What killed my fish?

[Dom]

So I just got a voltmeter and checked, I know it's a bit delayed but the voltage was less than 1. Any other possibilities?? No new food changes, and a total fish kill. Should I change out my equipment, get a new heater??

I'd like to know more about the heater and that it is working properly. I once had a 55 gallon setup where the heater malfunctioned and got stuck in the on position. Temp went up to 96 degrees and everything was dead by the time I got home from work that day.

 

[Dom]

OK, different approach.....how do you measure salinity? Do you use tap water or RO/DI?

Wouldn't the cause be something sudden and extreme? I would think that an issue like salinity would manifest itself in ways that would raise flags before the inhabitants died. No?

 

[Pamela]

This is so sad. I'm sorry this happened to you, and hope you will not lose heart and throw in the towel.

 

[Humblefish]

If ALL fish died, but NO corals/inverts were impacted ... then that definitely raises the possibility of a fish disease. The Ricordea from 3 weeks ago could have brought in the tomont (egg) stage of velvet (for example). And with velvet, sometimes there are no obvious physical symptoms. Only behavioral ones, such as:

• Reduced or complete loss of appetite.
• Heavy breathing, rubbing, flashing, head twitching, erratic swimming behavior (unfortunately velvet shares all these same symptoms with ich & gill flukes.)
• Swimming into the flow of a powerhead (unique to velvet).
• Acting reclusive (velvet causes fish to be sensitive to light).

Not saying it was 100% velvet, but just something to consider.

 

[drcole]

To be honest, I filled tank with RODI from LFS at 1.024, only have topped off with RODI freshwater. Would velvet hit all 3 fish at the same time?? What is the best way to go about getting more fish back into the tank?? Water temp stays at 78, no heater malfunctions.

 

[Humblefish]

Would velvet hit all 3 fish at the same time?? What is the best way to go about getting more fish back into the tank??

Do you look at your tank on a daily basis? I just ask, because I know personally sometimes I am away on business trips for weeks.

You should have noticed them at least acting funny before all dying, but velvet is capable of inflicting mass causalities. I would probably wait at least 6 weeks (fallow period for velvet) before adding more fish, just to be on the safe side.

 

[drcole]

I check it on a daily basis. I will go the full 6 weeks and then start again, it's just so heartbreaking

 

[Dom]

If ALL fish died, but NO corals/inverts were impacted ... then that definitely raises the possibility of a fish disease.

Excellent point. If it was a malfunctioning heater, I wold think everything cooked.

 

[Dom]

To be honest, I filled tank with RODI from LFS at 1.024

I once tested the water from the LFS. All of those thriving tanks... thriving inverts... fish... water must be perfect... right? Not the case! I was shocked to find nitrates at 50 and ammonia around 10. Who would have thought.

 

[Eaj1001]

I know... but why make assumptions?

Only reverses polarity voltage reading is the same...correct

 

[Dom]

Do you look at your tank on a daily basis? I just ask, because I know personally sometimes I am away on business trips for weeks.

You should have noticed them at least acting funny before all dying, but velvet is capable of inflicting mass causalities. I would probably wait at least 6 weeks (fallow period for velvet) before adding more fish, just to be on the safe side.

I just finished reading Humblefish's posted link on velvet; NASTY STUFF! I don't know that I would risk putting anything in the tank, no matter how long is has been.

 

[Naiad]

I lost fish to stray voltage. I know that was it because the tank water shocked me when I went to scoop out the fish. By the time I found a meter to do the unplug test (couldnt find a volunteer to keep their hand in) whatever had caused it stopped. I would still check all your equipment very well for anything that looks worn.

 

[Humblefish]

I just finished reading Humblefish's posted link on velvet; NASTY STUFF! I don't know that I would risk putting anything in the tank, no matter how long is has been.

6 weeks starves velvet out of your tank, but 76 days fallow would be best if you suspect ich.

 

[drcole]

So, I just found a rotting frog in my sump, do you think that could have played a role??

 

[drcole]

The water didn't shock me when I took the fish out

 

[Naiad]

So, I just found a rotting frog in my sump, do you think that could have played a role??

Ewwww. Very well could have but I would expect your water quality to be off more with that.

 

[Cherim7]

Surely a frog could release toxins?

 

[Humblefish]

Surely a frog could release toxins?

^^ This is what I'm wondering. Possibly the frog had toxins on his skin? Anybody on the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] knowledgeable about amphibians?

 

[4FordFamily]

^^ This is what I'm wondering. Possibly the frog had toxins on his skin? Anybody on the [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] knowledgeable about amphibians?

Most toads are highly poisonous and definitely would have even toxin to do harm to many animals, I can't imagine ocean dwelling creatures having much defense against this type of toxin since they probably have not come in to contact with it.

If it was any other type of frog apart from dart frog or similar species found in the hobby I can't imagine toxins being at play.

 

[Diesel]

If this was a wild frog we can say positive on the poison, if the frog was bred in captivity not so much as the toxins that frogs carry with them come from the food source they eat in the wild.
In captivity we feed them differently and because of that they can't build up any toxins.
A good example is the poison dart frogs.
The ones available in the trade are the ones that are captive bred only.
To my knowledge you can't catch any frogs from the wild and house them in captivity.