I’ve lost the last 2 fish I put in my tank a damsel and a six line... the damsel lasted 3 days the the wrasse about a month. My wrasse was fine yesterday and died today. My clownfish and goby I’ve had for 6 months have been fine, all parameters are fine except a small amount of ammonia I don’t know what’s going on or how to find out what I am doing wrong. Anyone have advice on this?
Random fish deaths
- Thread starter Tangina20
- Start date
- Tagged users None
I’m sorry you’ve lost two fish that is never fun. Some questions that will help you get help -
What size is your tank, what’s your filtration and water change schedule, Did you quarantine your fish?
What size is your tank, what’s your filtration and water change schedule, Did you quarantine your fish?
Dom
Full Time Reef Keeper
- What is your actual ammonia reading?
- Are you testing for nitrites and if so, what is your reading?
Elevated ammonia suggests to me that your nitrifying bacteria colony isn't large enough to handle the bio load. You can add some bottled bacteria to help it along.
- Are you testing for nitrites and if so, what is your reading?
Elevated ammonia suggests to me that your nitrifying bacteria colony isn't large enough to handle the bio load. You can add some bottled bacteria to help it along.
Huh I’m surprised you have ammonia readings with that set up and a few small fish. How much are you feeding and how much rock and sand do you have? How is the Cheato growing?
Have you noticed aggression from the clown or goby?
Have you noticed aggression from the clown or goby?
I have more than 40 pounds. I’m very stingy on feedings and haven’t even fed my coral in a couple weeks. My chaeto is growing slowly I just got new lights for the display and I’m putting the black box down there to hopefully get better growth than the par 38.
Hmmm what test kit are you using? You may be in the margin of error.
Does your city use chloramine?
This video may be helpful
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/do-rodi-filters-remove-ammonia-brstv-investigates/
Did you notice any signs of disease like rapid breathing or flashing/scratching? Or white stringy poo from the wrasse?
Does your city use chloramine?
This video may be helpful
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/do-rodi-filters-remove-ammonia-brstv-investigates/
Did you notice any signs of disease like rapid breathing or flashing/scratching? Or white stringy poo from the wrasse?
Ok. I’m trying to help by process of elimination but I’m still not sure between ammonia poisoning or a disease like ich or velvet. Did you notice any redness around the gills? That could be a sign of ammonia poisoning. It’s also possible that the damsel inteoduced a disease that the wrasse died from.
I think what will help you eliminate variables is two things
1. figuring out why there is ammonia in the tank and rodi water and eliminating it. This may include upgrading your rodi system especially if your water supply uses chloramines. You could try a bacterial boosting product like fritz, dr Tim’s or microbacter.
2. Treating your clown and goby for diseases in a separate QT, letting the main display stay fallow, and then QTing all new fish and inverts.
I’m not saying you have to do both or either these are just two things I can think of that will help you eliminate variables and hopefully succeed with keeping fish.
Maybe someone with more experience than I on #reefsquad can help think through this with you
I think what will help you eliminate variables is two things
1. figuring out why there is ammonia in the tank and rodi water and eliminating it. This may include upgrading your rodi system especially if your water supply uses chloramines. You could try a bacterial boosting product like fritz, dr Tim’s or microbacter.
2. Treating your clown and goby for diseases in a separate QT, letting the main display stay fallow, and then QTing all new fish and inverts.
I’m not saying you have to do both or either these are just two things I can think of that will help you eliminate variables and hopefully succeed with keeping fish.
Maybe someone with more experience than I on #reefsquad can help think through this with you
Thanks for the info! I’m in the process of setting up a qt tank. Can chlorine also cause ammonia like chloramine does?? I didn’t notice any redness but the other fish that are alive both seem to be happy.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Here are a few thoughts.
Chlorine in tap water does not contribute to ammonia levels as chloramine does. The 'amine' part of chloramine represents ammonia. Find out for sure what your city uses. They're required to tell you exactly what they use to treat the water; you might even be able to find it online for your area. Another thing you can do is test your own unfiltered tap water for ammonia; if it registers any ammonia at all then most likely you have chloramines.
Check your tank ammonia with a different kit, like the Red Sea one. With a tank of that age and so few fish your ammonia should be rock steady zero. I suspect that the tests up to now have been inaccurate, but you should try and put this to rest because if the test is accurate, it needs to be explored further (such as what might have damaged your biofilter.)
It could easily be infection, something like crypto, flukes or velvet. Aside from heavy breathing, which could be anything, were there are other symptoms or signs before the fish died? Any pictures? Have you checked with the store where you got the damsel to see if they've had an outbreak of anything? If disease seems likely to you, as mentioned above you could QT the remaining two fish for observation and/or treatment, and let the display tank go fallow.
Does your tank circulation and skimming continue throughout the night? I've seen people ascribe mysterious overnight fish deaths to reduced oxygen levels.
Chlorine in tap water does not contribute to ammonia levels as chloramine does. The 'amine' part of chloramine represents ammonia. Find out for sure what your city uses. They're required to tell you exactly what they use to treat the water; you might even be able to find it online for your area. Another thing you can do is test your own unfiltered tap water for ammonia; if it registers any ammonia at all then most likely you have chloramines.
Check your tank ammonia with a different kit, like the Red Sea one. With a tank of that age and so few fish your ammonia should be rock steady zero. I suspect that the tests up to now have been inaccurate, but you should try and put this to rest because if the test is accurate, it needs to be explored further (such as what might have damaged your biofilter.)
It could easily be infection, something like crypto, flukes or velvet. Aside from heavy breathing, which could be anything, were there are other symptoms or signs before the fish died? Any pictures? Have you checked with the store where you got the damsel to see if they've had an outbreak of anything? If disease seems likely to you, as mentioned above you could QT the remaining two fish for observation and/or treatment, and let the display tank go fallow.
Does your tank circulation and skimming continue throughout the night? I've seen people ascribe mysterious overnight fish deaths to reduced oxygen levels.
I use skimming all day long but I do use a glass lid on my display the sump is open top though. The store still has all of their fish that were brought in. I have a video of the wrasse the damsel did the same thing but stayed at the bottom of the tank on the sand bed. What are the signs I should look out for infections? Here’s a picture it won’t let me upload video
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Thanks for the pic. I don't see that it had any obvious external parasites or bacterial infection there. That doesn't rule out flukes, though. Was it hovering near the surface much, as in that pic? Can be a sign of not getting enough oxygen due to gill damage or low oxygen in the water. Also you mention a glass lid. Do you monitor the water temperature constantly? Any chance it can be getting hotter when the lights are on? I'm just throwing ideas out because it's definitely not clear yet what caused your fish to die.
Signs of infection include things like multiple white spots large or small, areas of skin discoloration, excess mucus production, skin sloughing, and so on.
To upload a video, I think you have to post it to youtube, and you can then add that link here. That's what I've done a few times, anyway.
Signs of infection include things like multiple white spots large or small, areas of skin discoloration, excess mucus production, skin sloughing, and so on.
To upload a video, I think you have to post it to youtube, and you can then add that link here. That's what I've done a few times, anyway.
I have a glass lid covering the top but there is a skimmer in the be sump that should be creating plenty of oxygen. Water is at a consistent 78 degrees all day. The fish only showed symptoms for less than a day and was hovering at the top the whole time.
