Ok, I come home from class today and find that my False black and white percula clownfish is floating upside and slightly white colored on top of my tank. I'll give all the facts that I can and hope that you guys can offer some suggestions to me about what might have happened. This happened in an Eclipse System 12 tank. I have crushed coral substrate with no LR, artificial means of aquascaping. I do a 15% water change weekly. In there I have (or had) two clownfish, one Flase Black and White percula and one common Ocellaris. Also, i have in there some type of coral (a Zoanthid of the genus Palythoa, not sure which though), a Hawaiin Feather Duster and numerous snails (2 Nassarius, 2 Bumble Bee, 6 Astraea) and one blue legged hermit crab. Ok, so I just got the feather duster last week and about a day after I got him, I noticed that he shed his crown. So I was suspicious of wheather or not something in the tank stressed him out or if it was just the move from the LFS to my tank that did it. Ok, now you have the background on my tank, I'll tell you about the clownfish. He always ate and seemed hardy. However, I did notice him rapidly breathing every now and than. So yesterday things went fine, he ate and just swam around as usual. I do have to say though since it has been hot outside so the tank temp has been up slightly. It's normally around 79-80 degrees however recently it has been 81-82. When I came home today the fish was floating at the top of the tank dead! Everything else in the tank, including the other clown, seem to be absolutely fine. I tested water parameters immediately: Ammonia - 0, Nitrate - less than 10, Nitrite - 0, and pH - 7.8. Can someone please offer their opinion on what may have happened. Thanks in advance.
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Fish is Dead......need help finding out why.
- Thread starter R33f_$hark
- Start date
Well..your pH does seem a little on the low side, if it's been consistently low this may have stressed him enough to caused him to finally kick. But that's just a guess, and your pH doesn't seem exceedingly low.
However, another indicator of trouble is that ther feather dusters dropped their crowns immediately, and to me this says that water quality may not be as good as you're testing. I'd like to know what kits you use, and whether or not you use dechlorinator when you mix your new water for the changes.
What about nutrition? It seems the fish wasn't behaving normally, which means to me that you had your first indication right there of a problem. When I can think of other questions, I'll ask.
However, another indicator of trouble is that ther feather dusters dropped their crowns immediately, and to me this says that water quality may not be as good as you're testing. I'd like to know what kits you use, and whether or not you use dechlorinator when you mix your new water for the changes.
What about nutrition? It seems the fish wasn't behaving normally, which means to me that you had your first indication right there of a problem. When I can think of other questions, I'll ask.
Reefshark is my roomate, so i have been trying to figure this out as well. this is what i always have wondered about the eclipse systems. They have a lid on the top of them with almost no air holes. How can their be enough oxygen in the water with this setup?
Redox issues maybe?
Redox issues maybe?
Ok, so I have had the two fish together for around a month. The B&W percula (dead one) was in there first and the Ocellaris was introuduced a couple of hours later. They were generally the same size, however the percula often nipped towards the Ocellaris, but the Ocellaris never showed any sign of retaliation. I feed them a combo of Spirulina flake food and than a frozen mixture of brine shrip, mysis shrip, squid, blood worms and a few other things. (LFS secrect recipe). I soak all the food in Garlic Xtreme and Vita Chem overnight in the fridge. For my water changes I have my own RO unit, well room mates. I believe that it is a 5-stage unit with deionizer. I'll look into it. The test kits that I used were Aquarium Systems...the one where you fill up the little container, add the chemicals, shake, wait, and compare to the color guides provided.
Where this is true, I usually keep the top lid open. The lid is used to access the filter cartridges for easy changing. Wouldn't that provide enough oxygen?
reefNewbie":2dl239jv said:this is what i always have wondered about the eclipse systems. They have a lid on the top of them with almost no air holes. How can their be enough oxygen in the water with this setup?
Where this is true, I usually keep the top lid open. The lid is used to access the filter cartridges for easy changing. Wouldn't that provide enough oxygen?
well i think that your Occelaris was a bit bigger than the blacky. not by much, just a bit though. Either way it was always the blacky goin at the occelaris and then the occelaris shaking his body at him. Anyways we looked at the perc after he was dead and had no sign of damage. Though he could have just been stressed to death.
R33f_$hark":1uy25cie said:Where this is true, I usually keep the top lid open. The lid is used to access the filter cartridges for easy changing. Wouldn't that provide enough oxygen?
correct me if im wrong, but im really leaning tword the oxygen issue. With the lowered pH and increased temp swings, this really could not be enough oxygen for as little as it is open.
Im still wondering though why the duster lost his crown. maybe just acclimating issue.
Here's my philosophy on things: I ask myself one question when considering options, "Is it more likely than not ___________________?"
So, when you ask if the fish could have just been genetically deficient, in light of the fact that you're new, the fish was showing signs of stress before it died, and your feathers dropped all their crowns, my own answer is no. It is not likely that this was the cause of the fish's demise.
I'm not familiar with the test kit you said you use, but I can tell you of two very good quality test kits, SeaChem, and Salifert. La Motte is another very hight quality producer of tests, but they are also rather expensive.
So, when you ask if the fish could have just been genetically deficient, in light of the fact that you're new, the fish was showing signs of stress before it died, and your feathers dropped all their crowns, my own answer is no. It is not likely that this was the cause of the fish's demise.
I'm not familiar with the test kit you said you use, but I can tell you of two very good quality test kits, SeaChem, and Salifert. La Motte is another very hight quality producer of tests, but they are also rather expensive.
<<The test kits that I used were Aquarium Systems...the one where you fill up the little container, add the chemicals, shake, wait, and compare to the color guides provided. >>
I believe the test kits he's talking about are Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. They aren't the best on the market.
I believe the test kits he's talking about are Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. They aren't the best on the market.
Are you guys room mates or brothers? Your pics sure look an awful lot alike. Kind of weasly-like...
Sorry to hear about your fish. I would double-check my water params (maybe at the LFS?) and point a power head at the surface to ensure enough surface agitation to rule out future 02 issues. If you plan on adding another clown I would stick to another ocellaris (preferably a smaller one).
Sorry to hear about your fish. I would double-check my water params (maybe at the LFS?) and point a power head at the surface to ensure enough surface agitation to rule out future 02 issues. If you plan on adding another clown I would stick to another ocellaris (preferably a smaller one).
Save_the_Expos":12qbxv0r said:Are you guys room mates or brothers? Your pics sure look an awful lot alike. Kind of weasly-like...
LOL. Those pictures are both pictures we have taken of my ferret, hes a crazy little fellow.a day they
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