Is hypo killing my fish

[Mikemilly245]

I just entered hypo last night as suggested by many. 1.009 salinity measured and triple checked using 3 different methods. Just reached in the tank to adjust power head height because they were occasionally gasping at the surface, and my big female clown that I’ve had for 2+ years darts into the sand bed and then darts behind the rock work. Hasn’t came out sense. what the heck? Never seen this behavior before. The other one is just waiting at the surface for them to return :/ Should I start raising salinity back up ?

 

[Mikemilly245]

I’ve heard some fish just aren’t tolerable to it so I’m wondering if I should just not even risk the 30 days if they’re already acting strange

 

[Fish Fan]

#fishmedic

How fast did you lower the salinity?

 

[Mikemilly245]

#fishmedic

How fast did you lower the salinity?

I started on December 26
1.028-1.020

Dec 27
1.020-1.015

Dec 28
1.015-1.009

I’m doing it with 5 gallon buckets too to make sure it’s as gradual as possible. Just swimming sort of frantically and occasionally see them gasping for air

 

[Mikemilly245]

I haven’t seen the clown yet since it swam behind the rocks… I hope they aren’t reacting to this badly

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm sorry you're having some trouble here!

Hopefully someone from the #fishmedic crew will be by to help soon.

I doubled checked, and it was Jay Hemdal, who's one of R2R's most knowledgeable members with fish diseases, that recommended the hyposalinity for your tank. I don't think he would have suggested this if it were known that Clownfish would react badly to it. And I'm not an expert, but a quick search and I don't see anything that would suggest that Clowns can't go through a hyposalinity treatment.

Certainly, I hope they come swimming out soon, but remember they were infected before, it's at least possible that the hyposalinity was just a little too late, not so much the cause of the behavior you're observing.

How's your Puffer? Again, wait for those with the "Fish Medic" badge, but if it were me I would continue the hypo for the sake of your Puffer.

Good luck!

 

[Nate Chalk]

I started on December 26
1.028-1.020

Dec 27
1.020-1.015

Dec 28
1.015-1.009

I’m doing it with 5 gallon buckets too to make sure it’s as gradual as possible. Just swimming sort of frantically and occasionally see them gasping for air

I was pretty sure that Jay suggested 6 levels of shifting over the week

 

[Fish Fan]

I was pretty sure that Jay suggested 6 levels of shifting over the week

This was Jay's reply in the OP's other thread where the Ich was diagnosed and the hyosalinity was suggested:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/puffer-spots…-am-i-just-being-paranoid.1088523/post-13153311

 

[Big E]

If you're treating for ich, than the ich is what is causing the heavy breathing and darting. That should dissipate once they are killed. You have to be diligent about keeping it at 1.009. Use more than one tool to test the salinity to make sure your readings are accurate.

It's true there a some fish that won't tolerate this, but you'll usually see signs in the coming days. Some symptoms are not being able to swim correctly or bloating.

 

[fishywishy]

I just entered hypo last night as suggested by many. 1.009 salinity measured and triple checked using 3 different methods. Just reached in the tank to adjust power head height because they were occasionally gasping at the surface, and my big female clown that I’ve had for 2+ years darts into the sand bed and then darts behind the rock work. Hasn’t came out sense. what the heck? Never seen this behavior before. The other one is just waiting at the surface for them to return :/ Should I start raising salinity back up ?

Clownfish don’t handle hypo too well, but they’re probably fine. the ich doesn’t go away instantly, they will still have symptoms for a little while, but after a few days or weeks they they should start looking normal.

 

[everpresentnoob]

For what its worth, I have a 32 gallon BioCube with a clown and a blue spot puffer that Im currently doing the Hypo treatment to due to Ich on the clown. they both seemed a little freaked out when I first hit 1.009 in the tank, but after a day or two they calmed down. Have faith.

 

[Mikemilly245]

I'm sorry you're having some trouble here!

Hopefully someone from the #fishmedic crew will be by to help soon.

I doubled checked, and it was Jay Hemdal, who's one of R2R's most knowledgeable members with fish diseases, that recommended the hyposalinity for your tank. I don't think he would have suggested this if it were known that Clownfish would react badly to it. And I'm not an expert, but a quick search and I don't see anything that would suggest that Clowns can't go through a hyposalinity treatment.

Certainly, I hope they come swimming out soon, but remember they were infected before, it's at least possible that the hyposalinity was just a little too late, not so much the cause of the behavior you're observing.

How's your Puffer? Again, wait for those with the "Fish Medic" badge, but if it were me I would continue the hypo for the sake of your Puffer.

Good luck!

Puffer is doing okay, just seems a little lethargic but still eating like a champ. I agree I will continue, his spots are slowly disappearing already.

I saw the clownfish on my lunch break. Must have came out this morning, I didn’t see him early in the AM. I never saw any spots on either of the clowns, just the puffer, but I understand that doesn’t mean it was ich free.

And yes I definitely don’t think anyone was trying to steer me in the wrong direction at all, just had me thinking I did something wrong when I saw that behavior

 

[Fish Fan]

Puffer is doing okay, just seems a little lethargic but still eating like a champ. I agree I will continue, his spots are slowly disappearing already.

I saw the clownfish on my lunch break. Must have came out this morning, I didn’t see him early in the AM. I never saw any spots on either of the clowns, just the puffer, but I understand that doesn’t mean it was ich free.

And yes I definitely don’t think anyone was trying to steer me in the wrong direction at all, just had me thinking I did something wrong when I saw that behavior

Good, glad to hear the Puffer is improving and the Clownfish was spotted!

 

[Tamberav]

I went down to hypo in 24 hours and had no loses other than a jumper.

I have clowns and many leopard wrasses and several other fish, anthia, royal gramma, pink streak, radiant wrasse, yellow tang., damsel, tail spot Blenny.


The yellow rang developed a bacterial issue right in the last week of hypo but he’s healed up now.


In fact my clowns layed eggs and spawning during hypo. No ***** to give.


Your description sounds like symptoms of ich.