fish keep dying....help!

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

 

[Jay0103]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

Funnily enough you say this.... my only clown fish alive today started to show signs of not eating and mouth wide open and not swimming much and hiding behind rock at bottom and gills doing rapid movements....i have done water change now so see if that helps although my parameters are perfect. I only have a single fish now. No shrimp, only bought one that died. This fish i have had from day 1.

 

[Jay0103]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

Funnily enough you say this.... my only clown fish alive today started to show signs of not eating and mouth wide open and not swimming much and hiding behind rock at bottom and gills doing rapid movements....i have done water change now so see if that helps although my parameters are perfect. I only have a single fish now. No shrimp, only bought one that died. This fish i have had from day 1.

 

[Jay0103]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

Funnily enough you say this.... my only clown fish alive today started to show signs of not eating and mouth wide open and not swimming much and hiding behind rock at bottom and gills doing rapid movements....i have done water change now so see if that helps although my parameters are perfect. I only have a single fish now. No shrimp, only bought one that died. This fish i have had from day 1.

 

[Jay0103]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

Funnily enough you say this.... my only clown fish alive today started to show signs of not eating and mouth wide open and not swimming much and hiding behind rock at bottom and gills doing rapid movements....i have done water change now so see if that helps although my parameters are perfect. I only have a single fish now. No shrimp, only bought one that died. This fish i have had from day 1.

 

[Jay0103]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

Funnily enough you say this.... my only clown fish alive today started to show signs of not eating and mouth wide open and not swimming much and hiding behind rock at bottom and gills doing rapid movements....i have done water change now so see if that helps although my parameters are perfect. I only have a single fish now. No shrimp, only bought one that died. This fish i have had from day 1.

 

[Jay0103]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

This isn’t a copper issue, or any heavy metal. If I understand correctly, you still have at least a shrimp and another clown left alive? If so, copper would have killed that shrimp.

Skip ICP, it isn’t going to tell you anything meaningful.

I suspect you got some poor quality fish.

What I would do is go into a holding pattern - keep the tank running as it is and watch the remaining clown closely. This is just in case the previous fish died from something contagious. Watch the fish for lack of appetite. White spots or rapid breathing.

Then, after a month to 45 days, you’ll know things have settled down. I’d then suggest that you buy pre quarantined fish going forward

 

[Shawn H!]

Hi Guys,

i am new to the marine tank world. I have had my tank for about 2.5 months. i started with fish in cycle with 2 clown fish.

within the first 10 days the smaller clown fish died. i then decided to not add any more until my tank cycled. once my tank cycled...i decided to buy a another clown fish and a fire shrimp....after acclimation and putting them both in my tank along with my 1 previous clown that was in my tank....30 mins later my shrimp died and my new clown died 8 days later....i still have 1 of my original clown left.

my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrate is around 2 to 5...my temp is 25 degrees celcius....my salinity is 1.025....its a fish only tank....but i don't understand what is happening why all my fish are dying apart from that 1 fish from the start.

any help would be appreciated.

for context i have a redsea max e 170

Have you tried running some poly filter in it to see what is present? It changes color to show what is present.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Funnily enough you say this.... my only clown fish alive today started to show signs of not eating and mouth wide open and not swimming much and hiding behind rock at bottom and gills doing rapid movements....i have done water change now so see if that helps although my parameters are perfect. I only have a single fish now. No shrimp, only bought one that died. This fish i have had from day 1.

So - are there any animals in the tank besides the now sickly clownfish?

Can you post a video of the clown?

 

[winxp_man]

You have diseases in the tank. Having put many fish in QT’s. It takes a lot before a uncycled tank kills them off. You are getting sick fish.

My recommendation is you need to start running a QT tank.

These types of stories are so common in my area it’s not even funny! Fact is diseases are becoming more prevalent than ever. More and more are getting into the hobby. And shops only do mild medication, but run lower salinity to suppress diseases. Then customers go in get a fish thinking nothing of it, because at the shop it’s not showing anything. Remember most fish are out of a LFS tank in no time.

Held back from buying one of two Venustus angels a lsf near me had. Poor fish both died of uronema. Suck to watch and see such things.

I’m now in the works of building a QT at my business shop. I will start to run a QT side gig to help people out local to me. Love doing it! Warms my heart looking at my 300 with healthy non diseased fish. If anything they are too fat. Need to slow down feedings.

 

[Jay0103]

You have diseases in the tank. Having put many fish in QT’s. It takes a lot before a uncycled tank kills them off. You are getting sick fish.

My recommendation is you need to start running a QT tank.

These types of stories are so common in my area it’s not even funny! Fact is diseases are becoming more prevalent than ever. More and more are getting into the hobby. And shops only do mild medication, but run lower salinity to suppress diseases. Then customers go in get a fish thinking nothing of it, because at the shop it’s not showing anything. Remember most fish are out of a LFS tank in no time.

Held back from buying one of two Venustus angels a lsf near me had. Poor fish both died of uronema. Suck to watch and see such things.

I’m now in the works of building a QT at my business shop. I will start to run a QT side gig to help people out local to me. Love doing it! Warms my heart looking at my 300 with healthy non diseased fish. If anything they are too fat. Need to slow down feedings.

Yes i was thinking its some sort of disease. if this fish dies, i will only have some clean up crew snails. should i clear tank out and clean? or will disease die on its own without any fish? also how do i set up QT, what do i need for it?

 

[Jay0103]

So - are there any animals in the tank besides the now sickly clownfish?

Can you post a video of the clown?

yes there are about 6 snails in the tank. i will try to post a video. she has her mouth fully open wide, isnt eating, and breathing fast and can see inside gills bright red.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

yes there are about 6 snails in the tank. i will try to post a video. she has her mouth fully open wide, isnt eating, and breathing fast and can see inside gills bright red.

Snails are much more sensitive to metals and other contaminants than shrimp are. I use them as a “canary in the coal mine” to screen for those issues. If the snails are crawling around and actively feeding, you know that the water itself is ok. The shrimp may have died from some unrelated issue.

I think you have a fish disease going on here…..

 

[Jay0103]

Here is video if her