I need help

[Daoz126]

I came home to this I don't understand why fish are out of color I checked my waters Sunday they were good I need help

 

[Ron Reefman]

Just a little bit more information might prove helpful!
Like what were those water parameters on Sunday? What are they now? How old is the system? What else in in the tank? What do you mean by the fish being 'out of color'?

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

They may be scared or stressed. I havne't had those particular fish before, but many fish will get pale colors when they get stressed out. Some turn a different color entirely. If you look up "stressed foxface" you'll see they almost look like a cow when they get stressed, but vibrant yellow when not.

I'd watch them to see if you can find something causing them stress. Seems likely to me since they are chilling at the bottom by the scull. Ron's questions will help us get a better idea of whats going on as well.

 

[Daoz126]

They may be scared or stressed. I havne't had those particular fish before, but many fish will get pale colors when they get stressed out. Some turn a different color entirely. If you look up "stressed foxface" you'll see they almost look like a cow when they get stressed, but vibrant yellow when not.

I'd watch them to see if you can find something causing them stress. Seems likely to me since they are chilling at the bottom by the scull. Ron's questions will help us get a better idea of whats going on as well.

Everything seems to be back to normal after 40 min on turning on the light usually I leave the light off when I'm at 7am to 330pm usually I'm home by 4 and turn on the light for a few hrs then leave the night light when I sleep around 10ish then turn it off before work and repeat. But yesterday I didn't get home til 11pm and lights were completely off since 7pm I was told by a friend that after being in the dark so long they get discolored and go back to normal color a few min after the light is turn on not sure how true this is. My tank is about 3 months I used 100 pounds of live sand and dry rock left it for about a week running with wet dry filter and canister filter then put in the damsels after 2 weeks got the clown fish and trigger then a month later the goby and 6 hermit crabs But my water parameters are salinity. 023 no detectable ammonia or nitrate 5.0 ppm ph 8.2 and nitrite undetectable I have a 125 gallon tank 5 damsels 1 triggerfish 1 goby 1 clown fish and 6 crabs I have 4 powerheads 2 on each side 530gph each have a underwater air bubble light which I keep light off really only use it as a air stone a uv sterilizer and a protein skimmer if you guys need any more info that I'm missing let me know would appreciate the help it's my first saltwater tank

 

[Daoz126]

Everything seems to be back to normal after 40 min on turning on the light usually I leave the light off when I'm at 7am to 330pm usually I'm home by 4 and turn on the light for a few hrs then leave the night light when I sleep around 10ish then turn it off before work and repeat. But yesterday I didn't get home til 11pm and lights were completely off since 7pm I was told by a friend that after being in the dark so long they get discolored and go back to normal color a few min after the light is turn on not sure how true this is. My tank is about 3 months I used 100 pounds of live sand and dry rock left it for about a week running with wet dry filter and canister filter then put in the damsels after 2 weeks got the clown fish and trigger then a month later the goby and 6 hermit crabs But my water parameters are salinity. 023 no detectable ammonia or nitrate 5.0 ppm ph 8.2 and nitrite undetectable I have a 125 gallon tank 5 damsels 1 triggerfish 1 goby 1 clown fish and 6 crabs I have 4 powerheads 2 on each side 530gph each have a underwater air bubble light which I keep light off really only use it as a air stone a uv sterilizer and a protein skimmer if you guys need any more info that I'm missing let me know would appreciate the help it's my first saltwater tank

I also found out my damsel has a white looking pimple on his side not sure if it's bacteria or contagious or maybe he was bitten or scratched himself if you guys can help identify what it is hopefully I can treat it right away. That's the best pic of could with his constant swimming. He is acting normal and eating so not sure what it is

 

[Justin Cook]

They could be a little stressed and anxious because the light schedule got a little screwed up. I have seen fish be pale when the lights first come on. They also might be getting banged up on by the domino or trigger. If they're getting picked on at all they'll kind of hide together and get stressed. Have you noticed anything chasing them? Are they eating? I'd also check you water temperature. This time of year when things are heating up and the AC kicks on, there might be some fluctuation. At this point, my guess is they're getting picked on.

 

[Daoz126]

They could be a little stressed and anxious because the light schedule got a little screwed up. I have seen fish be pale when the lights first come on. They also might be getting banged up on by the domino or trigger. If they're getting picked on at all they'll kind of hide together and get stressed. Have you noticed anything chasing them? Are they eating? I'd also check you water temperature. This time of year when things are heating up and the AC kicks on, there might be some fluctuation. At this point, my guess is they're getting picked on.

Usually only the blue fin damsels chase each other around alot and the two domino damsel chase each other here and there but now that I'm looking at him it could be some sort of wound I just fed them and he ate like he normally does the triggerfish surprisingly he doesn't chase anyone he kinda just minds his business because even when it's feeding time I feed the demsels and clown fish flakes and shrimp pellets and usually a piece of raw frozen shrimp to the trigger he doesnt show any signs of aggression even when the clown fish or the domino nips at the piece of shrimp. My water temperatures usually stay around 74-76 usually when I see it hit 79 I put a frozen gallon of water in the wet dry filter and seems to cool it down a degree or two and I rotate with another frozen one. So would you recommend me to set up a quarantine tank til he heals or just let him be?

