Unknown tank issue- losing fish

[Fishguy1079]

Hi all so I've been having a issue with my 210 and I'm not sure whats going on. Other than a low ph 7.6-7.7 and slightly high nitrates 59 ppm the other night I'm not sure. But I did a water change and got the ph up. Lost several fish, the first to go was a group of yellowtail damsels strangely enough. Added new fish a couple weeks ago but they were Quarantined when I got them. Some were towards the top and breathing a little hard. It was suggested by the company I got the fish from it could be co2 so I plugged in my two internal UVs and turned the skimmer part on and I keep opening up the lids on the tank sporadically. I noticed my tang looks strange on his sides. Not sure if it's stress or maybe there is some kind of disease in there. I did redose with coppersafe but its only like 2-2.10. Anyone have any thoughts what i can try? Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all so I've been having a issue with my 210 and I'm not sure whats going on. Other than a low ph 7.6-7.7 and slightly high nitrates 59 ppm the other night I'm not sure. But I did a water change and got the ph up. Lost several fish, the first to go was a group of yellowtail damsels strangely enough. Added new fish a couple weeks ago but they were Quarantined when I got them. Some were towards the top and breathing a little hard. It was suggested by the company I got the fish from it could be co2 so I plugged in my two internal UVs and turned the skimmer part on and I keep opening up the lids on the tank sporadically. I noticed my tang looks strange on his sides. Not sure if it's stress or maybe there is some kind of disease in there. I did redose with coppersafe but its only like 2-2.10. Anyone have any thoughts what i can try? Thanks!

The sailfin is showing a bacterial issue and I dont see where you acclimated them at first? For quarantine, how long did you do initial dose for and is it coppersafe or cupramine? Assuming coppersafe, bring level to 2.25 ppm as chelated copper is safe to use.
Are current fish breathing normal or heavy?
Do not chase levels or numbers at this time

 

[Fishguy1079]

The sailfin is showing a bacterial issue and I dont see where you acclimated them at first? For quarantine, how long did you do initial dose for oh

The sailfin is showing a bacterial issue and I dont see where you acclimated them at first? For quarantine, how long did you do initial dose for and is it coppersafe or cupramine? Assuming coppersafe, bring level to 2.25 ppm as chelated copper is safe to use.
Are current fish breathing normal or heavy?
Do not chase levels or numbers at this time

The sailfin is showing a bacterial issue and I dont see where you acclimated them at first? For quarantine, how long did you do initial dose for and is it coppersafe or cupramine? Assuming coppersafe, bring level to 2.25 ppm as chelated copper is safe to use.
Are current fish breathing normal or heavy?
Do not chase levels or numbers at this time

Sorry, I meant I bought them all from a quarantine site. Yes it was coppersafe
and is it coppersafe and I just tested it and it was 2.0 I'll raise it. Breathing is heavy. A few months back i when I didn't have alot of fish in that tank and i was getting several at a time I was dosing my 210(and sometimes adding general cure as well). But i hadn't dosed it in a couple of months and was planning on removing the copper from it completely. I dosed a couple of days ago and then last night when I realized it wasn't even at 2. Besides raising the coppersafe anything else you'd recommend for the bacterial infection?

 

[vetteguy53081]

This has been an ongoing issue with quarantined fish. We have to assume even though QT, they have something and do our own quarantine especially after shipping stress, temperature changes and ammonia buildup in shipping bags. Disease is on us, not the fish.
Pre-quarantine reduces chance of diseased fish being shipped but does not make the fish immune from new disease, if that makes sense

 

[Fishguy1079]

Yes, I totally understand what you're saying and I haven't heard that thanks for telling me. Wow and I'm paying a good but more in some cases then I get from other places too. When I've got them from regular places I always treat with coppersafe and then usually two doses of general cure and thats been doing the trick for me usually. With my tank now besides raising the copper level I do have ruby rally would you try that along with the coppersafe? Thanks

This has been an ongoing issue with quarantined fish. We have to assume even though QT, they have something and do our own quarantine especially after shipping stress, temperature changes and ammonia buildup in shipping bags. Disease is on us, not the fish.
Pre-quarantine reduces chance of diseased fish being shipped but does not make the fish immune from new disease, if that makes sense

