Mysterious Fish Deaths

[shadynate]

Hello. I have a newly set up tank and started with a filefish. He was doing well for about a month and then we added two clownfish. The tank is 26 gallons. The filefish mysteriously disappeared. Mind you the ammonia and nitrite had been zero before we put the fish in. Two days later one of the clownfish disappeared. The next night the second clownfish died. My dad saw it in the tank as it was dying. It was chopped up a bit by the powerhead. I noticed it looked a bit sickly the day before it died with some white fleshy substance on its mouth.

I am assuming they all died from disease. It just seems odd to me they died back to back. What are some possible illnesses they died from? And what should I do about the tank? Do I need to take it all down and restart? Or is there a treatment I can add to the water. I am not too sure what the next step is...

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What is in the tank, animal wise, now?
Jay

 

[shadynate]

Those were the only three livestock I had in the tank. All dead :/

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello. I have a newly set up tank and started with a filefish. He was doing well for about a month and then we added two clownfish. The tank is 26 gallons. The filefish mysteriously disappeared. Mind you the ammonia and nitrite had been zero before we put the fish in. Two days later one of the clownfish disappeared. The next night the second clownfish died. My dad saw it in the tank as it was dying. It was chopped up a bit by the powerhead. I noticed it looked a bit sickly the day before it died with some white fleshy substance on its mouth.

I am assuming they all died from disease. It just seems odd to me they died back to back. What are some possible illnesses they died from? And what should I do about the tank? Do I need to take it all down and restart? Or is there a treatment I can add to the water. I am not too sure what the next step is...

Did you cycle tank and how and for how long?
Did you acclimate fish to the tank and again how and for how long ?
You stated ammonia and nitrite were zero. How about nitrate and what kit did you test with?
Dont concern yourself with nitrite Unless sky high above 100. with nitrite test I assume you have API test kit?

ANY PICS OF YOUR TANK UNDER WHITE LIGHTING ?

 

[Uncle99]

With no livestock left, good opportunity to go fallow to rid any parasite if you think that’s a possibility.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I would let the tank run empty for 14 days, and then start adding a few hardy invertebrates. I wouldn't add any fish for a full 60 days, and if you can, buy pre quarantined fish.

For the first 14 days, you can "ghost feed" the tank - just add a tiny pinch of food every other day to keep the bacteria humming along.

Jay

 

[shadynate]

Awesome thank you. Is there a treatment product I should add to the tank to rid it of any parasites/disease? Or just wait 60 days and let it run its course

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Awesome thank you. Is there a treatment product I should add to the tank to rid it of any parasites/disease? Or just wait 60 days and let it run its course

If you plan on keeping invertebrates in the tank it is best to not use any drugs, just wait for the parasites to die out.
Jay

 

[Tamberav]

Besides QT fish, buying directly from the breeders should limit disease and is generally a safe choice. So say a filefish and pair of clowns from biotas website for example (after no fish for x amount of days).

 

[grr410]

Had a GHA outbreak starting if you can, and you should because I don’t think you mentioned having corals in the tank, turn off the lights. Algae cannot survive without light. This is what I did and it worked great for me.