Sick coral beauty?

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

Hey guys I've had my coral beauty in quarantine for 6 days. So today I performed a water change and about an hour after I noticed my coral beauty was breathing heavy. I thought this may be due to stress so I turned off all the lights. I'm starting to worry as I don't know why he maybe be doing this. I tested the water after the water change and these were the results:

ph: 8.0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate: 0
Phosphate: 0
Temp: 25.5
Salinity: 1.022 (my Lfs keeps there fish at around 1.020 - 1.021 so I acclimate them to a lower salinity in qt and slowly raise it)
Alkalinity: at least 8.5dkh

I'm completely stumped as to why the sudden change he's always been so curious swimming around breathing fine. But now he's breathing heavy and is in the top corner.

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

The fish is now lying on the bottom of the tank and breathing heavily

Humblefish · Feb 28, 2015

Is it possible a contaminant of some kind (ex. household cleaner) got into your water change vat? Since the behavior changed after doing the WC?

I would relocate the angel immediately to new water (not from your vat).

P.S. I will be travelling all day today, so hopefully others will chime in to help you.

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

I bought the water from my Lfs. I also used the same water to clean my reef tank and everything in my feed is 100% fine

Mike J. · Feb 28, 2015

You are sure there wasn't a change in salinity or sudden temperature difference? Are there any physical signs on the fish? Like pinkish fin or skin spots?

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

Nope there wasn't any changes besides alkalinity just a tiny bit. And nope no signs of anything on the fish

Mike J. · Feb 28, 2015

Being at the top of the water and not the bottom gives a little hope. How big is the tank it's in? And, how much water did you change?

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

It's now at the bottom is was upright for a big but now it's decided to go back onto its side. It's in a 15 gallon and I changed about 30%

Mike J. · Feb 28, 2015

Just to let you know what my first suspicion was: 1. Acclimation shock. 2. Chemical burn - was the water well mixed and at correct temperature and specific gravity. A five gallon water change for a 15 gallon tank would be considered a large change.

Fish do overcome those two problems a lot of times. If you suspect poison - I'd change the tank it's in.

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

I'd actually say it was 3-5 gallons. He was acclimated with a drip over a 2.5 hour period.

Deinonych · Feb 28, 2015

Foskett said:
I'd actually say it was 3-5 gallons. He was acclimated with a drip over a 2.5 hour period.

The drip acclimation could have been the cause of the problem. The best way to acclimate a new fish is to match the QT salinity to that of the transport bag. Then, simply float for 20 minutes to temperature acclimate, and plop the fish in the QT. Drip acclimation can result in wide swings of temperature and pH, and with fish shipped overnight, exposure to toxic ammonia. It's an antiquated practice that should be eliminated from our hobby, IMO and IME.

Foskett · Feb 28, 2015

So how do you recommened to acclimate new arrivals if they are coming from a different salinity? Just float the bag and add a cup of water??

Mike J. · Feb 28, 2015

The best was I've found to acclimate a fish is to match the water it's been in and then to add saltwater for evaporation instead of RO water. That way it's raised over a period of days or a week if it's a .003 or .004 change.