Clownfish acting odd after goby death

brandonbrm · Mar 30, 2023

So I noticed the past day or two my 13.5g saltwater tank start to get a bit of algae growth, I decided to do a water change today and found my goby dead beneath a rock, so I removed it as well as the contaminates, now my clownfish and damsel are breath fast, and my clownfish are laying on the sand, sort of floating now and then, but acting completely strange. I tried to feed them both before and after the cleaning and they didn’t budge. Completely unlike them!
Please help!

current water conditions:
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Cl2 0
Alkalinity 80
Carbonate 40
Ph 7.8-8
No clue on the ammonia, I don’t have a tester, will be getting one in the morning

Jay Hemdal · Mar 30, 2023

Hi, welcome to Reef2Reef!

I know this is tough, but with one fish dead, and the other two showing severe symptoms, you may not be able to solve this issue in time to save them.

It is likely a gill disease like velvet, or a water quality issue (low oxygen or ammonia).
Do you have any invertebrates in the tank? If so, and if they are fine, you should focus on this being a fish disease, as a water quality problem usually affects both fish and invertebrates.

Here is a link to other information that is helpful for us to know:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/s...sease-treatment-and-diagnosis-section.775547/
Jay

vetteguy53081 · Mar 30, 2023

With heavy algae, I too suspect low oxygen

With heavy algae, most light do not deliver the intensity to promote it.
By chance, is this tank at or near a window?
Are you using RODI water or tap water from the faucet?
What is your phosphate level ?