Two tank emergencies!

[DracoKat]

I am so sorry you are going through this!

Do you run filter socks in either system? If so, can you feel the inside to see if it they are overly slimy?

Do you run a skimmer line to the outside of the house?

I'm in the camp that this is the result of overfeeding or an airborne contaminant. I doubt that disease is the cause since firefish would succumb to most diseases well before a clownfish would. They fact they all passed so quickly leads me to think it is something different.

Your 9g ammonia reading is effectively 0ppm although the nitrites tell us you had some spike. The question that we may never know is if the spike caused the fish deaths or the fish caused the spike.

I would run an airstone in your larger tank if possible. O2 deprivation is a real possibility if that cloudiness is caused by bacteria.

No filter socks. the 9 gal is low- tech system with rock and a filter with floss (now carbon after the WC I just did). No sump for 9g
75g- no skimmer line- just fills the cup. It was to the brim when I changed it because it's been over 10 days since I was able to clean it

It is possible one fish did die and killed the rest. There's still one firefish in there that I can't find.. probably buried in the rock and I can't find it. I am hoping the CUC will get it.

 

[DracoKat]

I texted my petsitter a few questions. I didn't tell her the fish died yet, I want to try to get honest answers from her

 

[Brew12]

No filter socks. the 9 gal is low- tech system with rock and a filter with floss (now carbon after the WC I just did). No sump for 9g
75g- no skimmer line- just fills the cup. It was to the brim when I changed it because it's been over 10 days since I was able to clean it

It is possible one fish did die and killed the rest. There's still one firefish in there that I can't find.. probably buried in the rock and I can't find it. I am hoping the CUC will get it.

I think my highest priority would be to get more air into the 75g. Do the fish in it look like they are breathing heavily?

 

[DracoKat]

the fish do not look like they're bothered. Nothing seems to be amiss with them

 

[DracoKat]

I added an airstone (ok, the battery backup air stone as I have no more outlets, yikes)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sorry Draco. Awful to hear.

Baffling. Truly.
With as little Maint as I actually do even to my sumpless tank, missing a wc or cleaning shouldn’t be the issue.

House was closed up more than usual?

 

[jsker]

I added an airstone (ok, the battery backup air stone as I have no more outlets, yikes)

How far back can you go with the security cam?

 

[DracoKat]

@saltyfilmfolks I think about the same- I think my sitter had the door open a few times that I noticed in the security camera

 

[DracoKat]

How far back can you go with the security cam?

I can’t. This cam is only real time- it doesn’t record unless I tell it to

 

[Flippers4pups]

Sorry @DracoKat for your losses. Too much food would have easily caused all this. Like way too much. Excess food in the 9 could have caused a cycle, thus ammonia spike. In the 75, it manifested as a bloom.

@Brew12's advice on O2 is sound and a water change in both will help, as I know your working on now.

Hang in there.

Once again sorry for your loss.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I can’t. This cam is only real time- it doesn’t record unless I tell it to

Lol. @jsker and I are one in the same quote. Lol.

 

[ArowanaLover1902]

Did something get sucked into the filter? I had a friend who had a similar problem when an anemone went into the intake and got shredded (he was brand new to reefing and stupidly added one) and poisoned the tank (again, stupidly, he bought a toxic anemone, he never specified what though, I'm thinking condy though). Water parameters would test normal as you're probably not testing for toxins.

 

[4FordFamily]

Ok I’ve read the comments and my thoughts are as follows:

I agree with Brew and Flippers that likely disease wasn’t he culprit. I’m guessing one of two things happened

1) Sitter poured something in thetank, perhaps drunk or angry with you? I’ve cleaned around my tanks without any issue I imagine this would have to be more deliberate

2) immense overfeeding, as mentioned


Sorry this happened

 

[DracoKat]

all filters and sumps look clean enough.. nothing amiss or stuck in there.

I am leaning to overfeeding as well.

I trust my sitter enough, I don't think she'd do anything purposely. If she did spray something, she wouldn't know the danger of it.

 

[Flippers4pups]

all filters and sumps look clean enough.. nothing amiss or stuck in there.

I am leaning to overfeeding as well.

I trust my sitter enough, I don't think she'd do anything purposely. If she did spray something, she wouldn't know the danger of it.

I for one dislike insinuating anyone of malcontent, but in situations like this, it's so tough not to have at least ruled it out.

Mistakes happen, we are all human.

 

[DracoKat]

she could've sprayed perfume or something simple as that. Who knows really

all I can do at this point is fix and water changes to get them back on track.

 

[4FordFamily]

I for one dislike insinuating anyone of malcontent, but in situations like this, it's so tough not to have at least ruled it out.

Mistakes happen, we are all human.

I agree, I certainly hope no malice was meant!

 

[jsker]

I can’t. This cam is only real time- it doesn’t record unless I tell it to

ah bummer. Ok moving forward water changes and carbon is the best corse you can do.

 

[Mini Coop]

I really have no input, but read this entire thread. I am so sorry for your losses! This is heartbreaking! It sucks even more when you don't know what happened! Hope you figure something out! And at least can get the 75 under control! I am so excited getting my new 180 set up - but forgot about the stress when something goes awry! Thinking of you!

 

[DracoKat]

I didn't do a WC on my 75g yet (didn't have enough water, will need to finish making it after work and do the WC), but the water looks about 20% clearer after changing the carbon and filter floss. I believe it's bacterial/algae bloom.

RE my 9g tank.. should I treat the tank as if its going through a cycle again before adding fish? I did about 50% water change yesterday and plan on doing another. The corals look happy enough in there.