Losing Fish

pitchpotch · 07/26/2008, 01:10 PM

Can anyone help me with this only i cannot figure out why im losing fish, My reef has been running for 2 years but 3 months ago i lost most of my fish due to an outbreak of ich, i slowly added more fish after about 8 weeks of the ich problem, my problem is that apart from 2 Bangaii cardinals and my mandarin every fish i add to the tank is fine for a week then seems to disappear or starts to pant on the bottom of the tank then die but all my corals and the bangaiis and mandarin are fine, i also have 2 deresa clams that are fine, all my water parameters seem to be fine and my temp never fluctuates more than 2 degrees c,

I recently added 9 chromis and 3 lyre tail anthias all of which have either disappeared or found dead.

please can anyone tell me why my Bangaiis and mandarin seem to survive every fish that i try to add.

Do you think the problem is pest related or water related.

Also what causes fish to pant on the bottom.

Crush Coral · 07/26/2008, 03:02 PM

Mandarins are pretty much bullet proof from parasites. Cardinals are tough too. I am guessing that you are getting a parasite in the gills, like ich, but I am surprised that you never see it on the fish. Temp below 82? Are your test kits out of date? Might want to take a water sample to your lfs and have them double check it for you. Look for a source of build up of old food and fish poo anywhere in your system. Good luck.

chineseknife · 07/26/2008, 03:06 PM

Also, check Alk and ph to make sure they aren't being "burned" from a wild swing.
Would you also please tell us a bit about your acclimation procedures?
Is there enough O2 in the water?
Test kit brand makes a difference in readings. Use the best kits you can afford.

chineseknife · 07/26/2008, 03:07 PM

Adding 9 chromis and 3 lyretails at the same time may be an issue as well.
Do you have any secret predators in the tank that "only come out at night"?

Kannin · 07/26/2008, 04:52 PM

If you added all twelve of those fish at the same time... You quadrupled the bioload. That would be a problem... I think.

07/26/2008, 01:10 PM	#1
pitchpotch Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 35	Losing Fish Can anyone help me with this only i cannot figure out why im losing fish, My reef has been running for 2 years but 3 months ago i lost most of my fish due to an outbreak of ich, i slowly added more fish after about 8 weeks of the ich problem, my problem is that apart from 2 Bangaii cardinals and my mandarin every fish i add to the tank is fine for a week then seems to disappear or starts to pant on the bottom of the tank then die but all my corals and the bangaiis and mandarin are fine, i also have 2 deresa clams that are fine, all my water parameters seem to be fine and my temp never fluctuates more than 2 degrees c, I recently added 9 chromis and 3 lyre tail anthias all of which have either disappeared or found dead. please can anyone tell me why my Bangaiis and mandarin seem to survive every fish that i try to add. Do you think the problem is pest related or water related. Also what causes fish to pant on the bottom.

07/26/2008, 03:06 PM	#3
chineseknife Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Charlotte, N.C. Posts: 505	Also, check Alk and ph to make sure they aren't being "burned" from a wild swing. Would you also please tell us a bit about your acclimation procedures? Is there enough O2 in the water? Test kit brand makes a difference in readings. Use the best kits you can afford. __________________ What's a water change? Current Tank Info: 90g Mixed Reef

07/26/2008, 03:07 PM	#4
chineseknife Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Charlotte, N.C. Posts: 505	Adding 9 chromis and 3 lyretails at the same time may be an issue as well. Do you have any secret predators in the tank that "only come out at night"? __________________ What's a water change? Current Tank Info: 90g Mixed Reef

07/26/2008, 04:52 PM	#5
Kannin Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fall City, WA Posts: 1,538	If you added all twelve of those fish at the same time... You quadrupled the bioload. That would be a problem... I think. __________________ I used to target feed mojanos... until I found out that they weren't baby bubble tips.

07/26/2008, 03:02 PM	#2
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	Mandarins are pretty much bullet proof from parasites. Cardinals are tough too. I am guessing that you are getting a parasite in the gills, like ich, but I am surprised that you never see it on the fish. Temp below 82? Are your test kits out of date? Might want to take a water sample to your lfs and have them double check it for you. Look for a source of build up of old food and fish poo anywhere in your system. Good luck.