Losing livestock and not sure why!

[sinisterreef22]

I currently have had my 50 gallon lagoon set up and running for ~ 4 months now. I am currently battling some algae that was identified on another thread as Bryopsis (Even though it doesn’t match a majority of what I have read about it.).

My tank parameters are:
Salinity- 1.025
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- 0 (feel like it’s reading so low due to the algae)
Phosphates- 0.06
Magnesium- 1370
Alkalinity- 7.8
Calcium- 400

I am not sure why I am losing livestock.... I have lost a small tomini tang, a blood red fire shrimp, a cleaner shrimp and now my 2 long fin clowns seem like they are going down hill quickly too. There has been zero signs of sickness in any of the losses so far. I just wake up on morning and they are dead. Here are a few pictures of the algae I’m battling now. Thank you.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

The big question is - are these loses all related? They may not be. Typically, if fish and invertebrates are dying, we look at water quality issues. If it's just fish dying and the inverts are fine, then it is always a fish disease. If your shrimp died from something unrelated, you could still be having a fish disease issue with your clowns.

When the shrimp died, were they whole and intact when you pulled them out?

If there is a relation to all of the losses, the first thing you need to check for is dissolved oxygen / carbon dioxide. I see a lot of tanks that don't have good aeration (despite having good circulation). Aeration is needed in order to drive off excess carbon dioxide and raise the oxygen. Does this tank have a sump with a skimmer? If so, that should be sufficient. If not, you might want to add some aeration.


Jay

 

[sinisterreef22]

The big question is - are these loses all related? They may not be. Typically, if fish and invertebrates are dying, we look at water quality issues. If it's just fish dying and the inverts are fine, then it is always a fish disease. If your shrimp died from something unrelated, you could still be having a fish disease issue with your clowns.

When the shrimp died, were they whole and intact when you pulled them out?

If there is a relation to all of the losses, the first thing you need to check for is dissolved oxygen / carbon dioxide. I see a lot of tanks that don't have good aeration (despite having good circulation). Aeration is needed in order to drive off excess carbon dioxide and raise the oxygen. Does this tank have a sump with a skimmer? If so, that should be sufficient. If not, you might want to add some aeration.


Jay

Thank you for replying. This tank is a Innovative Marine AIO tank. I do have the midsize skimmer made for the tank. The blood shrimp I found in pieces with my hermit there with it. The cleaner shrimp I found intact stuck to my mp10.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for replying. This tank is a Innovative Marine AIO tank. I do have the midsize skimmer made for the tank. The blood shrimp I found in pieces with my hermit there with it. The cleaner shrimp I found intact stuck to my mp10.

O.K., then it probably isn't carbon dioxide/dissolved oxygen issues. Shrimp sometimes die right before molting, you weren't dosing anything for the algae were you?

Jay

 

[sinisterreef22]

O.K., then it probably isn't carbon dioxide/dissolved oxygen issues. Shrimp sometimes die right before molting, you weren't dosing anything for the algae were you?

Jay

No, I am not dozing anything. Any idea on the algae side of things? Could these be related?

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Let me start with the tank rocksscape and layout look awesome going to love to see it filled up with corlas. If you dont mind me asking was the tang quarantined. When you say the clowns are going down hill can you elaborate

 

[sinisterreef22]

Let me start with the tank rocksscape and layout look awesome going to love to see it filled up with corlas. If you dont mind me asking was the tang quarantined. When you say the clowns are going down hill can you elaborate

Thank you! I got the tang from a LFS and unfortunately did not QT it. They are not as active, almost lethargic looking, decreased appetite, and their fins are not as “open” as normal, if that makes any sense at all.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a sneaky suspicion it is your water levels in particular nitrate and ammonia, affecting oxygen and contributing to the algae issues.
I can pretty much guess you are using API test kits?
They are notorious for false readings and have let down many reefers. Im suspecting that they are much more elevated that the Zero you are seeing.
I would take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API kits and have them verify and test your water.

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Thank you! I got the tang from a LFS and unfortunately did not QT it. They are not as active, almost lethargic looking, decreased appetite, and their fins are not as “open” as normal, if that makes any sense at all.

If you are able to do a water change that might help. I also second take a sample of your water to the LFS.

 

[sinisterreef22]

I have a sneaky suspicion it is your water levels in particular nitrate and ammonia, affecting oxygen and contributing to the algae issues.
I can pretty much guess you are using API test kits?
They are notorious for false readings and have let down many reefers. Im suspecting that they are much more elevated that the Zero you are seeing.
I would take a water sample to a trusted LFS that does not use API kits and have them verify and test your water.

I just took my water to my LFS today and that’s where I got those results from. I picked up 30 gallons of their salt water so I can do some water changes other than my normal maintenance ones. The LFS was not much help with my issues though.

 

[Sam816]

have you checked for stray current?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just took my water to my LFS today and that’s where I got those results from. I picked up 30 gallons of their salt water so I can do some water changes other than my normal maintenance ones. The LFS was not much help with my issues though.

Do you know what test method/kit they were using?

 

[sinisterreef22]

Do you know what test method/kit they were using?

Red Sea tea kits

 

[sinisterreef22]

Tank update. Came home today to everything else dead except for 1 blue leg hermit.... times like this make it hard to justify staying in this great hobby...

 

[Jedi1199]

Tank update. Came home today to everything else dead except for 1 blue leg hermit.... times like this make it hard to justify staying in this great hobby...

Very sorry to hear about your tank crash. I am having a similar issue with my 55G. Lost 3 of 4 Chromis in the last week. The 2 shrimp seem to be doing just fine as well as the last remaining chromis. One day eveybody looks happy and healthy, next day dead.