Sudden unexplained deaths

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KayJay

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Hi members,

I'm new to this but at my wits end. (Sorry for the long post)

6 x 2 x 2 fowlr tank
2 x 1 x 1 sump
Protein skimmer
Powerheads x 2
Tank running for approx 7 months
Fish in it for 4 months
5 ocellaris + 2 barrier reef chromis added first
1 month later + lipstick tang + foxface + valentini puffer (got stuck behind the back wall 3 weeks later )
1 month later + empires angel (adult) - died 3 days later of bacterial infection
2 weeks later + flame + bicolor + emporer angel (all jeuveniles) added more live rock and purchased more salt (different brand)

Each time I purchase fish I take a water sample to lfs for them to test before I purchase and I purchase more clean up crew. Currently have 4 variety starfish and a variety of snails.

All my water tests have always been spot on.

All fish have been happy and feeding.

3 days after last fish purchase I lost 2 angels. The next day I lost the bicolor and one if the chromis. I took both these to lfs and there wasn't a mark on them, their gills were fine and they were brightly coloured. lfs scratching his head as water test was still fine (kh a little low but nothing a teaspoon of bicarb didn't fix). I sent a water sample to Triton and waited. Lost all fish except the foxface over the ensuing days. All with the same symptoms....none! Feeding and swimming happily one minute... dead an hour later. All clean-up crew are still alive and I even have baby snails.

After 3 weeks Triton results are in.... high levels of tin 2.156 and toxic levels of zinc 59ug/l. All other reaults were ok.

So.... did the zinc kill my fish?
...where has it come from?
....how do I remove it?
.... how can I regularly test for it myself without having to go back to Triton?

On the advice from my lfs I have checked my tank and sump for anything metal. I have two stainless steel clips that are outside the water. My algae scraper is plastic. I do have a magnetic cleaner that has been in the tank the whole time (removed now though)

I'd really appreciate anyone's advice, suggestions, experiences.... anything. I'm sooo upset.

KayJay
 
Thanks Hunblefish,
Lfs confirmed no signs of velvet. Gills were clean on the specimens I took to him. I did give one of them a fw dip to see if it was flukes but no. He died the next day.
Like I said... they weren't showing any symptoms of anything being wrong.
Cheers

Do you have any corals in this tank? How are they looking/doing?
 
After 3 weeks Triton results are in.... high levels of tin 2.156 and toxic levels of zinc 59ug/l. All other reaults were ok.

So.... did the zinc kill my fish?

Did your fish demonstrate any of the following symptoms for metals poisoning?

Symptoms

Acute poison - leading quickly to death
  • Gasping at the surface or lying on the substrate
  • Shimmering
  • Uncontrolled swimming
  • Glazed or eyes not moving look
Chronic poisoning - Slow death
  • Loss of appetite
  • Breathing more rapidly
  • Shimmering
  • More likely to catch fungus and bacterial disease due to damaged immune system
  • Growth deformities
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

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  • No.

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  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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