Nudibranch Bombed My Tank? Help!

[ArialReef]

I just got home from school and I saw that 1 of my chromis is breathing heavily in the corner and the other two panicking, then I saw my orangeshoulder tang wedged between the rockwork and he's probably dead. Then I saw my nudibranch, laying dead on the rocks. It's a Hypselodoris bullocki nudibranch, what should I do?! The corals and other inverts seem to be fine. There is a lot of bubbles floating in the water. Help!

 

[EmdeReef]

remove all dead fish and inverts, do large water change or two and run carbon. Have you tested ammonia?
How old is the tank and what livestock? Does the nudi look damaged? They generally don’t release toxins unless bullied and even then it’s largely localized to deter the attacker - in a very small tank that can be an issue. It’s very possible, given their diet, that it just starved if you’ve had it for about 2weeks.

 

[ArialReef]

I can't remove the tang because it's in a crevice and the rocks are glued. I don't have any carbon at hand and only a few liters of water. The nudibranch itself doesn't seem to be damaged, just shriveled up. I suspect it got sucked into the power head. It's been living in the tank for about a month and it has laid eggs once. I'll try to get supplies as soon as possible. Any suggestions?

 

[EmdeReef]

You’ll need carbon for sure if you think it released toxins and will have to do large water changes. If you’re sure it’s dead, Remove the nudi asap if not already done. If it were sucked by the powerhead there’d be visible damage.

add something like Prime to help your remaining fish as soon as possible.

 

[ArialReef]

You’ll need carbon for sure if you think it released toxins and will have to do large water changes. If you’re sure it’s dead, Remove the nudi asap if not already done. If it were sucked by the powerhead there’d be visible damage.

add something like Prime to help your remaining fish as soon as possible.

Okay, I think I have some carbon somewhere. Will do.

 

[ArialReef]

Just removed the nudibranch and now I'm certain that the wavemaker chopped it. I couldn't find my old carbon, I'll get some tomorrow. Any other alternatives for now?

 

[EmdeReef]

Test ammonia, use prime or ammo lock or similar, do water changes. Not much else you can do until you stabilize your tank to prevent further losses. Good luck!

 

[Maritimer]

EmdeReef has given you some pretty good advice up there!

You'll want to do whatever you can to get that tang out of the tank. It's going to generate ammonia, which you don't need adding to your troubles.

I'm sorry to read of your losses today, and hoping they don't grow . . .

~Bruce

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Very unfortunate to hear.

But tomorrow will be too late.

 

[fyler83]

How did you make out?

 

[Rakie]

Carbon is another thing which should always be on hand. Any emergency of any type involving water chemistry, pollutants, extra bad farts -- Carbon. Always carbon.

 

[joshbridges]

organic carbon dosing ,, Vokda , Sugar , ext

 

[ArialReef]

How did you make out?

Well, all the fish died.... At least it doesn't have any ill-effects on the coral. I already ran carbon and did a waterchange and now it's back to normal. I added a bicolor blenny and he's doing fine. He's so cute tho...

 

[joshbridges]

I have a bi colour blenny aswell , they are cute and have a good personality ,, fun fish , very sorry to hear about the deaths in the tank , hope you can stock up and get back to normal ,, maybe next time no naudibranches or cucumbers or apples