Water change caused death

[blecki]

From what I've heard chromis can actually be challenging to keep due to their great susceptibility to a parasite called uronema, which is hard to get out of a tank once it's in there.

Out of 21 chromis purchased a year ago, I have -2 left. Yes, -2. I have 3 of the chromis but lost 5 other prized fish to the uronema the chromis brought in and my own stupidity. Now the 3 survivors are the biggest meanest chromis I have ever seen but that gives you some idea of their mortality rate to uronema. There's a good possibility I would have more if I hadn't tried hyposalinity but who knows. They are definitely risky.

 

[littlefoxx]

Well yea some say slow drip or some say fast dump. But this was in there for months and survived all the water changes and other finned inhabitants since so it’s like losing a master corporal. He was well accustomed to the salt environment. Take it with a grain of salt I guess (no pun intended)

Ah okay I thought you just dumped it in before the WC. I agree with leaving the sand be, quite the opposite from freshwater and was a strange thing to me too!

 

[alliw]

Hmmm. Makes it more of a mystery then.

Like Clue. Haha

 

[alliw]

Swings it towards oxygen levels over ammonia.

If the tank was very low in oxygen even a very small reduction could have put it below what the fish needed. I'm surprised nobody asked for a FTS yet.

What’s an FTS?
But I can see this oxygen issue, yes cause the water wasn’t moving for a good 40mins?

 

[littlefoxx]

Appreciate your input! I always hesitate to chime in on posts due to my being so immature to the salt hobby. I read a bunch about salt mollies before I decided on the first inhabitant and I knew that it wasn’t going to stay forever but I also knew that if it died then it would be the tipping point. Now that I have this one blood shrimp and a bunch of corals including porites which are presumably harder to keep, I’m stumped. Firstly I think - do another water change just water in a couple days, let the new filter kick in, then find a few Chromis or a single sand sifting goby. I do want to ensure new fish won’t die by jumping so a mesh top is on the way!

Be careful with the chromis as others have said. I went and found a trio that had been together since they were tiny and bought them that way. They have been with me almost a year now. No picking on each other, one is for sure in charge since he is larger. The other two follow his lead. I really do like my chromis though! I call them the zoomies, very active

 

[alliw]

Ah okay I thought you just dumped it in before the WC. I agree with leaving the sand be, quite the opposite from freshwater and was a strange thing to me too!

Right? It’s so hard not to look at the dirty sand and leave it alone.

 

[littlefoxx]

Right? It’s so hard not to look at the dirty sand and leave it alone.

Get yourself a good clean up crew! They make all the difference

 

[alliw]

Out of 21 chromis purchased a year ago, I have -2 left. Yes, -2. I have 3 of the chromis but lost 5 other prized fish to the uronema the chromis brought in and my own stupidity. Now the 3 survivors are the biggest meanest chromis I have ever seen but that gives you some idea of their mortality rate to uronema. There's a good possibility I would have more if I hadn't tried hyposalinity but who knows. They are definitely risky.

 

[alliw]

Get yourself a good clean up crew! They make all the difference

I will buy some snails for sure. I’d love an urchin but I’m scared it’ll die too because I don’t have fish now lol it’s a vicious circle eh

 

[alliw]

Out of 21 chromis purchased a year ago, I have -2 left. Yes, -2. I have 3 of the chromis but lost 5 other prized fish to the uronema the chromis brought in and my own stupidity. Now the 3 survivors are the biggest meanest chromis I have ever seen but that gives you some idea of their mortality rate to uronema. There's a good possibility I would have more if I hadn't tried hyposalinity but who knows. They are definitely risky.

uronema. New word for my vocabulary.
How did you know? I have a microscope but am a tad queasy to dissect anything. Is that how you knew?

 

[littlefoxx]

I will buy some snails for sure. I’d love an urchin but I’m scared it’ll die too because I don’t have fish now lol it’s a vicious circle eh

Yeah wait on the urchin, they need an established tank!

 

[GiannisK]

What’s an FTS?
But I can see this oxygen issue, yes cause the water wasn’t moving for a good 40mins?

Full Tank Shot, I believe -- a clear picture of your entire aquarium

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, stirring up old sand can release toxic amounts of hydrogen sulfide. Toxicity varies greatly by species. Any blackness in the sand can be an indicator of that possibility, and if you could smell rotten eggs during the cleaning, that's also a give away.

Hydrogen Sulfide and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[jda]

I would almost never clean the sand... like maybe every 3 or 4 years in small amounts spread over a year.

Skimmer should always go back on the tank. The gas exchange and oxygenation is too important.

This was probably covered, but don't do so much at once next time. These tanks are ecosystems, if you are lucky, and you don't want to disturb too much at one time.

 

[alliw]

Full Tank Shot, I believe -- a clear picture of your entire aquarium

Here’s a FTS, I added the skimmer back just before I took this.

 

[alliw]

I would almost never clean the sand... like maybe every 3 or 4 years in small amounts spread over a year.

Skimmer should always go back on the tank. The gas exchange and oxygenation is too important.

This was probably covered, but don't do so much at once next time. These tanks are ecosystems, if you are lucky, and you don't want to disturb too much at one time.

Yes I think that was the issue. I did too much at once

 

[alliw]

FWIW, stirring up old sand can release toxic amounts of hydrogen sulfide. Toxicity varies greatly by species. Any blackness in the sand can be an indicator of that possibility, and if you could smell rotten eggs during the cleaning, that's also a give away.

Hydrogen Sulfide and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

Thank you. I read through your article as well.