Fish dying

[volt5015]

I have lost a sailfin tang, clownfish, and blue damsel does in the past week. I have a 36 gal tank that’s been setup for 9 months. My parameters are:
Salinity 1.027
Alkalinity 138
Alk (dkh) 7.728
pH 7.9
Phosphate .9
Calcium 387
Magnesium 1249
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 43

What could be the problem?

 

[T-J]

When is the last time you added something new? (Fish, live rock, etc.)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have lost a sailfin tang, clownfish, and blue damsel does in the past week. I have a 36 gal tank that’s been setup for 9 months. My parameters are:
Salinity 1.027
Alkalinity 138
Alk (dkh) 7.728
pH 7.9
Phosphate .9
Calcium 387
Magnesium 1249
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 43

What could be the problem?

This clown is a victim of aggression and tail/fins hammered by another occupant but can also signify a bacterial issue.
What test kits are you using?
Nitrate quite high and zero ammonia not making sense but that nitrate reading calls for several small water changes.
Phos is very high- Are you using RO water or tap water from the faucet ?
Salinity can come down to 1.025
Alk and CA quite low - important if you have coral in the tank

What other occupants if any are in the tank yet ?

 

[davidcalgary29]

And how big was that tang?

 

[blaxsun]

What other occupants if any are in the tank yet ?

^This. I'm assuming there are additional fish left beyond the 3 that perished?

 

[volt5015]

When is the last time you added something new? (Fish, live rock, etc.)

About a week ago I added the sailfin tang and clown.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

did you not take 10 seconds to google "recommended tank size for sailfin tang"?

It should be a in a 180 gallon tank, why you put it in a 36 gallon tank? Certainly the fish was stressed and unhappy beyond belief to be in a such a small tank, it can not live and thrive in 36 gallon tank.

 

[Rmckoy]

I have lost a sailfin tang, clownfish, and blue damsel does in the past week. I have a 36 gal tank that’s been setup for 9 months. My parameters are:
Salinity 1.027
Alkalinity 138
Alk (dkh) 7.728
pH 7.9
Phosphate .9
Calcium 387
Magnesium 1249
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 43

What could be the problem?

As mentioned the sailfin tang doesn’t belong in a 36 gal tank
These fish can grow to dinner plate size and be one of the most aggressive of all tangs requiring plenty of swimming space

alkalinity is nsw level but I don’t understand why you’re using 2 different Tests with different units of measurement

Although nitrates are not excessively high water changes will help lower them
Ideally to match the alkalinity you want closer to 5-10ppm nitrates
Magnesium and calcium seams low for the high salinity
What are you using to measure salinity ?
How do you calibrate it and how often ?
Curious what salt mix you’re using ?
Are you using tap water along with some sort of conditioner ?

 

[volt5015]

This clown is a victim of aggression and tail/fins hammered by another occupant but can also signify a bacterial issue.
What test kits are you using?
Nitrate quite high and zero ammonia not making sense but that nitrate reading calls for several small water changes.
Phos is very high- Are you using RO water or tap water from the faucet ?
Salinity can come down to 1.025
Alk and CA quite low - important if you have coral in the tank

What other occupants if any are in the tank yet ?

I actually took a sample of my water to the fish store and they tested it. It is a very accurate machine. I am using RODI water. I have 2 blue damsels and 2 conch.

 

[volt5015]

did you not take 10 seconds to google "recommended tank size for sailfin tang"?

It should be a in a 180 gallon tank, why you put it in a 36 gallon tank? Certainly the fish was stressed and unhappy beyond belief to be in a such a small tank, it can not live and thrive in 36 gallon tank.

