My fish aren't eating anymore!

Chelxisg · 01/10/2013, 03:14 PM

My tank has been established for 2 months now and in it I have 1scooter blenny,2 snowflake clowns,1 cleaner gone,sea urchin,chocolate starfish and 3 days ago I bought a longnose butterfly fish from petco that has not ate anything.I know that the longnose are picky eaters so i dnt tink its sick but you never know.Now mind you my tank is a 30 gallon tall tank and I'm starting to see that on top of the water it's somewhat looks slimy all over with bubbles.My clowns would usually swim around but today they are just near the live rock that they usually host at night.What I find weird is that the clown fishes aren't going to the top of the tank to wait for me to throw food=/ plz help a lot of investing and I deff dnt want my clowns to die.

I took the test 10 min ago.
Salinity 1.021
Ph 7.8-8.0
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Ammonia 0.25
Temp 78-81

SKurj · 01/10/2013, 03:46 PM

Your ammonia is high, perhaps something has died in the tank.. What equipment is in the tank? Skimmer? Powerheads? Canister filter? WHat is the flow like? You are at your limit for fish I would say, maybe overstocked.

Get some flow going make sure the surface of the water is rippling. WHen did you last do a water change, if you haven't done one recently, I'd prepare to do one maybe 5-10gallons.

Chelxisg · 01/10/2013, 03:57 PM

Well I did have this condy anemone that was dieing which I took out 2 days ago, I have a protein skimmer, powerhead, water heater everything was fine until I put 2 condy anemone, but idk,last water change was about 2 weeks ago in which I will do ASAP tomorrow,hopefully that would help.thnks

thebkramer · 01/10/2013, 04:00 PM

your salinity is also too low.. should be around 1.026 (mainly for inverts and corals)
your ammonia can cause all your fish to die, along with inverts and corals. it is very toxic!

I would start with removing the butterfly fish. your tank is waaaay too small for such a critter. they require atleast 125-150g of water IMO with an Established tank of atleast 2yrs! your poor guy will have nothing to eat in such a small tank and will surely starve to death if the ammonia doesn't kill him! ):
I would start doing water changes. and start reading some of the stickies at the top of this forum. There is LOTS of great info in there that will help you Tremendously!!! and of course... ask as many questions as you need to!!! we are here to help!!!!

Good Luck to you!!! I hope everything turns out great!!!

Edit: wrote this before your second post.. glad you removed condy.. they are aggressive and move frequently around tank.. don't know if you bought it for clowns.. but they would have more than likely never associated with that species

Painted skin · 01/10/2013, 04:17 PM

First thing I'd like to say is you need QT your new fish and 3 days is nothing they need time to acclimate to tank. You need to do WC and bring up your SG like previous mentioned and a bit on PH side.

I also agree with the dead nem can wipe out your tank and tank being too small for those butterfly fish. Further more your tank is too new for nem.

Like previously said read stickies and do more research on livestock you're buying, right now on this path you have a good recipe for failure.

wooden_reefer · 01/10/2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelxisg

My tank has been established for 2 months now and in it I have 1scooter blenny,2 snowflake clowns,1 cleaner gone,sea urchin,chocolate starfish and 3 days ago I bought a longnose butterfly fish from petco that has not ate anything.I know that the longnose are picky eaters so i dnt tink its sick but you never know.Now mind you my tank is a 30 gallon tall tank and I'm starting to see that on top of the water it's somewhat looks slimy all over with bubbles.My clowns would usually swim around but today they are just near the live rock that they usually host at night.What I find weird is that the clown fishes aren't going to the top of the tank to wait for me to throw food=/ plz help a lot of investing and I deff dnt want my clowns to die.

I took the test 10 min ago.
Salinity 1.021
Ph 7.8-8.0
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Ammonia 0.25
Temp 78-81

Newbies should not attempt to keep fish that is not already feeding well at the LFS. This, to make sure that fish was collected well, shipped well and eating well, is the primary function of the LFS.

Don't let the tail wag the dog. Your objective is to choose fish easy to keep, easy to QT.

Certainly, eating well is obviously a very good thing. Specifically, a fish eating well is the first step to easy QT for extended periods. If a fish is not feeding well at LSF, it has far less chance of eating well in QT.

Only very experienced aquarists should attempt to keep fish not eating well at LFS. This requires acclimation before QT.

If you have 0.25 ppm ammonia, either your tank is not cycled or you have added bioload in excess of nitrification capacity.

Ammonia should be zero after livestock has been introduced.

SKurj · 01/10/2013, 04:40 PM

Just a note about the salinity...

If you are intending a fish only tank you could leave it there.. but its low for a reef tank very low.

Do not try and raise your salinity quickly.. I am no expert but i think even raising from 1.021 to 1.022 in 24 hrs may be the limit... please do some research..

If you want to keep corals aim for 1.025-1.026

Chelxisg · 01/10/2013, 10:55 PM

Thanks to all...I decided to remove my butterfly fish, also did water change in hopes that things will get back on track if not i will QT my fishes...will give a update soon..THNKS again

izzy123 · 01/11/2013, 09:47 AM

Another question, what are you feeding your fish?

