Came home to 2 dead fish

[PetePin15]

I just moved one of the power heads to increase agitation

 

[Tamberav]

I’ve attached a video of the

water appears cloudy to me.

I am guessing a bacterial bloom caused them to suffocate.

Can happen in newer tanks with too big of a bioload or too much nutrients. Remember that small tangs still create a lot of waste. They do need more oxygen then other fish like gobies and such.

powerhead doesn't appear to be pointed at the surface before which adds to the issue.

 

[PetePin15]

water appears cloudy to me.

I am guessing a bacterial bloom caused them to suffocate.

Can happen in newer tanks with too big of a bioload or too much nutrients. Remember that small tangs still create a lot of waste. They do need more oxygen then other fish like gobies and such.

powerhead doesn't appear to be pointed at the surface before which adds to the issue.

Is there a way to test for a bacterial bloom? What should I do about that going forward? I’m in the ugly phase so I have a decent amount of brown algae that I scrape off the glass. I think that adds to the cloudiness of the water.

It wasn’t pointed at the surface, I just changed it to create more agitation. Other than the filter agitation the water was pretty still.

I feel even worse that this was something I caused. This was a gut punch.

 

[Kooma]

I think the key takeaway here is to take it slow. 3 months is a pretty new tank and that’s a big stocking list for such a new tank. It can take 6 months or more for a tank to really get stable. The api tests can be hard to judge, but it seems like that ammonia isn’t pure yellow. Do you run a skimmer? If not, add an air stone somewhere and let the tank age as it is. Grab some Salifert test kits and try again in 6 months.

Best of luck!

 

[BryanM]

What is LC?

Lanthium Chloride, sometimes dosed to lower phosphates, but it has very real issues with tangs if not done right (and possibly even if done right).

 

[Tamberav]

Is there a way to test for a bacterial bloom? What should I do about that going forward? I’m in the ugly phase so I have a decent amount of brown algae that I scrape off the glass. I think that adds to the cloudiness of the water.

It wasn’t pointed at the surface, I just changed it to create more agitation. Other than the filter agitation the water was pretty still.

I feel even worse that this was something I caused. This was a gut punch.

Not a test but generally the water will be hazy.

Two tangs in a young smaller tank without a skimmer is just not stable and things like this can happen quickly.

I would just get the 120 up with the proper equiptment and use the 40 as a quarantine but only QT a few fish at a time.

 

[Kasrift]

Water surface definitely needed more agitation. You could throw an air stone in there too. Just out of curiosity, are you using RODI water or tap, and what is the salinity?

 

[PetePin15]

Water surface definitely needed more agitation. You could throw an air stone in there too. Just out of curiosity, are you using RODI water or tap, and what is the salinity?

Do you think I need more even after moving the power head?

I’m using rodi and it’s at 1.026. I just added an ato 2 days ago to help with stability.

 

[Idech]

There is some ammonia in the tank according to your test. Not a lot but there shouldn’t be any after cycling, or very little. Do you have enough rocks ?

 

[Kasrift]

Do you think I need more even after moving the power head?

I’m using rodi and it’s at 1.026. I just added an ato 2 days ago to help with stability.

What else is in the tank? You said two of your tangs, are there more? I setup 20g long quarantine tank two weeks ago and did a one day cycle by dropping in a rock and media from another tank. I have a HOB, one powerhead pointed up and an air stone for one wrasse, one tang, and a tiny flame angel.

I'll start raising copper, but so far everyone is eating and doing well. I'd think a 40g breeder would suffice for two tangs. Did you have any medication going? Did they display any disease?

 

[Kasrift]

There is some ammonia in the tank according to your test. Not a lot but there shouldn’t be any after cycling, or very little. Do you have enough rocks ?

I think they mentioned it's a temp tank. Not sure how much rock would be added.

 

[PetePin15]

I have about 20 pounds of rock. It looked like plenty but now that knocked everything over it does look kind of light on rock.

There is some ammonia in the tank according to your test. Not a lot but there shouldn’t be any after cycling, or very little. Do you have enough rocks ?

 

[PetePin15]

What else is in the tank? You said two of your tangs, are there more? I setup 20g long quarantine tank two weeks ago and did a one day cycle by dropping in a rock and media from another tank. I have a HOB, one powerhead pointed up and an air stone for one wrasse, one tang, and a tiny flame angel.

I'll start raising copper, but so far everyone is eating and doing well. I'd think a 40g breeder would suffice for two tangs. Did you have any medication going? Did they display any disease?

No I misspoke. I meant both of my tangs. I have 2 clowns, 1 blue damsel and 1 sleeper goby. I have a hob, 2 power heads but neither were pointing up and no airstone.

I didnt notice any signs of disease. That was the first thing I looked for. The tomini especially looked perfectly healthy.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

It’s either an ammonia issue or an oxygen issue or both. I can’t think of much else that kills that fast except velvet.

 

[PetePin15]

It’s either an ammonia issue or an oxygen issue or both. I can’t think of much else that kills that fast except velvet.

Definitely didn’t see any signs of velvet. I’m leaning toward oxygen. It’s super frustrating that I could have prevented this by tilting a power head.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Definitely didn’t see any signs of velvet. I’m leaning toward oxygen. It’s super frustrating that I could have prevented this by tilting a power head.

Perhaps. I would say that you could have prevented this by not going too much, too fast. Too many fish in a small tank at one time. Having said that, we have all done it and killed many a fish. It’s a sad part of the hobby. One of the keys to success in this hobby is patience.

 

[Tamberav]

Definitely didn’t see any signs of velvet. I’m leaning toward oxygen. It’s super frustrating that I could have prevented this by tilting a power head.

Just to clarify, fish can still suffocate even with a powerhead pointed up if the bacterial bloom is severe enough. The bacteria rapidly use up oxygen, sometimes faster then you can replenish.

That is not to say that it won't help prevent it either, just no guarantee.

 

[PetePin15]

Just to clarify, fish can still suffocate even with a powerhead pointed up if the bacterial bloom is severe enough. The bacteria rapidly use up oxygen, sometimes faster then you can replenish.

That is not to say that it won't help prevent it either, just no guarantee.

Is there a way to test for oxygen levels? I still have the other fish in there and don’t want them to die too.

 

[Kasrift]

Definitely didn’t see any signs of velvet. I’m leaning toward oxygen. It’s super frustrating that I could have prevented this by tilting a power head.

And add an air stone.

 

[littlefoxx]

I’ve attached a video of the

Can you post it to YT? I cant see the video