HELP!!!

[reena]

Hi Guys,

I introduced 2 chromies and a Clown fish to my tank yesterday. Both my Chromies died today :Cry:. I have no idea why!!! they were doing well yesterday. I checked my water condition and the readings were as follows:

Temp - 26C
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Salinity - 1.024
Phosphate - 1.0

I just fed the clown and it didn't even eat anything so I am worried about it!! Some of my live rock seems to have a brown coating on it too. My skimmer hasn't skimmed anything!!! The hermit crabs and snails i added haven't moved since i have added them!!! Could you please help as I don't know what has happened!!!

Kind Regards,

Reena

 

[Krish]

Sorry to hear :doubt:. For starters, what brand test kit are you using? Depending on brand, I'd maybe have your ammonia and nitrite tested by another test kit (maybe let your LFS test it). Also, you can check the dates on your kits. The brown stuff you are seeing is either dino's or probably diatoms assiciated with new tanks. Nothing that would kill fish though, but here is some reading on it http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f14/diatoms-60176/. What other livestock do you have in the tank? Also, how did you acclimate the fish?

Let us know a few of these things so we can try figure out what happened.

 

[Krish]

Also, I moved your thread to Lee's forum incase he has something he can add. He is our fish specialist here.

 

[TJL]

Hey Reena, very sorry to hear this. IME it seems like there must be a toxin of some sort in the system, the hermits and snails should be motile even in less than perfect water Nitrate Phosphate wise. I would have your LFS confirm your testing for you to start with then take a close look A-Z to make sure everything going into tank was non-toxic. The brown film is probably just a diatom bloom but, if it appears to be more of thick jelly-like slime could be bacterial from decaying sponges or ??? which could be a major toxin source ??? I'll take a look back at your earlier posts to see more history to your system for a better understanding.

Todd

 

[user 26995]

I agree with everyone about having your water tested with another test kit or by your lfs. Its good to double check.
Did you add anything to the water prior.

 

[reena]

Hi Todd,

The hermit crabs and snailes haven't even moved an inch. I checked them on saturday they were alive. The brown stuff on the rocks isn't jelly like at all.

Regards,

Reena

 

[reena]

Sorry to hear :doubt:. For starters, what brand test kit are you using? Depending on brand, I'd maybe have your ammonia and nitrite tested by another test kit (maybe let your LFS test it). Also, you can check the dates on your kits. The brown stuff you are seeing is either dino's or probably diatoms assiciated with new tanks. Nothing that would kill fish though, but here is some reading on it http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f14/diatoms-60176/. What other livestock do you have in the tank? Also, how did you acclimate the fish?

Let us know a few of these things so we can try figure out what happened.

Hi Krish,

The test kit I am using is the API Saltwater Master Kit. I introduced my Cleaner crew on saturday and then got a bit excited and bought the clown fish and cromies on sunday :mmph:. My skimmer hasn't skimmed anything either so don't really know if it is working properly!!! Also is there a way to remove the dino's or diatoms from the rock?

Regards,

Reena

 

[user 26995]

You can direct a power head on the rock to blow the diatoms off. You can also get a turkey baister to blow it off the rocks.
How is your clown doing today?

 

[user 26995]

What method did you use to acclimate the snails and fish? And how long did you acclimate them?

 

[reena]

You can direct a power head on the rock to blow the diatoms off. You can also get a turkey baister to blow it off the rocks. How is your clown doing today?

Hi,Well my clown has just left the magnet cleaner and has started swimming around. Was a bit worried earlier as it had not left the magnet cleaner all day.Regards,Reena

 

[NC2WA]

Reena,

I know Lee is going to ask for additional tank info, so I will go ahead and ask the proverbial questions :

What size tank do you have?
How long has this tank been running?
What type of clown fish is it?
Do you QT it before adding to the main tank?
Do you use RO for water changes?
How long have the chromis been in the tank before you noticed this behavior?
What other livestock is in the tank?