 

[Ka0s]

If this is only happening during the dark hours could you of picked up a hitch hiking predator? Not saying it is but you can use a red flash light to look at the tank in the dark to see if it is without it detecting you. Again I'm not saying this is the case but it's possible if you have added any rock that could of had an eel or something like that hiding in it. Doubt it as you said dry rock but it might be worth looking at night as you could have someone chasing at night.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Afternoon

Glad the fish got color back. Lighting changes dark to light do trigger shift in colors on some. At lights out my yellow tang turns dull yellow and his side get a brown line.

The damsel is kind of hard to see. With damsels my thoughts would be flukes. Fresh water dips can help identify those. There is a thread about how to do it. Also, Damsels also are prone to uronema, that presents more as a red sore area. Or if the white if it looks cotton like may be an injury that is developing an infection.

If you could post a few more pix, reefsquad could help diagnose

 

[Fishnut]

If none of your fish were QT I would leave the damsel in the 125 gallon and observe. See if you can get a better photo of the wound for us to better diagnose.

 

[Mikedawg]

Everything seems to be back to normal after 40 min on turning on the light usually I leave the light off when I'm at 7am to 330pm usually I'm home by 4 and turn on the light for a few hrs then leave the night light when I sleep around 10ish then turn it off before work and repeat. But yesterday I didn't get home til 11pm and lights were completely off since 7pm I was told by a friend that after being in the dark so long they get discolored and go back to normal color a few min after the light is turn on not sure how true this is. My tank is about 3 months I used 100 pounds of live sand and dry rock left it for about a week running with wet dry filter and canister filter then put in the damsels after 2 weeks got the clown fish and trigger then a month later the goby and 6 hermit crabs But my water parameters are salinity. 023 no detectable ammonia or nitrate 5.0 ppm ph 8.2 and nitrite undetectable I have a 125 gallon tank 5 damsels 1 triggerfish 1 goby 1 clown fish and 6 crabs I have 4 powerheads 2 on each side 530gph each have a underwater air bubble light which I keep light off really only use it as a air stone a uv sterilizer and a protein skimmer if you guys need any more info that I'm missing let me know would appreciate the help it's my first saltwater tank

Does your light have a ramp up/ramp down feature that you can program? If not, I would buy a timer (like the kind you use to turn a lamp on/off - they are cheap) to help you keep a consistent schedule of lighting.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Damsels are bullies.... I suspect there is a lot of fighting going on, despite the large tank and small population.

 

[Hemmdog]

We also need to figure out these temp swings. Keep the tank at 78 if it’s getting up to that hot during the day, turn your air on you shouldn’t need to ice cool it all the time. Salinity you also should shoot for 1.025, I’m not sure if your .023 was a typo or not. My main thing with marine tanks is stability, temp, water quality, lighting time, everything.

 

[Daoz126]

We also need to figure out these temp swings. Keep the tank at 78 if it’s getting up to that hot during the day, turn your air on you shouldn’t need to ice cool it all the time. Salinity you also should shoot for 1.025, I’m not sure if your .023 was a typo or not. My main thing with marine tanks is stability, temp, water quality, lighting time, everything.

I just got it between 1.025 and 1.024

 

[Daoz126]

Does your light have a ramp up/ramp down feature that you can program? If not, I would buy a timer (like the kind you use to turn a lamp on/off - they are cheap) to help you keep a consistent schedule of lighting.

It has a 24 hr timer on it I just never set it up and do it myself since I usually stay on the same schedule but looks like I will have to set the timer up

 

[Daoz126]

Afternoon

Glad the fish got color back. Lighting changes dark to light do trigger shift in colors on some. At lights out my yellow tang turns dull yellow and his side get a brown line.

The damsel is kind of hard to see. With damsels my thoughts would be flukes. Fresh water dips can help identify those. There is a thread about how to do it. Also, Damsels also are prone to uronema, that presents more as a red sore area. Or if the white if it looks cotton like may be an injury that is developing an infection.

If you could post a few more pix, reefsquad could help diagnose

I'm trying to get a good shot of him but he usually likes to hide between the rocks or swim on the back side of the tank when it's feeding time I will try again meanwhile I'm setting up a 10 gallon quarantine tank

 

[Daoz126]

I also found out my damsel has a white looking pimple on his side not sure if it's bacteria or contagious or maybe he was bitten or scratched himself if you guys can help identify what it is hopefully I can treat it right away. That's the best pic of could with his constant swimming. He is acting normal and eating so not sure what it is

Here is the best pics I could get he is going on his 3rs day still swimming and eating normal