Corals Thriving, Can't keep fish alive

[DonGil]

Hi Guys,
I have an RSM 130 with various corals, and a single scooter blenny. The scooter is the only fish im able to keep alive! My list of fish victims include:

6 line wrasse
maroon clownfish
pr. of pajama cards
pr. of blue damsels
neon dottyback

I do weekly 10% water changes, water parameter's are spot on. What I've noticied is that the fish start off breathing really fast, stop eating, than die. This is common with all my losses. I've feed them brine and mysis shrimp. I really don't want to buy anymore fish until I fighure this out. The neon dottyback was expensive... Anyone who can offer some direction, I would appreciate it.

Don

 

[boehm742]

Whats your Acclimation procedure? How long are the fish making it, like 1 day and there dead or do the fish live for a week then die off?

 

[fraggingfish]

Hi Don,

Are you running a skimmer? What about power heads?
Sounds to me like the fish are suffocating, oxymoron or not fish need oxygen to thrive.

Also, parasites could have manifested your system.
Ich
Flukes
Velvet
Tubellerians

Any blotches or fin damage on the fish when they die?

One other possibility, the fish could have bladder disease.
They look and eat fine for a few days, to weeks, then die with no explanation.
When this happens, sometimes they explode from the inside and die a very painful death.
You should be able to see a small rupture on the belly or their discharge area due to the pressure.

 

[jedidad]

I had the same problem for quite a while and couldn't figure it out. I finally decided it was either a parasite or disease problem and kept the tank running with absolutely no fish for 8 weeks. This gives time for all the parasites to die out. After that I had no more problems keeping fish.

 

[Mufasa31]

If they are dieing within a few weeks after purchase, specific gravity may be an issue.

A lot of reefs are kept are 1.025 1.026. Some fish stores keep their fish tanks with much lower SG.

If this is the case, then acclimation is important.

 

[soccerbag]

All good ideas above. It sounds a lot like Velvet to me. Have you noticed your fish swimming in front of powerheads (facing the powerhead)? With velvet, they do this to try and clear their gills of the parasite. The only true way to get rid of it is to go fallow for 6-8 weeks. The parasite will not have anything to attach to and will die out. After that, a proper QT routine will help immensely. I learned this lesson the exact same way and it's one that I will never repeat. You need to QT all fish or you stand a chance of it happening again.

I'm guessing the blenny is immune to the parasite (a few of my wrasses were not affected either). As long as it is in your system, you will not be able to successfully add new fish to your system.

While a QT system can seem like a big hassle, you can go to PETCO and typically get a 20g tank for $20 (if they are having a $1 / gallon sale). Buy a cheap HOB filter (same as used for fresh water tanks), something to move water (powerhead), and a heater. Prazipro is a good medication to treat most fish (other medications can be used depending on symptoms). You can get a QT system up and running for less than $100. A lot less that losing hundreds of dollars in dead fish for not acclimating properly.

This is a mistake that a lot of newer reefers make. If you water parameters check out okay, velvet is likely your issue. Catch the Blenny and put him in QT. Let the display run fallow (no fish) for 8 weeks to be safe. Put the blenny back in and then you can start buying fish. I keep all new fish in QT for at least 6 weeks - if they are NOT showing any signs of disease, flukes, etc. Once they are fully healthy for 6 weeks straight, they are introduced properly into the display. It is the only fail-safe way to NOT introduce disease into the display. We all owe it to these fish to do it the right way : ).

Hope that helps!

 

[DonGil]

Thanks for all the response! I run a Tunze skimmer, as well as a small powerhead, and 2 filtration circulation pumps. I drip acclimate before adding fish to the aquarium. What soccerbag said makes the most sense to me. Since Im moving in a couple of weeks, The QT tank will have to wait. But I'll set it up, and see what happens.

Thanks

 

[joejoe1055]

you can use prazipro in a reef tank if need be

 

[fyrfytr]

Sounds like the same thing that happened to my tank. Sadly it killed my stock in less then 48 hrs from the time the first one turned up sick. We may or may not have the same thing, you can see my thread here. I also had an issue with some discoloration on my blue velvet damsel, but the resounding result on another forum was that it was just stress and not to worry about it. He was the last to die.

My LFS gave me something, I dont have it here at work will post when I get home, that you dose 1 capful per 10gal 3x/day minium of 3 days. Turns the water slightly greenish. Brought the color back to the blue velvet, but sadly was not soon enough to save him. With only 2 peperment shrimp and 12 narsus (sp) snails in the tank it is tempting to just get out now

 

[bjledbetter]

With only 2 peperment shrimp and 12 narsus (sp) snails in the tank it is tempting to just get out now

Don't give up over lost fish. they can be replaced. Losses in this hobby happen, Ive had a total meltdown recently and am rebuilding and it looks better than it ever did before, and gave me a chance to do something new