Can't catch a break

[MadReefer]

My 2 large PJ cardinals and 2 false percs have ganged up on my small yellow tang and small rusty angel. It started few days ago but didn't give it much thought as it was only during feeding. Now the YT and Angel are behind the rocks and appear to be deceased. To many rocks to move to check or get them out so hope the cleanup crew does a good job. Prior to this they got along just fine. I even rearranged rocks a month ago to ensure no issues.

 

[The_Codfather]

PJ cardinals unfriendly? are you sure about this?

 

[MadReefer]

Sid, they were chasing the angel and yt around a few days ago, go figure. But now I am wondering if I caused this with my dosing. I was adding Alk and Ca directly to the DT to bring the levels up. I did pour them right in front of the power heads to ensure quick mixing in the water. Is it possible that the two fish got some in their system and caused health issues and then the other fish noticed and picked on them? Now my dosing is added to my top off water to keep the level steady.

 

[JRWOHLER]

I cannot imagine it was the dosing...I do it all the time that way.

 

[MadReefer]

Thanks James. I am testing all I can now to see if I can find anything. Will post test results when I am done.

 

[onefish2fish]

are the tang and angel new fish to your tank? one could of had disease? maybe just one died spiking the tank killing the other?

 

[falconut]

My fish do bully newcomers, but only a day or two and usually not bad either. But, by your post it sounds like they were together for a while. I also doubt it was the dosing.

It could have been due to a bunch of things. Was this a small tank? Were the YT and angel really small (compared to the cardinals and clowns) and how long were they in there together? Have you tested the parameters since?

 

[MadReefer]

It is a 75g tank. The YT and Angel were in for three weeks before this happened. The YT and PJ's were teh same size and Angel was smaller but the same size as the clowns. i didn't notice any outward signs of disease. Here are my params as of today.

Note the Nitrite and Nitrate tests are over a year old so not sure on accuracy but figured I would test anyway.

PH	8.0
Alkalinity	8.0dgh
Nitrate	12mg/l
Nitrite	0.05mg/l
Ammonia	0.10mg/l
Salinity	1.023
Calcium	420ppm
Temperature	78

 

[bmoney]

I have heard and seen first hand .that this happen's more often then people relize. Its quite possible that somekind of chemicul inbalance the we can't measure. I had a crosshatch trigger fish just go crazy after being in my tank for 2 years after 4 days of chassing the other fish around it just jumped. I have also seen a sick fish with no outward apparance of being sick, just not eatting as much attacked by a large wrase and having large chunks taken out of it. The only way to really know is to have a fish necropsy done which costs more then its worth. I've also seen where the newer fish trys to take the hiding spot of another older fish and that sets them off, and they constantly chase each other after that. Also the pj might have been setting up house which can make them more aggressive. Isn't this what makes this hobby great HA-HA hopes this helps

 

[falconut]

Not sure just what happened. It seams like it's having a small cycle, since it has some Am & Nitrite. Maybe since they were only in there for 3 weeks it was just a health and adjustment issue. I don't count a fish as good until it hits at least the 1 month mark. I've had plenty of fish that seamed healthy and just die within the 1st month. Maybe it's the collection or just stress from shipping. If the others sensed they were week, maybe that's why they started to pick on them.

 

[The_Codfather]

Mad fish disease?

 

[shipwrecked]

Not sure just what happened. It seams like it's having a small cycle, since it has some Am & Nitrite. Maybe since they were only in there for 3 weeks it was just a health and adjustment issue. I don't count a fish as good until it hits at least the 1 month mark. I've had plenty of fish that seamed healthy and just die within the 1st month. Maybe it's the collection or just stress from shipping. If the others sensed they were week, maybe that's why they started to pick on them.

+1 Couldnt of said it better

 

[MadReefer]

I was thinking the spikes were from the dead fish. But now that you mention a cycle; in July I had hair algae and had to clean some of the rocks. Maybe the addition of new fish finally set off a small cycle.

 

[falconut]

Just keep an eye on the other fish and keep checking the levels until they zero out. Maybe the levels are because of the dead fish. I'd try to find them unless you have to put it apart. I've lost fish in mine, but never noticed a spike. I guess my CUC has taken care of them, but any I've seen I've removed. Good luck.

 

[MadReefer]

I hear you. Will have to wait it out before I can do anything. Was thinking of a water change because I can't reach the fish. But don't want to mess up the mini cycle if that is what it going on.

 

[Hawkeye]

one of those clowns is the captive bred one i gave you? just for context the mother of this fish was definitely a bully but oddly enough she is mellow now that she has an anemone.

 

[MadReefer]

Phil,
Your clown is the smallest of the three and doesn't bother anyone. It just hangs out by a certain rock, comes out to eat and all three sleep together. the two larger ones are the bully.

 

[Sunny]

Well the larger one is mine

 

[Hawkeye]

Nice to know my clown isn't part of that gang.

So in the end - what is the overall condition of the tank? Is it now just inhabited by the cardinals and clownfish? Maybe you should just "let it be" as is for now before trying to add anything else.

 

[MadReefer]

Phil,
Yes, 3 clowns, 2 PJ and 1 damsel. a few hermits and snails, brittle star and blue linkia. That is my plan, leave it for now as is. I am considering a 10g QT setup for any new fish and then take it down once stocked. Just need to find a place for it first.