Why are my fish dying?! Plz help

[mikeymushrooms]

What do you use to test your salinity? Swing arm, refractometer, digital? If it’s a swing arm perhaps it’s defective or ifs a refractometer or digital maybe check if it’s calibrated?

 

[blossom]

I am not a fan of API for ammonia. I always had it show ammonia in my tank, although it was established for years. Not sure if API shows ammonia and much less toxic ammoni

That shouldn't be an issue. I think it's tap water. Do you treat it @MoshJosh asked?

We treat the water with Dechlorinator and then just add the salt. It may be that. We never tested it separately for anything.

 

[blossom]

What do you use to test your salinity? Swing arm, refractometer, digital? If it’s a swing arm perhaps it’s defective or ifs a refractometer or digital maybe check if it’s calibrated?

Both swing arm and refractometer. Both read the same.

 

[Pickle_soup]

We have an API test kit and

ive heard of their ammonia being questionable. We havent had it tested any other way yet

I see you have a Salifert Mg test, I suggest getting an ammonia one. I like them a lot. And I will never run a tank without Seachem ammonia alerts, very convenient.

 

[hexcolor reef]

The only mistake from the OP is buying fish from petco. That could have caused the initial problem. Petco fish always carry disease and since you never QT those fish, you allowed it into your tank.
Marine velvet or ICH is still in your tank so what ever fish you put in there you will lose. Your tank needs to be fish free for 6 months plus. And you can start to QT your fish in a separate tank

 

[vetteguy53081]

Alk- 10.9
C- 490
PH- 8
Amm- .15
Rite- 0
Rate- 10
Salinity- 33
Temp- 79.8
Our parameters have been about the same this whole time. The other animals we have are 2 Clown Fish, Skunk Shrimp, Trochus Snails, Nesarious Snails, Turbo Snails, Cerith Snails, and a few Serpant Star that were hitchhikers on some coral. Its a biocube so hard to get a picture of the filtration but basically a small very basic sump. We have white rocks and carbon in the media pocket with fliter floss on top.

Ammonia high, salinity low and describe acclimation method and for how long.
prior to death any signs of heavy breathing?
Hiding?

Ammonia should be 0.25 or below and salt at least 34-35

 

[sc50964]

Alk- 10.9
C- 490
PH- 8
Amm- .15
Rite- 0
Rate- 10
Salinity- 33
Temp- 79.8
Our parameters have been about the same this whole time. The other animals we have are 2 Clown Fish, Skunk Shrimp, Trochus Snails, Nesarious Snails, Turbo Snails, Cerith Snails, and a few Serpant Star that were hitchhikers on some coral. Its a biocube so hard to get a picture of the filtration but basically a small very basic sump. We have white rocks and carbon in the media pocket with fliter floss on top.

Is there a skimmer somewhere?

For quick death like what you describe d, It’s either ammonia poisoning or velvet.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I don't think that's it real. Corals and inverts would die first, but they are doing fine.

Inverts, possibly. Corals, no.

 

[blossom]

I though ammonia of 0

I see you have a Salifert Mg test, I suggest getting an ammonia one. I like them a lot. And I will never run a tank without Seachem ammonia alerts, very convenient.

Ok, it will definetly be something we buy soon.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I am not a fan of API for ammonia. I always had it show ammonia in my tank, although it was established for years. Not sure if API shows ammonia and much less toxic ammonium too.

It shows total ammonia which is why, after a tank has had an initial ammonia "spike" and is producing nitrate, an API ammonia test result between 0 and 0.25 can be considered 0.

 

[blossom]

Is there a skimmer somewhere?

For quick death like what you describe d, It’s either ammonia poisoning or velvet.

No skimmer, and we were worried about velvet and that maybe it was only coming out when a new fish was added because the established fish got stressed.

 

[Pickle_soup]

I just don't see why there would be ammonia in the tank at this point.

 

[Pickle_soup]

It shows total ammonia which is why, after a tank has had an initial ammonia "spike" and is producing nitrate, an API ammonia test result between 0 and 0.25 can be considered 0.

yeah, that's what I thought. This one is killing me.

 

[Pickle_soup]

No skimmer, and we were worried about velvet and that maybe it was only coming out when a new fish was added because the established fish got stressed.

I don't think it's velvet, as far as I know, there were no visible signs of illnesses.

 

[Blopple]

First guess - Disease. Disease is rampant, tough to treat, and tougher to diagnose.

Second guess - Something weird in the tap water? Might be worth running an ICP to check, and if so switch water sources.

I really, really doubt ammonia is the culprit. And if it were ammonia you would see symptoms with the fish before death as far as I know. Someone please correct me here if I'm mistaken.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I just don't see why there would be ammonia in the tank at this point.

Because API reads total ammonia
Also, depending on how close to feeding time the water is tested, some of that can show up on the test

 

[blossom]

The only mistake from the OP is buying fish from petco. That could have caused the initial problem. Petco fish always carry disease and since you never QT those fish, you allowed it into your tank.
Marine velvet or ICH is still in your tank so what ever fish you put in there you will lose. Your tank needs to be fish free for 6 months plus. And you can start to QT your fish in a separate tank

Ok, i really am already feeling like it is velvet but after a couple comments im pretty sure. We will go through with this quarentine process. Do we quarentine the fish in copper?

 

[Pickle_soup]

Ok, i really am already feeling like it is velvet but after a couple comments im pretty sure. We will go through with this quarentine process. Do we quarentine the fish in copper?

Did you see any signs of velvet on the fish?

 

[MoshJosh]

Does velvet kill fish in a few days? I am not super familiar with this illness.

 

[Pickle_soup]

Unless it's flukes or even ich in the gills. @vetteguy53081 would know more about those parasites and gills.