I had problems with dry fishfood in the beginning, but now I prepare my own.
The fish are all fat and happy now.
It is also very easy to overfeed with dryfood (or any other for that matter)

Best of luck to you

Chelxisg · 01/11/2013, 10:14 AM

I usually feed them omega one flakes, but after getting my butterfly fish I tried desperately to feed him so I bought dried kills, he ignored it so obviously my other fish went for it. Then I bought frozen blood worms ..same results clowns went str8 for it.....

Tripwyr · 01/11/2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelxisg

I usually feed them omega one flakes, but after getting my butterfly fish I tried desperately to feed him so I bought dried kills, he ignored it so obviously my other fish went for it. Then I bought frozen blood worms ..same results clowns went str8 for it.....

This is part of the purpose of the QT tank. It allows the butterfly to acclimate to eating without competition from other well established fish. With the clowns eating all of his food, he'll never learn to eat the food you're giving him.

Chelxisg · 01/11/2013, 03:06 PM

Hmm I see THNKS, so butterfly fish is in Qt, I've noticed that the tip of his bottom mouth is some what chipped off, anyway I can cure this?

Painted skin · 01/11/2013, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chelxisg

Hmm I see THNKS, so butterfly fish is in Qt, I've noticed that the tip of his bottom mouth is some what chipped off, anyway I can cure this?

Just let nature take it course and let it heal, just keep an eye if it get infected then treat it.

01/10/2013, 03:46 PM	#2
SKurj Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Oshawa Posts: 539	Your ammonia is high, perhaps something has died in the tank.. What equipment is in the tank? Skimmer? Powerheads? Canister filter? WHat is the flow like? You are at your limit for fish I would say, maybe overstocked. Get some flow going make sure the surface of the water is rippling. WHen did you last do a water change, if you haven't done one recently, I'd prepare to do one maybe 5-10gallons. __________________ 40g Long since Mar 2012, 20lbs marco rocks, 25lb live rock, Aquamaxx HoB-1, sumpless, CPR Fuge, 4 tube T5HO, Mixed reef, softies and LPS Current Tank Info: 40g Long sumpless

01/10/2013, 04:00 PM	#4
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	your salinity is also too low.. should be around 1.026 (mainly for inverts and corals) your ammonia can cause all your fish to die, along with inverts and corals. it is very toxic! I would start with removing the butterfly fish. your tank is waaaay too small for such a critter. they require atleast 125-150g of water IMO with an Established tank of atleast 2yrs! your poor guy will have nothing to eat in such a small tank and will surely starve to death if the ammonia doesn't kill him! ): I would start doing water changes. and start reading some of the stickies at the top of this forum. There is LOTS of great info in there that will help you Tremendously!!! and of course... ask as many questions as you need to!!! we are here to help!!!! Good Luck to you!!! I hope everything turns out great!!! Edit: wrote this before your second post.. glad you removed condy.. they are aggressive and move frequently around tank.. don't know if you bought it for clowns.. but they would have more than likely never associated with that species __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

01/10/2013, 04:40 PM	#7
SKurj Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Oshawa Posts: 539	Just a note about the salinity... If you are intending a fish only tank you could leave it there.. but its low for a reef tank very low. Do not try and raise your salinity quickly.. I am no expert but i think even raising from 1.021 to 1.022 in 24 hrs may be the limit... please do some research.. If you want to keep corals aim for 1.025-1.026 __________________ 40g Long since Mar 2012, 20lbs marco rocks, 25lb live rock, Aquamaxx HoB-1, sumpless, CPR Fuge, 4 tube T5HO, Mixed reef, softies and LPS Current Tank Info: 40g Long sumpless

01/10/2013, 03:57 PM	#3
Chelxisg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 15	Well I did have this condy anemone that was dieing which I took out 2 days ago, I have a protein skimmer, powerhead, water heater everything was fine until I put 2 condy anemone, but idk,last water change was about 2 weeks ago in which I will do ASAP tomorrow,hopefully that would help.thnks

01/10/2013, 04:17 PM	#5
Painted skin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 679	First thing I'd like to say is you need QT your new fish and 3 days is nothing they need time to acclimate to tank. You need to do WC and bring up your SG like previous mentioned and a bit on PH side. I also agree with the dead nem can wipe out your tank and tank being too small for those butterfly fish. Further more your tank is too new for nem. Like previously said read stickies and do more research on livestock you're buying, right now on this path you have a good recipe for failure.

01/10/2013, 10:55 PM	#8
Chelxisg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 15	Thanks to all...I decided to remove my butterfly fish, also did water change in hopes that things will get back on track if not i will QT my fishes...will give a update soon..THNKS again

01/11/2013, 09:47 AM	#9
izzy123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 504	Another question, what are you feeding your fish? I had problems with dry fishfood in the beginning, but now I prepare my own. The fish are all fat and happy now. It is also very easy to overfeed with dryfood (or any other for that matter) Best of luck to you

01/11/2013, 10:14 AM	#10
Chelxisg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 15	I usually feed them omega one flakes, but after getting my butterfly fish I tried desperately to feed him so I bought dried kills, he ignored it so obviously my other fish went for it. Then I bought frozen blood worms ..same results clowns went str8 for it.....

01/11/2013, 03:06 PM	#12
Chelxisg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 15	Hmm I see THNKS, so butterfly fish is in Qt, I've noticed that the tip of his bottom mouth is some what chipped off, anyway I can cure this?