I need some advice

[FredaU]

I started my first saltwater tank almost a year ago. Everything was fine until recently. I added a blue damsel to my tank and started losing fish the same day. I didn’t see any signs of aggression but separated him just to be sure. I continued losing fish daily. The fish would get very pale and die within hours. I didn’t see any spots just the change in color.
I had also done a 10% water change just before this. After it was done I noticed a slight pink ring around the bucket. Apparently my RO/DI filter was not filtering properly. I have no way of knowing for sure if they died from illness or poor water quality.
I have my damsel and 2 fire fish left. It’s been 2 weeks with no signs of illness. How long should I wait to start adding fish again? I’m tempted to tear it down and start over just to be safe. 36 gallon fowlr tank. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates are 20 ppm (I think they’re high due to not finding one of the missing fish) ph is 7.8 salinity 1.023.

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Sorry to hear about your fish. Maybe one of the R2R #fishmedic crew can take a look here for you.

Good luck!

 

[Sharkbait19]

All equipment is functioning normally? Any changes to your source water? What kind of fish died? Any change in behavior or was the paleness the only symptom you saw?
Do you have any pictures/videos of the affected fish?

 

[littlefoxx]

sounds like the damsel brought something in the tank

 

[FredaU]

sounds like the damsel brought something in the tank

That was my thought also but I had him in QT for a month with no sign of anything. It’s been almost 2 months now and he still seems healthy and active. I know they’re tough. Maybe I have the fish version of Typhoid Mary.

 

[littlefoxx]

That was my thought also but I had him in QT for a month with no sign of anything. It’s been almost 2 months now and he still seems healthy and active. I know they’re tough. Maybe I have the fish version of Typhoid Mary.

Jeez damsels are nuts

 

[KrisReef]

I started my first saltwater tank almost a year ago. Everything was fine until recently. I added a blue damsel to my tank and started losing fish the same day. I didn’t see any signs of aggression but separated him just to be sure. I continued losing fish daily. The fish would get very pale and die within hours. I didn’t see any spots just the change in color.
I had also done a 10% water change just before this. After it was done I noticed a slight pink ring around the bucket. Apparently my RO/DI filter was not filtering properly. I have no way of knowing for sure if they died from illness or poor water quality.
I have my damsel and 2 fire fish left. It’s been 2 weeks with no signs of illness. How long should I wait to start adding fish again? I’m tempted to tear it down and start over just to be safe. 36 gallon fowlr tank. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates are 20 ppm (I think they’re high due to not finding one of the missing fish) ph is 7.8 salinity 1.023.

Do not tear down and start over.

Fish aggression can promote failing health in aquarium fishes.

Post an clear, white light image of your tank so we can see what you may have.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I started my first saltwater tank almost a year ago. Everything was fine until recently. I added a blue damsel to my tank and started losing fish the same day. I didn’t see any signs of aggression but separated him just to be sure. I continued losing fish daily. The fish would get very pale and die within hours. I didn’t see any spots just the change in color.
I had also done a 10% water change just before this. After it was done I noticed a slight pink ring around the bucket. Apparently my RO/DI filter was not filtering properly. I have no way of knowing for sure if they died from illness or poor water quality.
I have my damsel and 2 fire fish left. It’s been 2 weeks with no signs of illness. How long should I wait to start adding fish again? I’m tempted to tear it down and start over just to be safe. 36 gallon fowlr tank. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates are 20 ppm (I think they’re high due to not finding one of the missing fish) ph is 7.8 salinity 1.023.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

One important diagnostic tool is: does the tank also have invertebrates in it? If it does, and they are all doing fine, then the issue is more likely a fish disease and not a water quality problem.

 

[MnFish1]

I started my first saltwater tank almost a year ago. Everything was fine until recently. I added a blue damsel to my tank and started losing fish the same day. I didn’t see any signs of aggression but separated him just to be sure. I continued losing fish daily. The fish would get very pale and die within hours. I didn’t see any spots just the change in color.
I had also done a 10% water change just before this. After it was done I noticed a slight pink ring around the bucket. Apparently my RO/DI filter was not filtering properly. I have no way of knowing for sure if they died from illness or poor water quality.
I have my damsel and 2 fire fish left. It’s been 2 weeks with no signs of illness. How long should I wait to start adding fish again? I’m tempted to tear it down and start over just to be safe. 36 gallon fowlr tank. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates are 20 ppm (I think they’re high due to not finding one of the missing fish) ph is 7.8 salinity 1.023.

