I have a 46 gallon with live rock, fish and invertebrates (waiting awhile before getting into coral). It’s a new setup that I cycled and stocked with the help of my live fish store. It has been running almost 2 months. Original stock was 2 percula clowns, 3 emerald crabs, 3 peppermint shrimp, and 5 hermits. Everyone was thriving and water tests were looking great so at the advice of my LFS I added 1 flame angel, 1 firefish, 1 scooter Benny and 4 zebra snails. The angel died within 24hrs, the benny and firefish disappeared overnight about 1 week later. I now have found hermits eating a dead emerald today. Water is still testing great. Can someone please give me advice on what to change or do differently? I’m getting discouraged and don’t want to keep adding livestock just for them to die. LFS is no help and says everything looks normal.
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Could be a fast spreading pathogen, such as Marine Velvet Disease: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/
marvelousone
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what are your levels
Crabs McJones
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Can you post your exact water parameters? Unfortunately telling us "all my water is testing great" cannot help us diagnose what may be going on. Are you quarantining your fish before adding them to the display? It's possible one of the fish brought a disease or parasite in with it, and it's taking out your inhabitants. Are you using RO/DI water for water changes and initial fill up?
I posted my parameters above. I only have the 2 clownfish left that still appear to be doing well (active, eating, good color) and the invertebrates minus an emerald crab. Unfortunately I don’t have a quarantine tank set up yet. All fish, rock and water came from the same live fish store. Topping off with R/O. I’ve only done one change so far with r/o saltwater bought from the LFS. When I went to buy water and have it tested the site advised against a water change because my nitrates were still so low.
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I would have to agree with Humblefish on this one, most likely something got introduced into your tank. Best bet would be to get a qt tank set up as soon as possible. You always want to quarantine fish to watch for disease or illness. I keep mine quarantined for 6 weeks or more.
How long ago did you add the new fish? A firefish hiding for a while is not uncommon. Have you found the body? I'd also be Leary of any fish store recommending a scooter blenny to a new reefer with a new tank. Long term success with them is not easy.
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I would also be leary of someone recommending a Flame Angel for a tank of less than 50 gallons. They tend to be very aggressive. Also what acclimation method are you using for your fish?
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Agreed, anything less than a 75 gallon is not recommended.
This is also a good point, a flame angel seems like a bad choice for that size tank. Especially one you plan on adding coral to eventually.
Sounds like your fish store is more interested in selling fish than they are with you being successful.
ajhudson15
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I would think that many fish that quick in a small tank might throw the cycle off as well. that could explain all the deaths.
I agree with most of the rest in here, I think you got bit by the lack-of-quarantine monster. Lots of LFS don't properly quarantine their fish and it can lead to wiping a tank pretty quickly. If your water seems good otherwise, the next most likely culprit is poor fish procedures. Then once one fish dies, your parameters get thrown out of wack if it doesn't just directly infect other fish.
I also agree with the assessment by a few others in here on those recommendations. Of the three, only the firefish is something I would have added. Scooters are REALLY hard to keep and shouldn't be in anything short of a long-established and stable reef.
I also agree with the assessment by a few others in here on those recommendations. Of the three, only the firefish is something I would have added. Scooters are REALLY hard to keep and shouldn't be in anything short of a long-established and stable reef.
