Fish dying; not sure why!!

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by hoffmabc, Jan 19, 2012.

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  1. hoffmabc

    hoffmabc Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2012
    Messages:
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    Long time lurker here, just signed up so thanks for having me.

    I've got a serious and confusing emergency here. Long story short, my fish are dying and I'm not sure why. I've got 55g with a 20g sump. I had my tank stocked with the following:

    - Naso tang (small)
    - Flame angel
    - Purple pseudo
    - (2) blue green chromis (small)
    - (2) ocellaris clown fish

    All fish have been fine for around 3 months (when I added the last fish). In the last week I've lost the flame angel, purple pseudo, and one blue green chromi. I'm worried the others might be next. The tang has small black spots near the tail and the clowns have little white spots in areas on them. I'm thinking Ich??? I have no idea. The parameters all seem fine although the salinity was a little low which I adjusted. I keep it at around 82 degrees all the time.

    If this sounds like ich what do i do?? I also have a chocolate starfish and assorted hermits and snails which seem to be dying off as well.

    HELP!

    Picture of Tang
    http://i.imgur.com/bf7pG.jpg
     
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  3. vawdka

    vawdka Coral Banded Shrimp

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    I will let another member chime in on the ick but it's possible. You really should post tank parameters so we can get an idea of what is going on in your tank with your water as well. I would guess you have high nitrates if your inverts are stressing.
     
  4. hoffmabc

    hoffmabc Astrea Snail

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    One other caveat. I recently had severe hair algae. I removed all the rocks and scrubbed the hair algae off of them and did a 20g water change. Could this have stressed the fish out too much?

    I only have run the following tests:
    Ammonia: 0
    Nitrate: 0
    KH: 8 dGH
    Specific Gravity: 1.025
    Temp: 82-83
     
  5. barbianj

    barbianj Hammer Head Shark

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    Could have caused an ammonia spike, even though your test results don't show it. First impression of the tang is abrasions. Not a good home, especially for that type of tang.

    Never remove all of your rock, or filter media at one time.

    What type of test kits are you using?
     
  6. barbianj

    barbianj Hammer Head Shark

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    Also, temperature does not need to be that high. It's not bad, but the higher the temp, the lower the oxygen content. What about flow in the tank?
     
  7. hoffmabc

    hoffmabc Astrea Snail

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    I have a Maxijet 1200 and Koralia 1400.

    Abrasions from what? Rocks?

    Testing kit: API Master Test Kit
     
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  9. barbianj

    barbianj Hammer Head Shark

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    Possibly.

    It's black on the top, but white on the bottom. Do you have a full tank shot?
     
  10. vawdka

    vawdka Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Could be from getting spooked and running in to something.

    Removing your rock and scrubbing it could have thrown you in to a mini cycle. Also, as asked before, are you using strip tests or a liquid test kit like from API Master Test Kit or something similar.
     
  11. hoffmabc

    hoffmabc Astrea Snail

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    Liquid. API Master Test Kit.

    I've scrubbed the rocks before, but the algae wasn't as bad and it didn't cause any problems. Is there anything i should do now if that's the case of why they're dying?? Water change?
     
  12. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    I would suggest a couple moderate water changes, then get a new test kit.

    The fact that you had a lot of algae and scrubbed all your rocks clean and you're showing zero ammonia and nitrate tells me your test kit is bad. Your livestock's condition certifies it.

    In the future, I'd recommend you find the cause of the algae and rectify the problem, not the symptom.