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes, I totally understand what you're saying and I haven't heard that thanks for telling me. Wow and I'm paying a good but more in some cases then I get from other places too. When I've got them from regular places I always treat with coppersafe and then usually two doses of general cure and thats been doing the trick for me usually. With my tank now besides raising the copper level I do have ruby rally would you try that along with the coppersafe? Thanks

I prefer not to mix meds with coppersafe as many will break down the stabilizers in coppersafe. How are you testing the copper level as false readings can occur. If the pic of sailfin is a QT, do get the plastic plants out which have sharp edges and are a petroleum based product which coppersafe May allow plastic composition to leach. Silk plants are best if you want fake plants in the tank

 

[Fishguy1079]

I prefer not to mix meds with coppersafe as many will break down the stabilizers in coppersafe. How are you testing the copper level as false readings can occur. If the pic of sailfin is a QT, do get the plastic plants out which have sharp edges and are a petroleum based product which coppersafe May allow plastic composition to leach. Silk plants are best if you want fake plants in the tank

Ok, thanks . I use the Hanna test kit. I bought the plants on Amazon and they say there safe for either. So if I didn't use coppersafe the plants would be fine or are you saying dont believe the hype and there not actually safe for Saltwater at all ? Thanks again

 

[Fishguy1079]

Ok, thanks . I use the Hanna test kit. I bought the plants on Amazon and they say there safe for either. So if I didn't use coppersafe the plants would be fine or are you saying dont believe the hype and there not actually safe for Saltwater at all ? Thanks again

Oh sorry, no at this point I'm just treating the 210 as there's other's that are stressed out as well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok, thanks . I use the Hanna test kit. I bought the plants on Amazon and they say there safe for either. So if I didn't use coppersafe the plants would be fine or are you saying dont believe the hype and there not actually safe for Saltwater at all ? Thanks again

Plants are an issue even without medication

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Ok, thanks . I use the Hanna test kit. I bought the plants on Amazon and they say there safe for either. So if I didn't use coppersafe the plants would be fine or are you saying dont believe the hype and there not actually safe for Saltwater at all ? Thanks again

I couldn’t pull up the plants you are talking about. Generally, plastic aquarium plants are fine. Sometimes, silk plants get sold as aquarium plants, but I wouldn’t use those (may contain fire retardants). Back in the day, we would just buy Penn plax plants and knew they would be fine.

 

[Fishguy1079]

I couldn’t pull up the plants you are talking about. Generally, plastic aquarium plants are fine. Sometimes, silk plants get sold as aquarium plants, but I wouldn’t use those (may contain fire retardants). Back in the day, we would just buy Penn plax plants and knew they would be fine.

Thanks Jay! Yeah they seemed fine according to the website. Here's the link to what I got. Would you mind taking a look when you get a second? Amazon product

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks Jay! Yeah they seemed fine according to the website. Here's the link to what I got. Would you mind taking a look when you get a second? Amazon product

That's a tough call. Seems to be a China import. Some of the negative reviews indicate that these plants "killed" their fish. However, cause and effect isn't always clear, so these people may be mistaken.

 

[Fishguy1079]

That's a tough call. Seems to be a China import. Some of the negative reviews indicate that these plants "killed" their fish. However, cause and effect isn't always clear, so these people may be mistaken.

That's a tough call. Seems to be a China import. Some of the negative reviews indicate that these plants "killed" their fish. However, cause and effect isn't always clear, so these people may be mistaken.

Thanks Jay, yeah I may just throw them away as they weren't very expensive anyway and I'll get something else. I see Chewy has Penn Plax plants plus I found some great looking artificial marine plants from a company called Weco that's been in business for about 80 years. Ever heard of them ?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks Jay, yeah I may just throw them away as they weren't very expensive anyway and I'll get something else. I see Chewy has Penn Plax plants plus I found some great looking artificial marine plants from a company called Weco that's been in business for about 80 years. Ever heard of them ?

Yes, but I had no idea they were still in business! I thought they went out of business back in the 1960’s

 

[Fishguy1079]

Yes, but I had no idea they were still in business! I thought they went out of business back in the 1960’s

Oh wow, lol. Yeah i worked at few different pet stores in the early 2000s and I don't remember ever hearing that brand. There stuff looks nice, high quality.