algea everywhere!

[fishy?]

I have had a tank set up for about two months now and 4 fish have died. It seems that this red algea growing everywhere is killing them. I get rid of it and clean up the tank, let it cycle for while and add more fish. The next day they are dead! I don't understand it. Any advice???

 

[ryanhayes9]

we need to know the water parameters and do you have a cleaning crew?
did the tank cycle

 

[uberlink]

It's not algae. It's a bacteria called cyanobacteria. You can reduce your lighting period, reduce feeding, and increase the frequency of water changes to cure this--the most important being to reduce feeding. Underfeed underfeed underfeed. Go down to feeding every other day for a while, and see if that doesn't cure things. After that, go back to feeding daily, but only in VERY small amounts.
Honestly, though, I doubt that the cyanobacteria is killing your fish. It's probably just a symptom of an underlying problem. Perhaps you're overstocked and overfeeding as a result.
How large is your tank? And what are your water parameters like? How many inhabitants? How long did you let it cycle before adding your first animals? And how long between?

 

[fishy?]

Well, I have a 29 gallon (the water came from another well established tank), a couple dozen crabs, 30 pounds of lr, , a 130 watt pc light (10,000k, actinic blue)and my parameters are as follows:
PH:8.4
Am:0
Nitrites:0
Nitrates:10-20

 

[uberlink]

inhabitants?

 

[fishy?]

two anemones as of right now(bta+lta) because my 2 yellow tails and 2 clowns died

 

[payton 350]

...what is your sg.......probably gonna need as much info as possible.....fish dying is not a good sign....may need to get the anemones out of there too...temporarily till this is fixed....

 

[payton 350]

are you using tap water....

 

[fishy?]

yes, i do use tap water because there is nothing else available.

 

[fishy?]

:bump:

 

[payton 350]

your tap may be contaminated...just a guess though.....you could either buy a ro/di unit online or go to a walmart...etc they usually ssell ro water....any good lfs should also sell it

 

[fishy?]

thanks!
:notsure: but should I start over?

 

[payton 350]

if you can't find the source for why your fish are dying and you don't have anything else in the tank besides the bta lta i almost would say yes......but first how are the anemones doing...they usually need excellent quality water to thrive and should show signs of bad water

 

[fishy?]

:bump:

 

[payton 350]

i would also wait to see what others have to say.....maybe they can help a little more than me

 

[fishy?]

:thinking: The lta is fine but here for the past few days since the last fish died the bta base is huge and is moving all over the place, its really stressed!!!! I think tomorrow I will put it in my friends tank temporarily.

 

[fishy?]

No ur posta are good i didnt see ur last post before I bumped it, sorry!!

 

[fishy?]

:bump:

 

[uberlink]

You really shouldn't have two types of anemone in the same tank--particularly a small tank. They engage in chemical warfare in there, and that might explain your fish deaths. I'd also suggest that four fish is pushing it for a tank that size. Finally, the anemones shouldn't be in a tank that's less than 6-8 months old. Don't start over, but get the anemones out of there, keep your cleanup crew, and let things stabilize for a month or two. Then start with one or two fish and see how things go.