Help tank is contaminated, fish dying

[nritter69]

So I need some help guys and gals figuring out why I keep losing expensive fish in a small FOWLR it began with switching from a small 20 gallon column to a new 39 gallon bow front, and adding additional Florida crushed Coral otherwise all live rock and filters we're the same upon change over.
immediately lost both seahorses in tank. About a week to two weeks later lost dog face puffer a few days after that lost multicolor Angler and a week after that lost dwarf lionfish. The last two I just lost this week was a brand new large bright orange Angler that granted came from California and have no idea how it was doing beforehand but also a multicolored angel that was in the pet shop for two months and died after one day in the tank. Most of these fish the puffer the lion seahorses Angler we're all in the column tank or my other reef tank for years and were established and healthy. STRANGELY. There is a few clowns a snowflake eel and a lawnmower blenny remaining that have lived through all of this and appear to be healthy and happy. as for the tank, Multiple. again Multiple large 50 to 60% water changes temperature kept at 79 degrees 0 ammonia,0 nitrite and 10 to 20 PPM nitrates use of a brand-new chem clean filter media with a UV light has been constant a coral life T5 lighting syste

 

[nritter69]

I am not normally a fish killer but I kept making excuses as to why the fish were dying the seahorses due to stress from change over the new red angler just from Shipping and was fed too much bloat an acid but there has simply been too many other losses like the puffer the lionfish the angel the multicolored Angler that were established and healthy before transfer to the tank I'm beginning to think it's micro bacterial or mycobacterial I mean and maybe the clowns and snowflake eel being cultivated in tanks rather than the wild have an immunity I don't know Additionally the tank salinity stays at 1.024 and pH at 8.0 any help would be much appreciated

 

[nritter69]

Here is a pic of the tank

 

[DSC reef]

Sorry for the loss but a dogface puffer, a lion fish, a multicolored angel, a snowflake eel, plus the other fish including an angler is way to many fish for that tank. I think you tried putting in to much to soon unfortunately.
#reefsquad
@4FordFamily

 

[jabberwock]

I see a chocolate chip starfish too...

 

[nritter69]

Yah I figured someone would say something to that matter. but these fish where added and then died overtime at any given time the tank has never had any more than 4 or 5 fish in it this has been happening over a period Of 2 months First losing the two seahorses probably due to stress of change over then a few weeks later started losing the established Puffer that had been in it for years then the established dwarf lion which had been in it for years then moved the green multicolor angler from my reef to this tank he only lasted a week before dying then in this tank the two constants have been the snowflake eel and the lawnmower blenny as far as the clowns go those are culls meant as food for a Blue Ribbon eel in the reef tank and they are moved in and out with zero deaths

 

[DSC reef]

How did you keep a dogface for years in a 20 column? Even if they lived that tank is no where near big enough to house those fish. Seahorses really need their own tank as well including anglers. IMO, to much and to soon.

 

[saltyhog]

If it's a contaminant, it's strange that some fish are tolerating it and others aren't . Agree with DSC your bioload and "behavior load" is way too high. Four clownfish are very unlikely to survive long term in your tank....especially since there are maroons. The maroons will likely not allow other fish in a tank that size once they get sexually mature.

I would continue good husbandry/water changes and monitor your parameters as you are. While I don't normally check ammonia in an established tank I would check it occasionally if I were you. Maybe consider lowering you stocking for a while and add new fish slowly. I would think a single predator fish would be max in a tank this size?

Good luck! Sorry for your losses but hopefully you're going the right direction soon!

 

[nritter69]

OMG not really helping but to answer your question Anglers are reef safe and they are fine in a reef tank he was moved from the reef tank to this tank he was in the reef tank for years the dog face puffer was in a reef tank for a few years but did not like all the other fish and did not like to swim around just like to hang out under the rocks so he was moved to a small tank where he could hang out and be by himself for the most part with a eel and a couple seahorses when moved to this tank the seahorses died immediately the puffer then died two weeks later an angler that was moved in the tank died a week after being moved into the tank a dwarf lion that was also moved into the tank to try and populate the nearly empty tank that only had an eel and a blenny in it at that point died as well in a matter of weeks try imagining a reefer with multiple tanks in home who switches his column tank 2 a bigger bow front tank and then everything he adds to the bow front tank from his other tanks dies

 

[DSC reef]

Actually we are trying to help. We can agree to disagree and good luck.

 

[nritter69]

Sorry I'm just frustrated and bio load doesn't kill a fish in 24hrs . I keep trying to explain that all these fish were not In this tank at the same time. They were transferred to the tank from my other well established tanks. Now over a period of 2 months the fish who have been added to this tank have died. I agree that it is strange the eel and blenny along with the culls that have been moved in then out of this tank have not been effected.

 

[1WildBill]

What test kits are you using?
When you moved the rock over, how long was it out of the water?

 

[fishyfishyfishy]

When you switched the fish from the 20 to the 39 that would be about 10g of new water (unless you didn’t tear the other down and this is completely new)then the new crushed rock. It’s possible it is equivalent to a new tank at this point housing fish that can’t handle the fluctuations. Just a gues don’t take it as fact just trying to help.

 

[Water Dog]

Bioload can certainly kill fish quickly... ammonia poisoning. That’s a lot of fish for a relatively small water/live rock volume... 39 gallons for a snowflake eel, 2 seahorses, dwarf lion fish, dogface puffer, multicolor angler and 4 clownfish. When moving the rocks over, did you ensure that the tank was fully cycled? What are your parameters?

 

[fishyfishyfishy]

Bioload can certainly kill fish quickly... ammonia poisoning. That’s a lot of fish for a relatively small water/live rock volume... 39 gallons for a snowflake eel, 2 seahorses, dwarf lion fish, dogface puffer, multicolor angler and 4 clownfish. When moving the rocks over, did you ensure that the tank was fully cycled? What are your parameters?

I don’t think all will in at the same time, this is accumulative

 

[EmdeReef]

If you think it’s a contaminant, continue doing water changes and add carbon then check all equipment for damage/rust.

I don’t want to go into overstocking debates but I agree with DSC and Salty and they gave you good advice you should consider.

It’s also always good to quarantine fish even if just for observation. At the minimum don’t add any new fish to this tank until you figure out what’s going on. Keep in mind that overstocking can in fact kill fish rapidly due to stress/aggression as well as oxygen depletion, ammonia spikes etc.

Are there any spots or any wounds on dead fish?

 

[Water Dog]

Still throughout, the OP has had a snowflake eel, 4 clowns and a lawnmower blenny as constants in the tank. That’s a ton of ammonia being produced. Would love to know accurate water parameters.

 

[Ling_Thing]

Would love to see an Icp test...

 

[kles]

What brand uv are you using ?

 

[nritter69]

The clowns are culls they were moved in then out 1 at a time as they were eaten by the blue ribbon eel in a different tank of mine. The clowns were only all together for a matter of days they are feeders. The ammonia has been at 0. The nitrites at 0 an nitrates at 10-20 ppm. Salinity 1.024. Ph at 8.0. This is the 2nd time I've posted these paramus in the this thread and I keep mentioning the clowns are CULLS , feeders and are not permanent guest they are now poop in a giant reef system. Jeez guys I appreciate the interest but please read my post an params before commenting thanks