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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/17/2008 4:41:23 PM
Posts: 15,
Visits: 27
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| Anthony: I met you on the 4th of July. You were at my house for a MASLAC party. I'm hoping you remember my tank -- 225 gallon, auto water changing, et al. I looked in the tank on Monday and found two dead fish, a scooter blenny, which I had for three years, a purple *** and the skeleton of my orange spot gobie. The next day, when feeding I noticed my Bodianius did not appear. He's King O The Tank and he wasn't there. He was also a very healthy fish. Doubled in size in a year. Nor did I see my Ora Fredmani and several other fish. The only fish still alive after this week are a Hippo Tang, One Spot Foxface, Cardinal, Flame Angel and Mandarin. Tank parameters are: Zero nitrates, nitrites, amonia, phosphate (as well as I can measure), 1.028 falling, pH 8.1-8.3, Temp 79, O3=400, Ca 450, dKH 9.5, Mg 1450. I run carbon and RowaPhos, my Chaeto is growing well, nothing has changed. I change 3 gallons +/- every day for a total of 100 gallons per month on a 300 gallon system. The ONLY thing I can think of is the gardeners put manure on my lawn at the end of last week. The smell was extremely strong for the past week. I didn't think anything of it re the aquarium; doors were open in my fish room and the garage is vented to the outside. Any ideas what caused this disaster? Thanks for your help: George 
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 7:08:25 PM
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very sorry for your losses, my friend. Its a bit tough to diagnose off site and with limited info. I presume the invertebrates are all in normal/fine health? It is possible that a fish-sensitive toxin has gotten into the water... but when the inverts are fine but fish drop, its more likely that a virulent pathogen is at hand.
That said... I'm actually going to make an (educated) guess that this is still a toxin problem (in part because you did not mention any signs of ill health in the fishes... no scratching, rapid gilling, ulcers, etc... just fine one day and dead or disappeared the next)
Odd question(s), but...
- did someone in the house burn a Teflon pan
- was there any paint stripping done anywhere in the house (ventilation system)
- does the family use aerosol air fresheners (these are often brutal on fishes... please, never use them in the same room)
With or without a yes to any of the above, "the solution to pollution is dilution!" Plan to do a single, near-100% water change with water you insure is clean, adequately buffered (match the same tank ph and temp) and temperature/salinity adjusted (to match the display). With just a day of vigorous aeration, the synthetic sea mix will be fine.
UNLESS... you use natural seawater, in which case I will very regretfully add you to the always growing list of aquarists that use NSW on the West coast and are lucky at times for even some years, but in the end... things happen (toxins/pathogens). Speaking at large here... I have met dozens upon dozens of folks from LA and all along SoCal, San Diego (especially), Catalina and beyond that have regularly lost aquariums from NSW use from "safe" sources. The water is, after all, natural. Again... things (pathogens, contaminants) happen.
Please forgive the soapbox... but trying to help folks in the future that read this in the archives, etc.
kindly, Anth-
.Anthony Calfo
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/17/2008 4:41:23 PM
Posts: 15,
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| Thank for info, Anthony. I neglected to mention I did a 50 gallon water change ASAP, the second day after the majority of fish disappeared. I added a fish I claimed at a MASLAC raffle yesterday, a Scopas Tang. He's doing okay today, even ate while kind of shy in a back corner. The answer to the questions is no to all three. I've been using the same synthetic salt for the last year, so no change there. I did add a new used kalk stirrer, but I cleaned it with vinegar and water very thoroughly before placing it in my system. I'm at a loss. The remaining fish seem "happy" and healthy. Thanks again for the help.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 9:13:27 AM
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George:
so sad. i am really sorry to hear this news.
Could your power have gone off for a few hours that you did not know about?
temp change up or down?
------------------------------------
Carl-
We are all stardust
Sun powered reef
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/17/2008 4:41:23 PM
Posts: 15,
Visits: 27
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| Everything runs on a controller. I checked the info in the controller. The pH looks like a heartbeat 8.1-8.3, the O3 is steady at 400 +/-, and the temp is right a 79. All other parameters were checked when the fish died and are as stated in the first post. Missed you at the meeting. Have a merry Christmas/Happy New Year (Pam, too) G
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