It was a small sailfin. I am in the process of setting up a 75 gal tank. It’s long so it would’ve gave him more room

 

[volt5015]

As mentioned the sailfin tang doesn’t belong in a 36 gal tank
These fish can grow to dinner plate size and be one of the most aggressive of all tangs requiring plenty of swimming space

alkalinity is nsw level but I don’t understand why you’re using 2 different Tests with different units of measurement

Although nitrates are not excessively high water changes will help lower them
Ideally to match the alkalinity you want closer to 5-10ppm nitrates
Magnesium and calcium seams low for the high salinity
What are you using to measure salinity ?
How do you calibrate it and how often ?
Curious what salt mix you’re using ?
Are you using tap water along with some sort of conditioner ?

I took water to my fish store and they tested the water. It is accurate. I use RODI water. Red Sea salt.

 

[volt5015]

And how big was that tang?

Tang was about 3”

 

[volt5015]

^This. I'm assuming there are additional fish left beyond the 3 that perished?

Yes 2 blue damsels and 2 conch

 

[vetteguy53081]

I took water to my fish store and they tested the water. It is accurate. I use RODI water. Red Sea salt.

Was it by chance the spin test machine ?

 

[T-J]

Was it by chance the spin test machine ?

I doubt it. They said it was a "very accurate machine".

 

[vetteguy53081]

I doubt it. They said it was a "very accurate machine".

Being in the pet industry, unless something new is out, we as store owners were buying kits and in lieu of doing this API came out with spin test to make it cost effective and time saving for store testing in which was found to be better than the master kits but still off.
Because store says its accurate does not mean it is with a sale being the end goal. This is why we invest in accurate kits and do it ourselves. I would like to know what device was used.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have lost a sailfin tang, clownfish, and blue damsel does in the past week. I have a 36 gal tank that’s been setup for 9 months. My parameters are:
Salinity 1.027
Alkalinity 138
Alk (dkh) 7.728
pH 7.9
Phosphate .9
Calcium 387
Magnesium 1249
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 43

What could be the problem?

SG, slight to high
Alk, above ocean level but, maybe bump it to 8.
Po4 good.
Cal, slight low, try to bump it to 400
Mag, bump to Min. 1350
No3, high, try to get it to 10ish with water changes.

I would recommend getting some quality test kits. API won't cut it.

I also recommend taking back that sailfin Tang. Perhaps one of the zebramosa or bristle tooth tangs would be better Suited for the 75 gallon.

 

[mcdrichj]

As others pointed out the tang shouldnt be in that small of a tank. Having a baby tang in a smaller tank is ok only if you can move it. Saying "I will upgrade when its time" is never a really good option because it usually doesnt happen when it should. Nitrates are high and you should do water changes to reduce them. Damsels tend to be quite aggressive fish and as someone else pointed out the fins on that clown are quite ripped up. Having the damsels in first will only make this aggression worse.

My guess is that one and/or two things happened
1. Fish were bullied to death by the damsels.
2. The new additions were sick and brought something into your tank.

Its very unfortunate that this happened but please learn from this the time to save the fish is before you even buy them. There are tons of info online and on R2R about comparability/aggression, quarantining, treating sick fish, and proper tank size. I personally make sure all my fish are quarantined in a medicated tank (sometimes I do the qt sometimes I buy them qt'd). If you get to the point where you are asking whats wrong with my fish and have no meds on hand its usually not a good situation.

 

[T-J]

Being in the pet industry, unless something new is out, we as store owners were buying kits and in lieu of doing this API came out with spin test to make it cost effective and time saving for store testing in which was found to be better than the master kits but still off.
Because store says its accurate does not mean it is with a sale being the end goal. This is why we invest in accurate kits and do it ourselves. I would like to know what device was used.

Dude....chill. That was the whole point of my post. It's called sarcasm.
Others figured it out (note the laughing emojis)

 

[vetteguy53081]

Dude....chill. That was the whole point of my post. It's called sarcasm.
Others figured it out (note the laughing emojis)

All good. My point was pet stores telling people water is good while fish are dying to sell them another one when water is not good.
I did not catch on with emojis and after looking back- Now I get it :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes: :D:D