Please HELP! Clowns are dying.....

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

Well I've made the mistake and used too much aquascape epoxy in my 20g nano. I have 2 Ocellaris Clownfish which are currently laying on the sand bed. I Currently I have an air stone in and powerheads aimed towards the surface to try and help bring back oxygen levels.

My question is is there anything else I can do to help? Should I take them out and put them in a bucket until I can get control back on my tank?

System has been set up for 2 years. Both Clowns were healthy until I made this tragic mistake. Frogspawn and Hammer coral are doing well along with a Emerald Crab, Sexy Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp and a few Hermits.

PLEASE ANY recommendations! I hate seeing them lying on there side like this espcially when it was my stupidness....

melypr1985 · Jan 27, 2016

Have you tested your water yet? Have you had the clowns for the whole 2 years the tank has been up and running? Did you add anything new to the tank like a new coral or invert?

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Have you tested your water yet? Have you had the clowns for the whole 2 years the tank has been up and running? Did you add anything new to the tank like a new coral or invert?

My pH was a bit higher then normal....8.3(usually 8.0-8.1). Everything else checked out

The clowns were introduced a few months after the tank was set up. (so yes basically the whole 2 years). The only new additon was the emerald crab but that was about 2 months ago.

brandon429 · Jan 27, 2016

That epoxy isn't known contaminant I'd like to see tank pics. Two year old nanos can have sandbed issues that when disturbed can cause problems. Sometimes tank pics show unspoken details

A large water change may be required, assessing currently

Am currently searching to see if others had mix issues with that epoxy

melypr1985 · Jan 27, 2016

Lets call in some help from the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] and see if they have any ideas. Assuming the fish show no symptoms of parasites, then they might have an idea of what to do.

symptoms would include: heavy breathing, rubbing, scratching, yawning, white spots, appearance of "skin sloughing off", looking dusty or dirty... it goes on

fbodykiller · Jan 27, 2016

Was it an aquarium safe epoxy? Good for Potable water?

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

brandon429 said:
That epoxy isn't known contaminant I'd like to see tank pics. Two year old nanos can have sandbed issues that when disturbed can cause problems. Sometimes tank pics show unspoken details

A large water change may be required, assessing currently

Am currently searching to see if others had mix issues with that epoxy

I did do some research and found a few people saying if you used to much it can do some damage (which I think I'm finding out here). I did move around a few rocks but not more then I do during any bi weekly water change. (25% water change today)

I took some pics of the tank. There are two pictures of the frogspawn and hammer which were taken an hour before this all occurred. As well as a video of the Clowns. The Clown which is already on its side is the one who I initially noticed. The smaller one was swimming around for a while after but now seems to be moving very slow

ice28720 · Jan 27, 2016

Now! Take out aquascape epoxy and changing the tank 7gal water. Good luck！

redfishbluefish · Jan 27, 2016

I'd be doing water changes and running carbon.

I've never seen epoxy do anything to livestock. The only thing that I've witnessed with epoxy is that it makes the skimmer run a bit wet.

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

fbodykiller said:
Was it an aquarium safe epoxy? Good for Potable water?

Yes it was, it did say "reef safe". It was D&D Aquascape

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
I'd be doing water changes and running carbon.

I've never seen epoxy do anything to livestock. The only thing that I've witnessed with epoxy is that it makes the skimmer run a bit wet.

Do you think its better to keep doing water changes? I've just completed another 25% water change. Would it do the fish any good if I removed them from the DT and put them in a 5g bucket in the meantime until I get things back in check?

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

ice28720 said:
Now! Take out aquascape epoxy and changing the tank 7gal water. Good luck！

Anyone else suggest removing the epoxy which I already have cured to the LR?

brandon429 · Jan 27, 2016

Very nice pics and tank wow

Opinions will vary here and if it was my tank it would be full water change. I'd leave the epoxy as it cures it's even less suspect

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

brandon429 said:
Very nice pics and tank wow

Opinions will vary here and if it was my tank it would be full water change. I'd leave the epoxy as it cures it's even less suspect

Thank you!

I still have the airstone in, should I remove it? I read on a few other forums to put it in but I'm not sure on how long to keep it in?

Wish I could save these fish, I feel so bad. First loss in 2 years

brandon429 · Jan 27, 2016

If you are containing the salt creep it is not hurting. My whole reef is air stone driven exclusively. I know big wc aren't ideal for fish, won't hurt bacteria or corals certainly, but it seems we need tank CPR which consists of total export of X variable. Even if X suspect wasn't the case, we do successful large water changes with fish in tow lots of times

Having the water aged a bit before swap helps, and the re-pour is critical. Must not stir up sandbed, although it's looking clean so far. I was specifically looking at your live rock details for non clogging, the corners of the tank and the sandbed, you provided what looks to be a cleaner than normal tank. Do you have any ammonia test outcomes we could see

That tank looks all of two years, excellent growth and ion consistency going solely off coralline.

melypr1985 · Jan 27, 2016

bmay said:
Thank you!

I still have the airstone in, should I remove it? I read on a few other forums to put it in but I'm not sure on how long to keep it in?

Wish I could save these fish, I feel so bad. First loss in 2 years

The air stone wont hurt anything. It's just going to increase oxygen in the water which might actually help the clowns. Seems like water changes and carbon are going to be your friend right now. Good luck!

ice28720 · Jan 27, 2016

Now! Fish Status not good , dont changes full water.

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

brandon429 said:
If you are containing the salt creep it is not hurting. My whole reef is air stone driven exclusively. I know big wc aren't ideal for fish, won't hurt bacteria or corals certainly, but it seems we need tank CPR which consists of total export of X variable. Even if X suspect wasn't the case, we do successful large water changes with fish in tow lots of times

Having the water aged a bit before swap helps, and the re-pour is critical. Must not stir up sandbed, although it's looking clean so far. I was specifically looking at your live rock details for non clogging, the corners of the tank and the sandbed, you provided what looks to be a cleaner than normal tank. Do you have any ammonia test outcomes we could see

That tank looks all of two years, excellent growth and ion consistency going solely off coralline.

Thanks for all your help.

Is there anything I can do for the fish? Or is it just a wait and see kind of deal now?

bmay · Jan 27, 2016

melypr1985 said:
The air stone wont hurt anything. It's just going to increase oxygen in the water which might actually help the clowns. Seems like water changes and carbon are going to be your friend right now. Good luck!

Thank you!

Paul Balli · Jan 27, 2016

I'd turn down or shut down your lighting. The less stimulus right now the better. They need to focus on getting better (keep your fingers crossed). Best of luck..I feel for you and your tank.