Need Encouragement

Lisa Cain · Feb 27, 2026

I buried my mother this past Friday and returned home on Saturday only to discover that my peppermint hog, my favorite fish, had somehow gotten in the sump and jumped out and died. Then my powder blue tang had ich and a little white on him. He died, followed by my anthias, clown fish, and midas blenny, which has disappeared. The water parameters in my 120-gallon tank were good, with the exception of the alkalinity, which was 6.7. My blue hippo is alive but very quiet. My rabbit foxface, cleaner wrasse, goby, other wrasse, and other clownfish are okay. I was devastated and feltlike giving up. My tank is beautiful, but to lose four fish is hard, specifically your favorites. My tank brought me joy while dealing with the illness of my mother. I am treating the tank with Reef Medic. I will see what happens this weekend. Next time, I will only purchase the most resilient fish. It is hard seeing them die. I need a little support and encouragement.

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Euphylliaphyle · Feb 27, 2026

Perhaps those fish lived out their purpose in giving you some joy during a very difficult period in your own life. Thank them and be resolved to pay it forward with the remaining fish and the successors to the ones lost. Sometimes life's batteries need to be recharged.

Lisa Cain · Feb 27, 2026

Euphylliaphyle said:
Perhaps those fish lived out their purpose in giving you some joy during a very difficult period in your own life. Thank them and be resolved to pay it forward with the remaining fish and the successors to the ones lost. Sometimes life's batteries need to be recharged.

Thank you, what a unique and different way to think about it. They definitely brought me joy!!

tripdad · Feb 27, 2026

Hang in there! Unfortunately I know a bit about loss. I choose to remember the good times, the smiles and the laughs. Celebrate the time I shared with them (even my pets) and feel blessed that they were a part of my life.