Orchid Dottyback and corals dying

[gbru316]

Seems like there's a water quality issue.

1. Large volume water change
2. Pick up an ammonia badge -- they're better for detecting ammonia
3. stop dosing nano a and nano b (they haven't contributed to this, but I doubt you have the consumption required to dose. Let test results drive this)
4. Slow down. You added 4 fish (or more?) in what, a month? In a 15-20 gallon tank (estimating here)? You went from essentially no bio load to max bioload very quickly. It takes time for the bacterial population to adjust to the increase in nutrients.

 

[Aegon]

Seems like there's a water quality issue.

1. Large volume water change
2. Pick up an ammonia badge -- they're better for detecting ammonia
3. stop dosing nano a and nano b (they haven't contributed to this, but I doubt you have the consumption required to dose. Let test results drive this)
4. Slow down. You added 4 fish (or more?) in what, a month? In a 15-20 gallon tank (estimating here)? You went from essentially no bio load to max bioload very quickly. It takes time for the bacterial population to adjust to the increase in nutrients.

You’re completely right I needed to slow down awhile ago it is a 20 gallon and I’m not gonna stock anything until at least 5 months from now after the ugly stage hopefully hits I had to learn the hard way unfortunately because I’m ignorant. Do you recommend I still perform a large water change if the corals still look good and spread out?

 

[gbru316]

You’re completely right I needed to slow down awhile ago it is a 20 gallon and I’m not gonna stock anything until at least 5 months from now after the ugly stage hopefully hits I had to learn the hard way unfortunately because I’m ignorant. Do you recommend I still perform a large water change if the corals still look good and spread out?

You still have fish, correct? I'd still do a water change.


You don't need to stop adding livestock -- you just need to slow down. Don't do it all at once. Add a fish, wait a few weeks. Add another, then wait a few more weeks.

 

[Aegon]

You still have fish, correct? I'd still do a water change.


You don't need to stop adding livestock -- you just need to slow down. Don't do it all at once. Add a fish, wait a few weeks. Add another, then wait a few more weeks.

Okay I’ll go ahead and perform water change once this water heats up to temp,
And yeah I still have some livestock so I’m still enjoying the tank as is

currently there are
5 snails
Fireshrimp
Emerald crab
Watchman goby
Hawk fish
8 zoas 1 hammer coral

Thank you for the quick help I appreciate it a lot

 

[gbru316]

Thank you for the quick help I appreciate it a lot

No problem at all.

Just remember: nothing good in this hobby happens quickly.