Dead Clownfish

[rudi 51]

I think you are on the right lines but your inverts and coral are far more sensitive that your clownfish. More sensitive to ammonia, O2 would be solved with the skimmer, so it’s either a water issue (that doesn’t affect inverts) or most likely an issue with those fish.

So If they are if those are in fact doing well then it’s not a water parameter issue. So imho that leaves disease as a likely cause. But what disease? Have you asked on ultimate reef?

No not asked anywhere except this thread. I know, if the snails were dead then either ammonia or oxygen the issue. Just hard to work out.

So, if you were me, in my situation, what would you do. Water changes, how often and how much? Anything you’d add to the water? Would you add more easy corals? More snails? When would you try more fish?

 

[Australian_Reef]

No not asked anywhere except this thread. I know, if the snails were dead then either ammonia or oxygen the issue. Just hard to work out.

So, if you were me, in my situation, what would you do. Water changes, how often and how much? Anything you’d add to the water? Would you add more easy corals? More snails? When would you try more fish?

If I were you, you have no fish. I’d do a 90% water change. Followed by another 90% a week later. Just to be sure. You have a small water volume. It can’t hurt. Then tbh.. if I were you and your testing was good. ..I’d add another two clownfish. One than the other. Someone will disagree of course!

Or just one 100% change of course !

 

[rudi 51]

If I were you, you have no fish. I’d do a 90% water change. Followed by another 90% a week later. Just to be sure. You have a small water volume. It can’t hurt. Then tbh.. if I were you and your testing was good. ..I’d add another two clownfish. One bigger than the other.

Perfect. Will do that. Thanks.

 

[Australian_Reef]

Perfect. Will do that. Thanks.

Or just 1 x 100% water change.

 

[rudi 51]

Or just 1 x 100% water change.

still has 5 crabs and a couple of hermits in as well as the coral. Will maybe take as much out as I can and leave them covered in water. The coral isn’t glued down so can move it to the substrate

 

[Australian_Reef]

Perfect. Will do that. Thanks.

still has 5 crabs and a couple of hermits in as well as the coral. Will maybe take as much out as I can and leave them covered in water. The coral isn’t glued down so can move it to the substrate

They will be fine as long as ph/kh/salinity/temp is the same.

 

[Skippy The Meh]

Hey there been following along, and have some advice as ive gone through this exact thing before.

My first tank was a 15G AIO. And when i first set it up i had a near identical experience to yours. Here are some things i learned:

1: time and patience are key, tge more time a tank has to stabilize the better. Im talking months unfortunately

2: dont under estimate how quickly water parameters can swing in a small tank

3: clown fish are the absolute worst fish to start a tank with idc what every fish store says. I killed tons from various causes. I recommend starting a tank that size with a single PJ. They aren’t very attractive fish, they dont move around alot but they are hardy as heck and peaceful with all other species. They will help cycle the tank.

4: copepods are great… until you get a wrasse and or a tang and they just munch them all up. Skip to a small uv clarifier.

5: phosphates are (imo) the biggest danger to a nee reefer

6: high calcium 550 ppm + can kill fish ( learned this the hard way, i dont want to talk about it)

7: frequent water changes aren’t as critical as you may think, too frequent in an unestablished tank can actually hurt the reef.

8: stability stability stability… theres tons of water chemistry philosophies, pick one and just stick to it.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice. One thing im not sure about is if i leave the tank with it’s current inhabitants will the benficial bacteria just die off causing a spike when I do add fish?

No, but not having any fish wont do anything to strengthen the ecosystem either. Your snails and crabs produce waste as well.

Also i know you probably trust your lfs, however there are websites online that will sell you QT fish. I love my lfs but i dont buy their fish and they all look healthy. From my experience i think they just go through alot of stress going through a fish store. I have about 40% or less survival rate from lfs and 100% from various online sources.

 

[rudi 51]

No, but not having any fish wont do anything to strengthen the ecosystem either. Your snails and crabs produce waste as well.

Also i know you probably trust your lfs, however there are websites online that will sell you QT fish. I love my lfs but i dont buy their fish and they all look healthy. From my experience i think they just go through alot of stress going through a fish store. I have about 40% or less survival rate from lfs and 100% from various online sources.

The shop I got the fish from isn’t my LFS and I’ll contact some online sellers to see if they will sell quarantined fish. Reefing not as popular as frehwater here so my LFS doesn’t do marine. Not many do, just one near me.

Been researching the online options but will send a couple of emails when I, ready to add a fish.

 

[fish_collector]

Beating a dead horse here, but not your fault rudi 51, it happens to everyone with their first tank. In a year you'll look back and chuckle a bit at really how easy it all was to get it going.

In a new, small tank with little life in it the only things you need to check are salinity and temp, all of the other water parameters will fall into place on their own when you mix the salt in the water.

Calcium, alkalinity, phosphate, nitrate, pH, etc., NONE of that matters at this point, it's SALINITY and TEMP that will get you where you need to be. In 20 gallons of water that has good surface agitation, you'll likely be able to keep all parameters in check with a 5 gallon water change now and then.

Why'd your new clownfish die? No one can answer that after the fact, it's all speculation. My experience tells me to stay away from clownfish, their inbred, weak, carry disease and have no place in a brand new tank. How dare I say that about everyone's beloved clowns! Yep I said it. Accept it. Wait a year to add them if you absolutely need clownfish.

I'm sorry you lost your first 2 clownfish, but as I said sometimes it's the fish and not the hobbyists. Clownfish aren't the best fish to put into a new tank but that's what everyone wants, and no one listens to me, even though I've been a hobbyist for 30 years.

A royal gramma would be , I'd consider them to be a higher life form that a clownfish lol.