aggression or defending of territories by any of my fish.

I identified some lower flow areas so I adjusted the back up powerheads to get better circulation. Not sure if it’ll help but I doubt that will harm anything.

 

[moz71]

I serious believe wavemaker going out and all those other parameters staying stable goes to disease of some sorts. You have a large system so low oxygen would take awhile.

 

[sogdog]

I serious believe wavemaker going out and all those other parameters staying stable goes to disease of some sorts. You have a large system so low oxygen would take awhile.

Unfortunately you may be right. My system was super stable prior, and I feel like that
may have acted as a buffer for whatever is in my tank. But with the short term fluctuations it had an opportunity to run rampant and so now I’m seeing it. In any case, unless someone has some theories I don’t think more can be established without physically seeing my aquarium. I hired a well rated company to come out for maintenance and assessment. Hopefully I’ll have answers when they show up Wednesday

 

[moz71]

Unfortunately you may be right. My system was super stable prior, and I feel like that
may have acted as a buffer for whatever is in my tank. But with the short term fluctuations it had an opportunity to run rampant and so now I’m seeing it. In any case, unless someone has some theories I don’t think more can be established without physically seeing my aquarium. I hired a well rated company to come out for maintenance and assessment. Hopefully I’ll have answers when they show up Wednesday

100 percent agree

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

Sorry man I know it stinks having these issues. I have had a couple of small fish disappear recently after adding a rock with a crab hitchhiker. The bodies floated out eventually ate up pretty good. I think this little crab is getting them. It has sharp brown tipped claws and brown stripes on legs.

Lost a rock flower after seeing the crab living near it in the same hole.

 

[ehealy13]

Unfortunately you may be right. My system was super stable prior, and I feel like that
may have acted as a buffer for whatever is in my tank. But with the short term fluctuations it had an opportunity to run rampant and so now I’m seeing it. In any case, unless someone has some theories I don’t think more can be established without physically seeing my aquarium. I hired a well rated company to come out for maintenance and assessment. Hopefully I’ll have answers when they show up Wednesday

Adding the pros @vetteguy53081 and @Jay Hemdal

Sorry for your losses. I'm a novice but I believe ammonia spikes would have at least some of the fish moving toward the top of the tank, looking for a way out. Also, if disease, hiding isn't a universal sign. Any ich outbreaks in my tank left the fish flashing, and/or lethargic and breathing heavily, mostly easy to find with some investigating. I think this could be an aggression issue, that led to a death that led the inhabitants to be exposed to stress toxins and their own stress. My hippo tang and emperor would actively jockey for territory but it never looked serious. One morning, the emperor was dead (no sign of any disease and was eating like a pig the night before) a few days later my clownfish, 2 days after that my yellow tang. Water was fine. Checked it myself, so did my LFS, both with various kits and digital checkers. We eventually landed at the conclusion I am suggesting now. Not saying it is what happened here, or even to my tank, just sharing my experience.

 

[sogdog]

Adding the pros @vetteguy53081 and @Jay Hemdal

Sorry for your losses. I'm a novice but I believe ammonia spikes would have at least some of the fish moving toward the top of the tank, looking for a way out. Also, if disease, hiding isn't a universal sign. Any ich outbreaks in my tank left the fish flashing, and/or lethargic and breathing heavily, mostly easy to find with some investigating. I think this could be an aggression issue, that led to a death that led the inhabitants to be exposed to stress toxins and their own stress. My hippo tang and emperor would actively jockey for territory but it never looked serious. One morning, the emperor was dead (no sign of any disease and was eating like a pig the night before) a few days later my clownfish, 2 days after that my yellow tang. Water was fine. Checked it myself, so did my LFS, both with various kits and digital checkers. We eventually landed at the conclusion I am suggesting now. Not saying it is what happened here, or even to my tank, just sharing my experience.

Any insight is good. This is how I learn stuff and get better. I honestly don’t expect any real answer at this point. I know I used the api kits correctly. There’s just nothing wrong and the only thing that really changed was the flow. I’m almost hoping it was a flow issue and there was a dead spot and hopefully this is the worst that happens and the rest make it. I ordered rally for treating the fish in case. I don’t like using additives but if I see any signs of disease I’ll probably just dose that.

 

[moz71]

Any insight is good. This is how I learn stuff and get better. I honestly don’t expect any real answer at this point. I know I used the api kits correctly. There’s just nothing wrong and the only thing that really changed was the flow. I’m almost hoping it was a flow issue and there was a dead spot and hopefully this is the worst that happens and the rest make it. I ordered rally for treating the fish in case. I don’t like using additives but if I see any signs of disease I’ll probably just dose that.

Eww the ole dreaded api test kits!! As many, I struggled using those. Just were never reliable for me. I use mostly Hanna checkers. Still not saying that is your issue!!

 

[vetteguy53081]

A couple of things stand out here.
Firstly, what is age of tank ?
The salt - Does it have a weird smell or color to it?
What test kits are you using ?

Ammonia and nitrate would be the killers in this case and the wavemakers- Any stray voltage you can tell ?

