Lesson Learned - How do I recover?

Shouldof had a hospital tank...

Seems like I bought a bad batch of fish ( green chromis ) I had 2 clowns , added 5 chromis. One chromis decided to kill his 4 brothers. You could see teh bite marks , but he left alone the clowns , about a week later, on e of the clowns died. A day after that the other clown stopped eating, 5 days later he died. After taking readings during this death period , I was happy with the results ( 0-0-<10) . SO I bought a bennie , gave away the last chomis. The bennie was fine on day 1 , day 2, stopped eating , day 3, dead.

So I took some tank water to my lfs for testing. he said everything is fine , you most likely had a parasite. HIs recommendation - lights off , 25% water change for 2 weeks and try again. ( the tank also has snails and shrimp -- they are fine )

Was his advice correct?
Thanks in advance.

 

In a word, no. Turning the lights off will not kill a parasite and would not listen to him anymore, consult us. List, if you will, all your parameters i.e. Magnesium, Calc, Alk, Phosphates, PH, Temp and SG. Was there ever any Copper in that tank? Sounds like a contaminant or parameter issue.

 

Sounds like a a param issue as well. I don't think it was copper though, as copper shouldn't have harmed the fish, only inverts, corals, etc.

 

Hi thanks for the quick replies, I didnt trust that guys answer eithe r-- so that Is why I posted - the tank is a FOWLR.


Tank temp is always 76-77
PH is 8.4
SG 1.023

My phosphate test kit arrived damaged and a new one is on its way - so I dont have that reading. ( I always thought that was more for algea issues ,but bought it anyway to have and test for )

I currently use tap water with prime , changing 4 gallons a day , letting the next days batch sit with a airstone in it.

This was bought via craigslist ( old owner upgraded ) so i doubt the re wa sever copper init. I dont have any kits to test anything else -- I can buy - which ones do you reccomend?

 

I am thinking more along the lines of Ammonia now. A good test kit is by API, "Salt water Master Test Kit". You need to be checking Nitrate, Nitrite and Ammonia, especially when fish start dieing and there is no sign of ick.