Lost my tang and a clown? no idea why

naesco · #1 02-09-2010, 05:33 PM

1. Your tank likely did not finish cycling because your ammonia and nitrite readings should be zero at all times. As tjere was no scratching or gasping for air, this was the likely cause of the death of all you fish.
2. Once you have measured to ensure you have zero readings you should wait one month before you add fish and than only add one fish each month. Success in this hobby relies on patience.
3. Did you tell your LFS you only have a 30 gallon tank?
Tangs require a 6' tank that provides them with the swimming room they need. Please wait until you have a suitable tank to accommodate a tang.

Daniel475 · #2 02-09-2010, 05:36 PM

yes i told him that but i was planning on upgrading pretty soon, well thanks for all the advice.. anything i can do to help this clown out.. salinity is at 29 .. which is like 1.023 i use a hydrometer i think i should get a refractometer.. and so should i turn the light on? and what was this shedding that was coming off the fish

naesco · #3 02-09-2010, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel475

yes i told him that but i was planning on upgrading pretty soon, well thanks for all the advice.. anything i can do to help this clown out.. salinity is at 29 .. which is like 1.023 i use a hydrometer i think i should get a refractometer.. and so should i turn the light on? and what was this shedding that was coming off the fish

There are three things you can do.
1. Immediately return it to the lfs.
2. See if another reefer will put it in his tank for you
3. Set up a small qt and put the fish in it until such time as your tank cycles.

A cleaner shrimp cleans night and day.

RobynR · #4 02-09-2010, 06:59 PM

Hey Dan,

Sorry to hear about your fish

. I just googled 'clown fish shedding' and came up with the below note from another forum.

"usually slime-coat shedding is a water quality issue. many times it is high ammonia or nitrite that stresses the fish's skin and the fish alliviates the pain by producing more protective slime."

Can you take a picture of the clown? It might help people identify what is specifically wrong with the fish. As suggested by others, you may want to set up a hospital tank and monitor the clown, that way if the sickness does become identifiable; ick, bacterial, etc.. you can treat.

Robyn

Daniel475 · #5 02-09-2010, 07:11 PM

ya i will get some pictures after work i think paul is coming over at 4 30 after work.. i tested for nitrate and it came back as 20.. says in the instructions if its at 50 its bad??? so ph read 8.0 nitrite was .1 really light and nitrate was 20

RobynR · #6 02-09-2010, 07:15 PM

I'll come by too, if it's okay. I wouldn't mind seeing what you guys have done with the place since moving in. Also want to see your 125 FW set up.

kien · #7 02-09-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel475

ya i will get some pictures after work i think paul is coming over at 4 30 after work.. i tested for nitrate and it came back as 20.. says in the instructions if its at 50 its bad??? so ph read 8.0 nitrite was .1 really light and nitrate was 20

What is your ammonia reading? If you have a reading then those numbers suggest to me that your tank is in fact in a cycle and still in fluctuation which can be quite taxing on fish. That compounded with what I also agree is a lack of oxygen is a very bad mix of scenarios for any inhabitants. I would follow Naesco's recommendations.

Funky_Fish14 · #8 02-09-2010, 07:24 PM

Not that im dissagreeing that it could be a problem... but a test kid reading .1 ppm for nitrite (which is 1/10th of 1ppm, that is a bad amount) is nothing surprising. Test kits suck... in general, its true. It cannot be denied. The average test kit can certainly measure some ammonia or nitrite(by that I mean a hint of colour which some might interpret as 0.1ppm) even when it is zero in the tank. Again, im not saying the nitrite is not the problem, just suggesting we not jump to the conclusion of it being the precise cause of this issue.

Cheers,

Chris

Jason McK · #9 02-09-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

1. Your tank likely did not finish cycling because your ammonia and nitrite readings should be zero at all times. As tjere was no scratching or gasping for air, this was the likely cause of the death of all you fish.
2. Once you have measured to ensure you have zero readings you should wait one month before you add fish and than only add one fish each month. Success in this hobby relies on patience.
3. Did you tell your LFS you only have a 30 gallon tank?
Tangs require a 6' tank that provides them with the swimming room they need. Please wait until you have a suitable tank to accommodate a tang.

I agree O2 sounds like the cause

I don't understand "i was told to leave my light off to let the shrimp clean whatever was on them off" Is your light under water?

Daniel475 · #10 02-09-2010, 05:41 PM

no my light is built into my canopy.. i was told the cleaner shrimp likes to clean when its dark