 

[sogdog]

A couple of things stand out here.
Firstly, what is age of tank ?
The salt - Does it have a weird smell or color to it?
What test kits are you using ?

Ammonia and nitrate would be the killers in this case and the wavemakers- Any stray voltage you can tell ?

Wav’s aren’t connected to power. There’s no point since the eb832 is the issue. I’m using the api saltwater test kits. The ones you fill 5ml in and put whichever checker. Yes it’s for saltwater. Tank is one year old. Salt seems fine, I don’t smell anything. It’s tropic Marin salt, purchased at probably bulkreefsupply, maybe LiveAquaria. The plastic bag inside the container was sealed when I got it if memory serves.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Wav’s aren’t connected to power. There’s no point since the eb832 is the issue. I’m using the api saltwater test kits. The ones you fill 5ml in and put whichever checker. Yes it’s for saltwater. Tank is one year old. Salt seems fine, I don’t smell anything. It’s tropic Marin salt, purchased at probably bulkreefsupply, maybe LiveAquaria. The plastic bag inside the container was sealed when I got it if memory serves.

API kits are what you are using and are notorious for false readings and you may have higher level nitrate and ammonia and not realize it.
I would take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours

 

[sogdog]

API kits are what you are using and are notorious for false readings and you may have higher level nitrate and ammonia and not realize it.
I would take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours

Hired a well rated aquarium maintenance person and explained what is going on. He’s coming Wednesday to check it out. Hopefully it’ll come back as nothing or something fixable

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hired a well rated aquarium maintenance person and explained what is going on. He’s coming Wednesday to check it out. Hopefully it’ll come back as nothing or something fixable

I'm coming into this late, but the first thing would be to post a video of any remaining fish. That would give us a sense of their overall health and most importantly, their breathing rate.

It is rare to impossible for water quality issues to take out fish over time, but leave all of the invertebrates unharmed. Low dissolve oxygen acts quickly, and fish loss does not then drag out once the issue has been resolved.

Jay

 

[Duncan62]

Sorry man I know it stinks having these issues. I have had a couple of small fish disappear recently after adding a rock with a crab hitchhiker. The bodies floated out eventually ate up pretty good. I think this little crab is getting them. It has sharp brown tipped claws and brown stripes on legs.

Lost a rock flower after seeing the crab living near it in the same hole.

He'll eat your lobos and acans. Trap him. Good luck.

 

[sogdog]

My last clown died this morning. This is a video I took of the remaining fish. I have no idea at this point. If someone can guess from the video awesome. If not fish company comes tomorrow.

edit: tried attaching the movie. Didn’t upload. Also I realized that while I haven’t added fish or corals in a while, I did add chaeto two weeks ago. I did dip and rinse it, I don’t recall quarantining it and I’m now suspicious that may have been the source. Expensive lesson that even chaeto needs to be quarantined which I did not know.

 

[sogdog]

API kits are what you are using and are notorious for false readings and you may have higher level nitrate and ammonia and not realize it.
I would take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API kits and see what readings they come up with and to compare with yours

What would you recommend for testing? It’s being tested by a company tomorrow but I also like to be able to do everything on my own and not be forced to rely on them. I would prefer to get something accurate that I can use at home. I had no idea about the api kits. They’re always recommended to me as the “good” ones.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What would you recommend for testing? It’s being tested by a company tomorrow but I also like to be able to do everything on my own and not be forced to rely on them. I would prefer to get something accurate that I can use at home. I had no idea about the api kits. They’re always recommended to me as the “good” ones.

Hanna or salifert kits
Red Sea often hard to read

 

[T-J]

What would you recommend for testing? It’s being tested by a company tomorrow but I also like to be able to do everything on my own and not be forced to rely on them. I would prefer to get something accurate that I can use at home. I had no idea about the api kits. They’re always recommended to me as the “good” ones.

If any LFS or aquarium service company recommends API as "good" testing kits, I'd immediately steer clear of them. They either don't know what they are talking about or are selling API because there is a bigger profit margin on them.
Just my two pennies worth...

 

[sogdog]

If any LFS or aquarium service company recommends API as "good" testing kits, I'd immediately steer clear of them. They either don't know what they are talking about or are selling API because there is a bigger profit margin on them.
Just my two pennies worth...

Honestly their attitude seemed more to be that it hit the right price point/effort that people might actually test their water. I’m sure if I said I’d spend what it takes and mentioned apex etc they’d realize I’m trying to be a part of the hobby, not just pay someone to put a fish tank in my house. I know when I first started they discouraged me from mandarins because they are difficult. After my refugium was set up and copepods added those same guys were excited to sell me mandarin gobies.
so I’m not quite willing to disown them yet as I understand the nuances of customer service. When I go to restock once I figure out whatever happened I’ll be sure to ask some better questions about testing and see what they say, and if needed find a new spot. Mostly I buy from liveaquaria. But even that I stopped during Covid times. Most stores barely had any stock, and the stock that I saw was not healthy.

 

[sogdog]

One of the tangs behaving strangely. Ugh this thing didn’t upload the pic. I’ll try again later.