2 dead fish in 2 months

dannable · 08/16/2008, 06:39 AM

First my flame angel and now my yellow tang, had both for 2 years.

Nitrates are a little high and I started changing water every 2 weeks instead of 1 but other than that I was feeding well. Noticed the tang zinging around like crazy last night and then dead in the morning.

No ich, no parasites that I can see and no new additions in over a year (not even rock).

Anybody else every experience this, is this just part of the hobby, maybe cyanide caught fish with a reduced life expectancy?

crvz · 08/16/2008, 06:56 AM

If it was cyanide, I don't think there's any evidence to suggest they would live for years and then kick it. Not sure what the cause was, what other fish do you have in the tank? (just what's in the signature?)

dannable · 08/16/2008, 07:04 AM

Yeah, the only thing that I changed was I moved a bangai over to another tank.

I did have a 5 degree temp drop (78-73) when I forgot to plug a heater back in but that was 2 weeks ago. I brought the temp back up over 24 hours and I no it dropped slowly because it is fairly warm in the house.

Michael · 08/16/2008, 08:45 AM

are you 100% sure there is no ammonia in there?

Sk8r · 08/16/2008, 09:01 AM

it could be cyanide.
One other subtle killer. Are you using tap and have you checked your ro/di tds? Evaporation can let human-acceptable but minute elements in city water pile up and up in a tank, even with water changes. In time, it has an effect.
The fact the dead fish were two species with an extremely high oxygen requirement could also point to oxygenation, which can vary hugely in a system over 24 hours.

dannable · 08/19/2008, 09:22 PM

TDS was fine and it is a fish only, low bioload with lots of flow and surface agitation. Sad, the tang was going to be moved to a 5 foot 24" deep tank. I usually don't get attached to fish but I am starting to think I was more attached to this one than I realized.

08/16/2008, 06:39 AM	#1
dannable Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guelph Ontario, Canada Posts: 430	2 dead fish in 2 months First my flame angel and now my yellow tang, had both for 2 years. Nitrates are a little high and I started changing water every 2 weeks instead of 1 but other than that I was feeding well. Noticed the tang zinging around like crazy last night and then dead in the morning. No ich, no parasites that I can see and no new additions in over a year (not even rock). Anybody else every experience this, is this just part of the hobby, maybe cyanide caught fish with a reduced life expectancy? __________________ "Gentlemen; I put my pants on just like anyone else--one leg at a time. Except that once my pants are on, I make wicked aquariums." Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon FOWLR, 75Lbs of Live Rock, 1 OC clown, 2 pajama cardinals, 1 firefish, 1 cleaner shrimp

08/16/2008, 06:56 AM	#2
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	If it was cyanide, I don't think there's any evidence to suggest they would live for years and then kick it. Not sure what the cause was, what other fish do you have in the tank? (just what's in the signature?) __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/16/2008, 07:04 AM	#3
dannable Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guelph Ontario, Canada Posts: 430	Yeah, the only thing that I changed was I moved a bangai over to another tank. I did have a 5 degree temp drop (78-73) when I forgot to plug a heater back in but that was 2 weeks ago. I brought the temp back up over 24 hours and I no it dropped slowly because it is fairly warm in the house. __________________ "Gentlemen; I put my pants on just like anyone else--one leg at a time. Except that once my pants are on, I make wicked aquariums." Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon FOWLR, 75Lbs of Live Rock, 1 OC clown, 2 pajama cardinals, 1 firefish, 1 cleaner shrimp

08/16/2008, 08:45 AM	#4
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	are you 100% sure there is no ammonia in there? __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

08/16/2008, 09:01 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	it could be cyanide. One other subtle killer. Are you using tap and have you checked your ro/di tds? Evaporation can let human-acceptable but minute elements in city water pile up and up in a tank, even with water changes. In time, it has an effect. The fact the dead fish were two species with an extremely high oxygen requirement could also point to oxygenation, which can vary hugely in a system over 24 hours. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/19/2008, 09:22 PM	#6
dannable Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Guelph Ontario, Canada Posts: 430	TDS was fine and it is a fish only, low bioload with lots of flow and surface agitation. Sad, the tang was going to be moved to a 5 foot 24" deep tank. I usually don't get attached to fish but I am starting to think I was more attached to this one than I realized. __________________ "Gentlemen; I put my pants on just like anyone else--one leg at a time. Except that once my pants are on, I make wicked aquariums." Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon FOWLR, 75Lbs of Live Rock, 1 OC clown, 2 pajama cardinals, 1 firefish, 1 cleaner shrimp