Monthly tank crash

[Ocellarious]

Do the fish die within the same time frame? If disease was the culprit I do not thin they would all die so close in time together. Disease affects different specimens at different rates. Water quality issues can cause death to multiple fish fairly simultaneously ime.

It takes about 4 days from the heavey breathing the last time it was my black snowflake first she had been in the tank for 3 weeks and on the fourth week she started to breath heavy stopped eating and eventually died the orange snowflake was bought the week after I bought the black one and he died 3 days after the black one

 

[Ocellarious]

How old is your aquarium? Do you test water at time of death? Do the fish show any physical signs of disease?

The cycle ended in February and I started stocking the tank in late February and after each death a water sample it brought to my LFS for testing other than the symptoms listed above they have a slight discoloration during the 4 day period they get pale

 

[vetteguy53081]

Salinity is low, but the start of suggestions.
With using the API kit, may I suggest, taking a good water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test your water and verify the readings and compare with your API results.
Additionally, I suspect as mention an acclimation possibility. After floating bag for 20 mins to equalize water temp, empty contents into a CLEAN pail or bucket and add a cup of tank water to bucket every 15 mins 5-6 times (1.5) hrs and then give clowns a quick freshwater dip in equal temperature water and scoop them with cup - Not net and release into aquarium.
DO A WATER CHANGE BEFORE ADDING ANOTHER PAIR AND RAISE SALINITY DURING THIS WATER CHANGE.

 

[Opalmoon]

I had something similar start happening with my first clown. My water parameters were way off ( I didn't even have an API kit, was relying on someone else to test my water for me at first.) But then in an effort to save my clown, I ended up upgrading from a 10 gallon to a 20 gallon and basically started over with premade water and new substrate I got from the lfs. I think my issue is my salinity also dropped down really low as well. I also think my other issue was that my tank had not finished cycling before I was given the fish.

Soon as I moved my fish over to the new tank he was doing much better. I don't know if I just got lucky or what, but it is disheartening seeing the fish sitting at the bottom of the aquarium lethargic and gasping and not knowing what to do about it.

 

[Ocellarious]

Salinity is low, but the start of suggestions.
With using the API kit, may I suggest, taking a good water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test your water and verify the readings and compare with your API results.
Additionally, I suspect as mention an acclimation possibility. After floating bag for 20 mins to equalize water temp, empty contents into a CLEAN pail or bucket and add a cup of tank water to bucket every 15 mins 5-6 times (1.5) hrs and then give clowns a quick freshwater dip in equal temperature water and scoop them with cup - Not net and release into aquarium.
DO A WATER CHANGE BEFORE ADDING ANOTHER PAIR AND RAISE SALINITY DURING THIS WATER CHANGE.

Freshwater dip? I'm new to the hobby

 

[vetteguy53081]

Freshwater dip? I'm new to the hobby

Yes. Freshwater dip is like a cleanser for flukes and other protozoan which cannot survive in freshwater.

 

[gideon2086]

Freshwater dip? I'm new to the hobby

It's meaning is quite literal - you put the fish into a container of fresh RODI water for a very short amount of time. This is the first time I've seen it recommended during the acclimation phase. It's usually used to treat parasites as vetteguy mentioned.

 

[Sump Crab]

Do you notice any physical indications of disease such as white dots, wierd slimy lie appearance, or something else odd?

 

[Sump Crab]

I have great success with fish and I have never gonr through insane acclimation procedures. Just float in bag to adjust temp and then scoop them and toss them in. I dont thin people give credit to the hardiness of fish in this general area. I wouldnt subject your fish to this extra form of stress. Not that the preceding suggestions are wrong, I just dont want you to thin that your fish are dying because you dont follow some super fancy acclimation that includes freshwater dips and such.