New Fish Died - Next Steps

[jgaepi]

LiveAquaria thinks it might be the LFS’s reading of 0.25 ammonia that caused the deaths. My Red Sea test consistently shows 0. But even a .025 shouldn’t kill a fish, right?

 

[Manthanol]

Sorry for your loss, I would be suspicious of velvet if fish are dying fast and all parameters are within normal limit but like William said it's hard to say without pics. BTW, try Biospira next time setting up a tank or QT. I use an ammonia badge and test kit for new set up just to be sure, ammonia is toxic and any amount can kill fish but usually there are signs of ammonia toxicity like burn of the gills. Good luck.

 

[jgaepi]

Sorry for your loss, I would be suspicious of velvet if fish are dying fast and all parameters are within normal limit but like William said it's hard to say without pics. BTW, try Biospira next time setting up a tank or QT. I use an ammonia badge and test kit for new set up just to be sure, ammonia is toxic and any amount can kill fish but usually there are signs of ammonia toxicity like burn of the gills. Good luck.

Can you tell velvet on a carcass? I took these pictures for LiveAquaria?

 

[aqua_code]

Hard to tell from the picture. You would have noticed rapid breathing and maybe an increase in slime or whiteness around the fish's gills.

 

[JCrowe86]

Have you calibrated your red sea refractometer? I know mine goes all over the place and doesn't seem to hold calibration very well. Finally broke down and ordered a Milwaukee. Unless you got a reading from your LFS your salinity may not be at what you think it is.

 

[jgaepi]

Have you calibrated your red sea refractometer? I know mine goes all over the place and doesn't seem to hold calibration very well. Finally broke down and ordered a Milwaukee. Unless you got a reading from your LFS your salinity may not be at what you think it is.

You are correct. It’s seems all over the place. I ordered a Hanna for overnight shipping. Send me the link to your Milwaukee. Thank you.
Though when I called the LFS (I ordered the fish from liveaquaria but took my water to the LFS yesterday to double check. I’ve bought other stuff from the LFS) this morning to get their opinion on the second fish dying, they didn’t think salinity a little higher would be the cause.

 

[JCrowe86]

You are correct. It’s seems all over the place. I ordered a Hanna for overnight shipping. Send me the link to your Milwaukee. Thank you.
Though when I called the LFS (I ordered the fish from liveaquaria but took my water to the LFS yesterday to double check. I’ve bought other stuff from the LFS) this morning to get their opinion on the second fish dying, they didn’t think salinity a little higher would be the cause.

I got this one, and it's actually on sale right now. It's pricey but I've heard that it's arguably the most accurate

Milwaukee Digitial Seawater Refractometer

PSU PPT S.G. (20/20) Celsius (Fahrenheit) Range: 0 to 50 0 to 150 1.000 to 1.114 0 to 80C (32 to 176F) Resolution: 1 1 0.001 0.1 C (0.1 F) Accuracy: 2...

premiumaquatics.com

 

[jgaepi]

I just ordered. Reefing really is a poor man’s sport. The longer you play, the poorer you become.

 

[aqua_code]

An aquarium is a hole in your house you throw money into

 

[jgaepi]

Let’s double down on that hole we throw money into. I think it might be excessive but I’d like to do a two or three pack of water testing. Mostly to rule out any toxins. Can someone recommend a good service and how to sign up? Thanks.

 

[aqua_code]

I've used triton but I think API has a new ICP test.