My yellow tail damselfish keeps kicking up my sand and digging u der the rocks. He's making a mess of the tank! My water is so cloudy and my protein skimmer keeps getting this black muck in it. It also seems like some type of dark grey sand is settling on top of the sand. I'm not sure what it is or how to get it oUT of the tank. Now my coral beauty is showing signs that he's about to die! I'm so scared
My yellow tail keeps digging under rocks.
- Thread starter Bykagrl
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Yes, I test it weekly. Today my ammonia was very high. So I guess I have to do a water change. I just did one this weekend. All of this started happening when I added the coral beauty that I purchased from petco. I think they sold me a sick fish.
Duke4Life
Just a crazy eel guy, LMAS
Ohhh Petco. My guess is you have some type of disease since you don't quarintine I'm guessing, they are known for poor fish health now. Add on any ammonia present is a bad thing, large water change or add Prime to help reduce. How did you cycle?
Welcome aboard, Bykagrl!
Unfortunately, sick fish are what a lot of Petcos sell - their employees have told me that they're not allowed to treat diseases with anything other than "herbal remedies" - which, frankly, don't work. (Hey, they don't offer a guarantee on saltwater fish, so they've already got your money . . . does this opinion make me look cynical?) Ideal situation - set up a second (quarantine) tank, where you can treat your own fish with medicines that _do_ work, then return them to the display when both fish and display tank are ready. Don't try to use most medicines in your display, as the rock and sand will absorb a lot of it, and may leach it back into the water when you don't want it to.
Your tank does look new - high ammonia leads me to ask whether you know if it's cycled yet? And to confirm that partial water-change, to relieve the toxicity of the ammonia. A clear description of what symptoms your angelfish is showing - or a good clear photo of it - will help the experts here to help you get her back in tip-top shape.
~Bruce
Unfortunately, sick fish are what a lot of Petcos sell - their employees have told me that they're not allowed to treat diseases with anything other than "herbal remedies" - which, frankly, don't work. (Hey, they don't offer a guarantee on saltwater fish, so they've already got your money . . . does this opinion make me look cynical?) Ideal situation - set up a second (quarantine) tank, where you can treat your own fish with medicines that _do_ work, then return them to the display when both fish and display tank are ready. Don't try to use most medicines in your display, as the rock and sand will absorb a lot of it, and may leach it back into the water when you don't want it to.
Your tank does look new - high ammonia leads me to ask whether you know if it's cycled yet? And to confirm that partial water-change, to relieve the toxicity of the ammonia. A clear description of what symptoms your angelfish is showing - or a good clear photo of it - will help the experts here to help you get her back in tip-top shape.
~Bruce
Rattooth
Active Member
If you are testing high ammonia, your tank had not cycled yet. After cycle is complete , only dead animal makes ammonia high. The damsel can survive the cycle. The Coral Beauty may have been sick or not. But it only elevates ammonia if it dies and stays in tank. The Coral Beauty , most likely , will die. WAIT , a few weeks for nitrate cycle to complete.
The damsel is hardy, but turns aggressive to most fish. So future tank mates need careful consideration, or trade damsel if you want more peaceful fish.
The damsel is hardy, but turns aggressive to most fish. So future tank mates need careful consideration, or trade damsel if you want more peaceful fish.
I've had it up and running for about 4 months. It was a 29 gallon that had been running for about 3 years. I converted it to a 55 gallon. I was so upset about the fish I took it back to the store. Couldn't watch it die. I know I'm a softie lls but I couldn't do it. I check the water weekly and it has been normal. The coral beauty was put in on the 2nd and died today. I changed 20 gallons and used prime. So I guess I'll check it tomorrow after work.
Sorry to hear about your fish . . .
Coral beauties may not be the flashiest angels, or the rarest, or the most expensive ... but they're a beautiful fish in my eyes - and in my tank. (>_<)
~Bruce
Coral beauties may not be the flashiest angels, or the rarest, or the most expensive ... but they're a beautiful fish in my eyes - and in my tank. (>_<)
~Bruce
Diesel
ME=1, CANCER=0.
You have any other fish in the tank as we speak?
I wouldn't add any new fish for a while as you don't know what your CB carried for disease.
It could also just be stress but we will never know.
If you still have othet fish in your tank monitor those for at least 4 weeks.
I wouldn't add any new fish for a while as you don't know what your CB carried for disease.
It could also just be stress but we will never know.
If you still have othet fish in your tank monitor those for at least 4 weeks.
I only have coral, snails, and that damselfish. I use to have a purple fire fish he jumped out Saturday morning. My dog found him. Smh! Now my angel I'm done buying fish for a while. My freshwater fish are happy and eating well. My saltwater is giving me trouble 
My yellow tail damsels became aggressive I had to put them in a separate tank.... Hopefully everything works out for uI only have coral, snails, and that damselfish. I use to have a purple fire fish he jumped out Saturday morning. My dog found him. Smh! Now my angel I'm done buying fish for a while. My freshwater fish are happy and eating well. My saltwater is giving me trouble
You really should qt your fish to be successful. Saltwater is a much different game. Saltwater fish are actually very easy and very hardy for the most part when parasites are taken out of the picture. To put it into perspective, I sat in a presentation a couple years ago listening to a well known marine biologist explain that on average fish they collected from the reef had on average 37 different parasites per fish. That number was a combination of internal and external parasites.
Methods for eradicating the most common ones are very easy. And the majority of not so common ones will generally be eradicated as well in the processes. Many of the fish we keep can be successfully kept for 20 years or more.
Methods for eradicating the most common ones are very easy. And the majority of not so common ones will generally be eradicated as well in the processes. Many of the fish we keep can be successfully kept for 20 years or more.
