mysterious deaths

[Jeremy Brito]

So ive kinda been on the fence about posting this because at first I assumed it was mistakes I was making that caused the deaths of 3 seemingly healthy fish aprox 1 week apart over 3 weeks.
3 weeks ago I woke up one morning to find my false lemon peel belly up, they night before fish appeared perfectly fine no signs of illness good appetite no injuries, and no changes to the tank environment. when I examined the fish after removing from the tank I found no injuries discoloration and external signs of parasites.
My first step was to check the tank top to bottom for anything out of the place, came up with nothing, then checked the water chemistry all readings stable and with in normal ranges (sorry I don't have the readings with me), then I did a 50% water change as even though the tanks total water volume is roughly 50 gallons I still treat it as a nano so I do larger water changes, while conducting the water change I examined all filter media and equipment for defects and found nothing out of the ordinary.
week later lantern bassalet went missing followed same procedure then the following week clown fish. all turned up dead with no obvious signs of illness or injury all acting perfectly normal the last time seen alive
any ideas?

 

[Mark_C]

Check your test kit. Sounds like rising ammonia, basslets are fairly resistant and clowns are very resistant, so the order of expiration seems to fit.
Is your test kit in date? Is it a decent kit?
Maybe run a test and note your results then bring a sample to a local shop and have them test to see how it compares.
Also test your RODI before you add salt, then after you add salt. Perhaps your salt is contaminated somehow?
Just some thoughts.

 

[Trio91]

What's your fish count? Did you check for ammonia?

 

[Jeremy Brito]

went from 6 to 3 and as for ammonia 0 or undetecable

 

[Jeremy Brito]

Check your test kit. Sounds like rising ammonia, basslets are fairly resistant and clowns are very resistant, so the order of expiration seems to fit.
Is your test kit in date? Is it a decent kit?
Maybe run a test and note your results then bring a sample to a local shop and have them test to see how it compares.
Also test your RODI before you add salt, then after you add salt. Perhaps your salt is contaminated somehow?
Just some thoughts.

I have a mixture of test kits red sea and reef master and one other I don't remember the name of all in date. I plan on doing a water test tomorrow prior to an extensive cleaning and water change of the tank ill keep you all posted on the results.
I had a thought about the possibility of electrocution? cause the fish were found unmarked but I have to test with a multi meter tomorrow

 

[Mark_C]

Whats your salinity?
Cheap pumps will increase shock potential but it should affect corals first. If fish are passing and corals are ok...?
Never hurts to check voltage regardless.

 

[Jeremy Brito]

salinity is 1.025

 

[Mark_C]

If a swing arm reader wouldn't trust it. If its digital, replace the batteries and try again.
Again, just thoughts

 

[Jeremy Brito]

its a refractometer calibrated with rodi solution

 

[Jeremy Brito]

fish are passing corals are doing good the trumpet coral which I thought was a goner is actually rebounding back

 

[jazeel50]

How long have you had fish and where did you get them from. How long has your tank been up and running


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[njtiger24 aquariums]

what other fish do you have. I know you said you didn't see signs of stress but doesn't mean there wasn't. Also how is the water movement? Is it enough to help with the gas exchange?

 

[Jeremy Brito]

what other fish do you have. I know you said you didn't see signs of stress but doesn't mean there wasn't. Also how is the water movement? Is it enough to help with the gas exchange?

Water movement is good and Strong in some parts not so strong in others but always moving. As for fish a cleaner wrasse Valencia puffer and small snow flake eel (for the record not even remotely big enough to take down a fish or wound one)

 

[RiverSwami]

Whats your salinity?
Cheap pumps will increase shock potential but it should affect corals first. If fish are passing and corals are ok...?
Never hurts to check voltage regardless.

One of my Hydor pumps stop working recently. I figured it had just reversed polarity due to a power outage. I unplugged it for a few minutes, then, powered it back up. Stuck my hand in the tank to verify flow was going in the correct direction (out vs. in) and was shocked, literally, to feel electricity in the water. Pulled the plug permanently on that one. Now, I check for water current (pardon the pun) daily. [emoji298]

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