It would be impossible for a fish to spread a disease to other fish within a day - so it's hard to say that thats related. It could be aggression though you didn't see it. Could also be that the damsel stressed the others out - leading to less resistance for disease. I would suggest that this is the reason.

As to the water change - it's not completely clear what you're saying - but again - that would not cause daily fish loss. Can you mention which fish were lost - did that have any other symptoms except the paleness (which can be a sign of flukes)

As to your specific question - I would treat your remaining fish with copper and prazipro per the quarantine protocol - and I would not add new fish for at least 6 weeks.

Since you have a FOWLR and are nor planning to add inverts?? You could do this in your display tank

 

[FredaU]

It would be impossible for a fish to spread a disease to other fish within a day - so it's hard to say that thats related. It could be aggression though you didn't see it. Could also be that the damsel stressed the others out - leading to less resistance for disease. I would suggest that this is the reason.

As to the water change - it's not completely clear what you're saying - but again - that would not cause daily fish loss. Can you mention which fish were lost - did that have any other symptoms except the paleness (which can be a sign of flukes)

As to your specific question - I would treat your remaining fish with copper and prazipro per the quarantine protocol - and I would not add new fish for at least 6 weeks.

Since you have a FOWLR and are nor planning to add inverts?? You could do this in your display tank

I can put the fish in QT. I do have a CC Star and a couple nessarius snails. I lost a royal gramma Bengai cardinal and pair of mini clowns. I’m not sure if there was an issue with the water. I just noticed a pink ring around the pail when it was empty. I never noticed it before and assume there shouldn’t be any sediment if the water was filtered properly.

 

[FredaU]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

One important diagnostic tool is: does the tank also have invertebrates in it? If it does, and they are all doing fine, then the issue is more likely a fish disease and not a water quality problem.

Yes a chocolate chip star and snails. They seem fine.

 

[FredaU]

All equipment is functioning normally? Any changes to your source water? What kind of fish died? Any change in behavior or was the paleness the only symptom you saw?
Do you have any pictures/videos of the affected fish?

The water is the same. I use an HOB filter that has been running well.
Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures. I didn’t see any changes other than the coloring. Shortly after I noticed that I would find them on the bottom of the tank. It was a royal gramma Bengai cardinal and a pair of mini clowns.
I’m wondering if it may be velvet but the remaining fish seem fine.

 

[FredaU]

Do not tear down and start over.

Fish aggression can promote failing health in aquarium fishes.

Post a clear, white light image of your tank so we can see what you may have.

I considered stress. I was worried about aggression so I watched pretty closely. He was only in there for a little over 24 hours. I continued to lose fish for a few days after I took him out.

 

[KrisReef]

I considered stress. I was worried about aggression so I watched pretty closely. He was only in there for a little over 24 hours. I continued to lose fish for a few days after I took him out.

Seems likely that a disease came along with the fish then, and when these things happen we all get a bit depressed and ready to give up or quit the hobby.

What fish are still in the tank, if any? Can you post images of any of the sick, dying, dead, or current fishes for evaluation?

 

[FredaU]

I considered stress. I was worried about aggression so I watched pretty closely. He was only in there for a little over 24 hours. I continued to lose fish for a few days after I took him out.

 

[FredaU]

This was the day after I lost my grama. The cardinal and clowns still seemed healthy at this point.

 

[KrisReef]

This one is going to be a mystery.
@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081
Lets ask the disease folks if they recommend fallow or restart in this case?

 

[FredaU]

Seems likely that a disease came along with the fish then, and when these things happen we all get a bit depressed and ready to give up or quit the hobby.

What fish are still in the tank, if any? Can you post images of any of the sick, dying, dead, or current fishes for evaluation?

I’m not giving up. It was going well for almost a year. I must have been doing something right. The only reason I was considering starting over is not knowing for sure what the problem is. I still have the damsel, a pair of fire fish a CC star and nessarius snails.

 

[FredaU]

This one is going to be a mystery.
@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081
Let’s ask the disease folks if they recommend fallow or restart in this case?

 

[FredaU]

That’s why I posted. I know others have more experience than I do. My logic was starting over I would know it was all cleared up and the cycle process would probably be slightly shorter than waiting out the fallow period. I appreciate all opinions.