fish death

[texas-buzz]

here is what i got: 50gal, 50lb LR, mech filter, ph 8.4, nitrites nil,
nitrates nil, ammo 0, SG good. 1 tomato clown, 1 damsel, 5 different inverts added one week after setup. tank now 2 mo. old. added 1 yellow tang. it lived 3 days and died with rapid breathing and red striping on body. added 1 klein butterfly, lived 2 wks and died exactly the same way. the clown and damsel are doing great. any suggestions.
thanks, monte

 

[mbrands]

How are you acclimating the new fish?
What kind of filter do you have, specifically. All filters are mechanical.
Are you running any powerheads?
Do you have a protein skimmer set up?
How frequently, and in what amount, do you do waterchanges?
The rapid breathing makes me thing you aren't getting enough oxygen exchange, but it seems odd that its only affecting the new fish. Please reply to the answers above and maybe someone else will offer other suggestions.

 

[texas-buzz]

magnum 250 filter, no powerhead, no skimmer yet, have not done a water change yet. i float bag for approx 45 min. while adding small amounts of tank water. hope this helps.
monte

 

[maeistero]

air supply??

 

[plumbjohn]

The red on the yellow tang is probably a bacterial disease. I think. I remember reading a thread about that around here somewhere. Could of been in the disease section. Not sure I will try to find and let you know. Or look around for it. Good luck.:thinking:

 

[plumbjohn]

it's on page 4 of this section about 3/4 of the way down. Muddplarex found the response

Such a smart person

Hope this helps

 

[snipe]

magnum 250 filter (Might need a bigger filter for a 55)
no powerhead ( Need at least 2 powerheads pointed up to agitate the surfice of the water)
no skimmer yet( Get one it will get read of unwanted nutrients and will also help agitate the surffice)
have not done a water change yet(Should of done a water change right after the cycle was over or at least 1 week after!)
i float bag for approx 45 min. while adding small amounts of tank water.(I would drip acclimate them it is better expecially for butterflie's or tangs. Click on the acclimation link on the left side of the page it will tell you all you want to know)

 

[texas-buzz]

thanks for all the posts. i am going to do a water change and add a skimmer to start improving water quality . the yellow tang on the previous post that had a bacteria infection looks like the way both fish died. will water changes cure this bacteria problem or is there another way. and why did it not affect the clown and damsel which have been doing great from day one.
thanks, monte

 

[mbrands]

Originally posted by Snipe
have not done a water change yet(Should of done a water change right after the cycle was over or at least 1 week after!)
Snipe is correct, but more specifically you should have done several water changes by now. You stated the tank is "now 2 months old".
I try to do 10% weekly. Others prefer 15-20% every other week. It all depends on what you can remain consistant with.
While you do need a skimmer, the 2-3 powerheads would be cheaper than a good skimmer and should have a more immediate effect (assuming oxygen exchange is the biggest issue).
I'd recommend drip acclimating all fish, but (again as Snipe said) especially delicate fish such as tangs and butterflies.

 

[texas-buzz]

thanks guys for the info. what powerheads do you recommend and what should the GPH be.
monte

 

[mbrands]

monte,
I've got AquaClear and they've never given me any problems. I have a MaxiJet attached to my skimmer and it is supposed to be a reputable name as well. If you are doing fish only you want 10x turnover (550 gallons/hour) minimum. That minimum does include your canister filter's turnover as well. I've only got 2 in my 55, but 3 or 4 would be more ideal.

 

[snipe]

I also have 2 maxi jet powerheads there really good. And I have 2 jebo ap1500 powerheads and IMO there just as good.