New Tank, Clown Death

[ashleywitson]

I got a 13.5 fluval evo saltwater tank. This is my first saltwater tank. I cycled (or at least I thought) the tank for 3 weeks with live sand and a quick start bacteria. After 3 weeks, my LFS tested the water and said there was no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites and a pH of 8 and that it was ok to add fish. Water temp is at 76 F.

I added 2 oclerias clowns and they were doing great for about 4-5 days and now have begun declining. Yesterday I added a bubble tip anenome to the tank, and now on day 6 of having the clowns, one of them died and the other one is having labored breathing.

I took a water sample to my LFS and he said there was no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrates and that the water was safe, so it could be a parasite or something the fish had.

I talked to a friend who has been in the saltwater aquarium hobby for a while and he suggested a 20% water change and a dose of ammonia remover and a dose of the bacteria additive.

Anyone here have a similar issue? Did I initially cycle the tank wrong since I did not add any food/dead fish/etc? Do we think the fish may have a disease? I was just doing what the fish store person told me, as I am new to this. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated

 

[Pizzafam!]

Noob here .I'm sure the vets will respond but my first thought is to get your own test kit ? Did you get your own eyes on test results?Is the shop reputable /QT protocols or they just trying to sell fast?Any live rock?
Sorry if these questions seem foward but it seems like the shop is your main source.either way sorry this is happening, especially when it feels like your doing everything right ,hang in there.hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I got a 13.5 fluval evo saltwater tank. This is my first saltwater tank. I cycled (or at least I thought) the tank for 3 weeks with live sand and a quick start bacteria. After 3 weeks, my LFS tested the water and said there was no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites and a pH of 8 and that it was ok to add fish. Water temp is at 76 F.

I added 2 oclerias clowns and they were doing great for about 4-5 days and now have begun declining. Yesterday I added a bubble tip anenome to the tank, and now on day 6 of having the clowns, one of them died and the other one is having labored breathing.

I took a water sample to my LFS and he said there was no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrates and that the water was safe, so it could be a parasite or something the fish had.

I talked to a friend who has been in the saltwater aquarium hobby for a while and he suggested a 20% water change and a dose of ammonia remover and a dose of the bacteria additive.

Anyone here have a similar issue? Did I initially cycle the tank wrong since I did not add any food/dead fish/etc? Do we think the fish may have a disease? I was just doing what the fish store person told me, as I am new to this. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated

Post a photo or video of the fish taken under WHITE ONLY lighting.

While you're at it, do an Ammonia test with your own test kit.

 

[Revv65]

I got a 13.5 fluval evo saltwater tank. This is my first saltwater tank. I cycled (or at least I thought) the tank for 3 weeks with live sand and a quick start bacteria. After 3 weeks, my LFS tested the water and said there was no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites and a pH of 8 and that it was ok to add fish. Water temp is at 76 F.

I added 2 oclerias clowns and they were doing great for about 4-5 days and now have begun declining. Yesterday I added a bubble tip anenome to the tank, and now on day 6 of having the clowns, one of them died and the other one is having labored breathing.

I took a water sample to my LFS and he said there was no ammonia, nitrates, or nitrates and that the water was safe, so it could be a parasite or something the fish had.

I talked to a friend who has been in the saltwater aquarium hobby for a while and he suggested a 20% water change and a dose of ammonia remover and a dose of the bacteria additive.

Anyone here have a similar issue? Did I initially cycle the tank wrong since I did not add any food/dead fish/etc? Do we think the fish may have a disease? I was just doing what the fish store person told me, as I am new to this. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated

The no nitrates reading doesn't make sense. No nitrates in a cycled tank, IME means nothing is happening in the cycle. Short version.....ammonia is converted to nitrites. Nitrites are converted to Nitrates.
You said you added bacteria and added fish 3 weeks later. Did you use anything for a food source for the bacteria? If not, then your friend is on the right track. Water change and bacteria.. Get your own ammonia test strips or kit. Sounds like your LFS isn't on the ball. The test kit at your LFS may not be the most accurate, but at this early stage any sign of ammonia needs to be addressed. A "fish in" cycle is taxing as it requires constant water changes to keep the ammonia levels liveable for the fish but enough for the nitrifying bacteria to multiply and start a solid cycle. Hope this helps. Rich

 

[DrkNMighty]

I would say either tank is not fully cycled or the fish were sick. As others have said I would run you own water test with a non API test kit or visit a different LFS and see if they can run test.

Also want to mention that it is highly unlikely that the nem will live. They are very sensitive to parameters swings in tanks and it is often recommended that the tank has been up and running for 6+ months. If you purchased it from your LFS I would see if you can return it.

 

[winxp_man]

I honestly don’t think your tank is truly cycled. Hanna, salifert or Red Sea testing equipment. Test your own as stated above.

As for tank, no rocks? Live rocks will let get bacteria kept alive. Sand alone will take longer to cycle. If you do rock you will get a new cycle going in that small of a tank. So might want to get rid of the fish if any are still live, and in the tank and start all over with the cycle.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You added live sand and bottled bacteria, did you add any ammonia source? Bacteria needs food (ammonia), without ammonia added the cycle did not happen. So you are now cycling your tiny tank with 2 fish which will be very hard on them. Feed very little to keep the ammonia as low as possible or they won't make it.

A tank is cycled when ammonia is zero, nitrite is zero, and you have some nitrate. Do you have any rock in the tank? Rock is the most important thing to add to a saltwater tank.

You need your own test kits in this hobby, do not rely on your LFS for testing or for information. This is a very complex hobby and you will need to spend some time reading to understand. Good luck

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[Gumbies R Us]

I’ll agree with the others and say I don’t think your tank was fully cycled.
Get some test kits from either Salifert Red Sea or Hanna. Try to avoid api as they can be inaccurate and give you false readinfs
Sorry about you losing one clown fish, hopefully the other one will pull through!

Also, try getting a video under white light of your clown fish, maybe some of the #fishmedics help you save the little guy

 

[ashleywitson]

Thank you everyone! It was my mistake for trusting the LFS owner. I have ordered a Red Sea testing kit. The other fish didn’t make it and died overnight. I will cycle the tank (actually) this time. My only question is, should I leave the dead fish in the tank for the ammonia cycle? Or use Dr. Tim’s liquid ammonium?
Also my anemone is on the floor upside down, should I return it to the store to see if they can save it? And what about my one hermit crab? I don’t know what to do with him.

Again thank you so much for the advice, I’m trying not to get discouraged in my new hobby when I thought I was doing everything right.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Thank you everyone! It was my mistake for trusting the LFS owner. I have ordered a Red Sea testing kit. The other fish didn’t make it and died overnight. I will cycle the tank (actually) this time. My only question is, should I leave the dead fish in the tank for the ammonia cycle? Or use Dr. Tim’s liquid ammonium?
Also my anemone is on the floor upside down, should I return it to the store to see if they can save it? And what about my one hermit crab? I don’t know what to do with him.

Again thank you so much for the advice, I’m trying not to get discouraged in my new hobby when I thought I was doing everything right.

I would remove the dead fish and just add a tiny pinch of fish food, and then wait to you get your test kits.

Try to return the anemone if possible. If it starts to melt or turn into jelly then take it out.

At this point I would just leave the hermit if he's been there up to now, from here it can only get better. Think of it that way.

EDIT - sorry, I didn't know there were 2 threads