This information will help us in giving you a better answer.
thanks

Kirk

 

[reena]

Reena,

I know Lee is going to ask for additional tank info, so I will go ahead and ask the proverbial questions :

What size tank do you have?
How long has this tank been running?
What type of clown fish is it?
Do you QT it before adding to the main tank?
Do you use RO for water changes?
How long have the chromis been in the tank before you noticed this behavior?
What other livestock is in the tank?

This information will help us in giving you a better answer.
thanks

Kirk

Hi Kirk,

I have just seen one of my chromies and it is still alive!!! Last I checked it had gone crazy, knocked into the glass and sunk into the Live rock passing out. It had stopped breathing. I tried to to get it out but couldn't get under the rock. Just went over to my tank now to find it hovering at the top corner next to the power head lol. Don't know whether I should be happy as it isn't that active!!! Also do chromies always need to be paired? As I thought maybe it feels lonely so is a bit inactive!!!

I have an aquamarine 900 (176L). The tank has been running for 3 weeks now, with an aquaone G216 protein skimmer. I put the live rock (20 Kgs) in the beginning of last week and the fishes in over the weekend.

I have a TMC clown fish (I think that's what its called). It has not been caught in the wild. And yes I use RO water for the tank. The Chromies were put in yesterday morning and their behaviour was fine. I noticed that they started huddling in the top corner near the power head when i Turned the lights off for the tank at night.

Apart from the clown fish and chromy I have 6 hermit crabs, which haven't moved since added and 6 snails, that also haven't moved.

My clown seems to be inactive during the day and highly active after about 8.30ish. It seems to be swimming around the tank now!!! Is that normal behaviour?

Sorry for all the questions and essay of an answer but i really appreciate all the help and quick responses :smile:

Regards,

Reena

 

[ak_reefer]

Reena,

Your tank is still new and has not gone through a complete cycle yet. I let my tank cycle for two months before adding anything to it.

 

[reena]

Hi Ak_reefer,

Thank you for the response. I will wait for a few months now before adding any more fishes.

Regards,

Reena

 

[TJL]

Hi Reena, sorry for the late response but looks like ak_reefer got it right. I didn't recall that your system was that new. I'm still curious about having no Amonia, Nitrite or Nitrate showing up on tests, did you ever see any spikes (readable amounts) at all yet of any of these. If not, you will want to have access to plenty of fresh SW to be able to make changes when needed for health of the remaining livestock. The brown Diatom bloom is usually midway in the cycle but can show up even after re-aquascaping in older systems. Good luck and keep us posted as to whats going on.

Cheers, Todd

 

[reena]

Hi Todd,

I think I need to get my LFS to test the water as I have done another test and the results are the same as last weeks: -

Temp - 26C
pH - 8.2
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Salinity - 1.024
Phosphate - 1.0

Thanks for all the help guys. I am going to let my tank cycle for a couple of months before I introduce anything else into it.

Regards,

Reena

 

[leebca]

I think the important information has finally come out. Your tank is not ready for fishes at all. It takes time and patience. So you can get an idea on just the best, slow method, check out the sticky in this forum which is how to start a FOWLR system.

The too-much; too-soon problem has taken its toll. Stop everything. If you can, find another home or return the fishes. Take it slow. Watch the clean up crew for a couple of weeks. Do much more water testing (especially since 0 nitrates doesn't make sense with the 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites). That is to say, those numbers are not realistic.

Test kits might be bad; or you may not be testing properly. Are you using test kits or test strips?

Anyway that post on starting up will tell you, step-by-step how to have a totally successful experience with your new tank and avoid any harm to marine life.

Good luck!

 

[reena]

Hi Lee,

I have been using the Test kits and I have followed the instructions on them fully. I am going to get the water tested by my LFS tomorrow and see what their results say. Will take your advice on taking my fish back as I don't want it to suffer in my tank if the water conditions aren't right

Regards,

Reena

 

[leebca]

Very good to hear that you are thinking of the fish. Good luck.

 

[user 26995]

That is one of the reasons I quit using API test kits. My readings were alway 0 on ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
I started using salifert test kits and it registers my nitrates in the 2-5ppm range.
Have you read any articles on cycling saltwater tanks?
This is one I like.
What is the Nitrogen (Cycle) Cycling Process? - The Nitrogen Cycle in a Marine Saltwater Aquarium