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My fish are dying within hours of eachother!

post #1 of 16
11/13/11 at 4:40am
Thread Starter 

I bought a new fish, Powder Blue Tang, on Friday and within a few hours my watchman died.  The next day at about 5 my Powder Blue Tang died.  At about 11 PM that same day my clown fish died.  My watchman looked like he had a hard time "breathing" and then he got clouded eyes and I cam back an hour later and he was dead.  My Tang looked like he was shedding skin at about 3 and within 2 hours he died.  My clown looked the same way and within 5 ish hours he died.... I need help before my last two fish die!  I have another clown and a cardinal fish left but I have a feeling they are going to die today.  They look like they are stressed and have loose skin too :(  It's really strange.  My tank is about 4 months old and I'm new to this.  I don't have a quarantine tank.  Any Suggestions would be appreciated.

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post #2 of 16
11/13/11 at 5:31am

Welcome to the site, sorry about the circumstances.

 

You need to tell us what your test readings are, the size of your tank and equipment. If you can get a picture of the sick or dead fish, that would help. Do you have live rock, live sand, inverts or coral...list everything.

 

At the top of the forum section on disease is a link to look at pictures and see what might match what is ailing your fish. A water change is a good emergency measure.

 

I don't know fish disease, I'm just trying to help until Beth or someone with some good knowledge can chime in. I know the info I asked you for will help the helpers. Hang in there, you found a good place to ask for help.

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post #3 of 16
11/13/11 at 5:35am

Welcome.  Sorry not the smartest here by far. One question do you get shocked when you check the water sounds like electric shock to me.  People can help here but you are going tohave to give test results for ph nitrite nitrate alk salinity and temp.  More info on tank what size and live rock how much and how deep sand bed.

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post #4 of 16
11/13/11 at 5:46am
Thread Starter 

nitrate between 20 and 40.  Nitrite between 0 and .5  It's not quite 0 but not quite .5... Alkalinity 300 ph 7.9

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post #5 of 16
11/13/11 at 5:58am
Thread Starter 

salinity is 1.2

 

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post #6 of 16
11/13/11 at 6:06am

Are you sure you mean 1.2 on the sg?

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post #7 of 16
11/13/11 at 6:07am
Thread Starter 

Oh yeah, Tem is 76 F

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post #8 of 16
11/13/11 at 6:14am
Thread Starter 

OOPS 1.02 for sg.  Thanks for clarifying :)

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post #9 of 16
11/13/11 at 6:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dcummings89 View Post

nitrate between 20 and 40.  Nitrite between 0 and .5  It's not quite 0 but not quite .5... Alkalinity 300 ph 7.9



A couple thoughts:   Research Beth's archived posts or other references for 'Marine velvet'.   It follows a pattern of fish death similar to what you have seen.  I also like my pH slightly higher (more basic).

As Flower noted a little more info might be helpful.   Size of tank, amount of live rock and/or corals present and approximately when added.  list of all other fish that were in the tank when you added the tang.  Do you have a magnifying glass and can you share any observations about the currently live fish appearances?

Sorry for your loss.  In this hobby, good things happen slowly and bad things very rapidly.

 

 

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post #10 of 16
11/13/11 at 6:48am
Thread Starter 

My fish before were a Spotted Blue watchman about 4", a clown goby, a clown fish, and a powder blue tang.  I have one more clown and a cardinal (black and white).  

?ui=2&ik=6e00222794&view=att&th=1339d61cc0d0ebc9&attid=0.1&disp=inline&zw

This is my tank...

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post #11 of 16
11/13/11 at 7:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dcummings89 View Post

OOPS 1.02 for sg.  Thanks for clarifying :)



I assume you are using an Hydrometer...is your SG 1.002 or 1.020? Ideal is between 1.023-1.026

It's early morning so low PH is normal...later today around noon, it should be at least between 8.0 - 8.4 to be good.

You should not have any reading on Nitrites at all.

Do you have power heads running...and how many?

What type of mechanical filter are you using?

How much if any live (or base) rock?

What type of substrate?

What size tank and what type of water is in the tank? Reverse osmoses, distilled or tap water?

Have you tested for ammonia? The reading of nitrite means you had some kind of ammonia spike.

 

To be honest it sounds like velvet, and the fish were so stressed they succumbed quickly to disease, but I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination.

 

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post #12 of 16
11/13/11 at 7:37am
Thread Starter 

How would my fish get marine velvet?  

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post #13 of 16
11/13/11 at 7:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dcummings89 View Post

How would my fish get marine velvet?  


Welcome to the site.
Fish would get marine velvet like you would get the common cold. It spreads very fast.

How big is your tank?

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post #14 of 16
11/13/11 at 8:01am


 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dcummings89 View Post

How would my fish get marine velvet?  



Try reading this link..I hope it works. First link I ever posted.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/sp/feature/index.php

 

According to that site, you didn't quarantine your new fish.

 

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post #15 of 16
11/13/11 at 8:03am

That's a great article flower!

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post #16 of 16
11/13/11 at 8:06am

This is important...never dose any medicine in the main tank. Do not treat your fish at all until someone who is absolutly sure you have said disease before trying to treat any fish. Copper could kill everything in main tank and it's mentioned on the site I linked you to. I don't want you to DO anything yet...I'm just answering your question on how it got in your tank.

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