Fish Killer

xterling

xterling

Member
I have a 72 Gallon saltwater tank with a few live rocks in it. I also have a
couple of fake decorations.
Water temp is close to 80 degrees F. Amonia, Ph, Nitrates, and Nitrites are
in check. I keep losing fish to Ick. I treated my tank for over 4 weeks
awhile back, and then re-introduced fish to the tank. The fish were fine for
a while (about 3 weeks), then I upgraded my lighting, and added the 3 live
rock that I currently have. Within 2 weeks the Spotted Mandarin, and the
Butterfly fish I had died of Ick, or what appears to be Ick. Fins wasting
away, light dusting on scales, erratic swimming. I did notice that when I
upgraded my lighting the temperature of the water went from between 78-79
Dgrees F, to 79-80 Degrees F. Could this slight temperature change have
killed my fish? What is the ideal SW tank water temperature? I'm at my wits end, and am about to sell everything, being
that I have been unsuccessful in keeping fish alive for more than a few
months over the last year. Can things such as scented candles (within 12
feet of the tank), and plug-in fragrances (within 20 feet of the tank) be
harmful to my fish? I do use Chemi-pure (two bags).
I also have a UV sterilizer, and a wet/dry filter, with a poly-filter in
place. I also do 10 gallon water changes every 2 weeks religiously. What am
I doing wrong? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
:mad:
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
What do you mean ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates "are in check"?? Ammonia and nitrites need to be ZERO, and the nitrates need to be as low as you can get it. Is that what you're getting??
Also, you treated your tank for ick....with what? Copper? If you put copper in this tank, then added LR, then you do have a problem here. Copper is strictly for FO...that means no LR and no LS in a copper treated tank.
Additionally, mandarian fish are not appropriate for new hobbysts or new tanks--especially new tanks! They will invariably die.
Are all your fish dead now? what about your LR, how is it doing?
The ideal temp for FOWLR would be around 76---however, with all the equiptment and hot lighting we use, unless you have a cold house or a chiller, few hobbyst can achieve this temp. One degree up in temp should not be causing a problem...however, drastic, sudden changes of temps everyday can cause big problems. For instance, in the day it is 80degrees and at night it is 76degrees. Have you checked temp at the peak of the high temp [like when the lights have been on for several hours?] as well as first thing in the morning when it is cooler in the house and lights have been off all night?
I tend to be hyper sensative to everything in terms of caustic smells and chemicals. Since I keep fish and snakes, I have to be careful what I use and what oders are let loose in the house...I don't even use bug spray if I can help it!
[ May 03, 2001: Message edited by: Beth ]
 
jimi

jimi

Active Member
First mandarins and butterflys are not easy fish to keep from the start. Its hard to say what might have killed them but I definately would not burn any scented candles around a tank. If you can smell it in the air it is getting into your water toxic or not.
 
gobylover

gobylover

Member
You don't have ick.You have narine velvet.That is the dusting.Do you have a hospital tank?They are life savers.I would treat with copper in a seperate tank if you have one.If you lose these fish I would not add any more for at least 30 days.I know its aggrivating,but don't give up.After all gets better,and it will,you will be very happy!!
 
xterling

xterling

Member
Temperature fluctuates between 79 degrees and around 80-81 degrees thoughout the day. As far as the Nitrates,Nitrites,Ammonia, and PH they're all OK. I have a decent test kit. The tank is not new, I've had it for over a year. Yes I treated with copper prior to the live Rock, but I waited around a month before getting live rock, and lighting upgrade. During that time I was using the poly-filter, and Chemi-pure, along with regular water changes. About the QT, should I quarantine all the fish before I let them in my main tank, and what good is it to quarantine if all fish are sick? And if they are all sick what will a QT do for them? :(
 
gobylover

gobylover

Member
You should set up a quar. and a hospital tank if possible.You should quar. all newcomers forobservation of disease for 30 days to be sure.Some people like to keep copper in this tank.If your going to do that,keep a close eye on the copper level.As far as what is the point of quar. sick fish,so you can treat with proper meds aand not worry about your show tank becoming infested and if you have ick,you will be removing all hosts.Leaving them out for 30 days will kill all the disease floating in the tank.
 
xterling

xterling

Member
I have one of those siphon vacuums, but do they really work? When I use it, I see the sand circulating in the chamber, is it doing it's job at this point? Or do I need to actually siphon some of the sand thru the vacuum, and out to my water container? This some times occurs, and I end up losing sand over time.
 
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