Mysterious disease

[Murminator]

Hmmmm maybe off topic but being a snowmobile/atv enthusiast things run the best right before it blows up . I think it's the water, does someone live close to you that can pop over with their test kits to confirm?

*edit* Just a quick count you lost 9 fish? or maybe a couple are counted twice. How may fish do you have in a 77G? I realize you have 150G of water with the sump maybe it is a little too close for comfort tempers flare. If you lock 10 poodles in a closet chances of all 10 living pretty slim tempers flare survival of the fittest

[TheReefGeek]

It is still possible, but if it were fish killing each other you would see damage on the dead fish, and probably the surviving onces, any marks, torn fins, etc?

[Go Lions!]

My condolences man that really sucks. What are you feeding them? anything that might not be so fresh anymore? Do Foxfaces exude poison into the water as a self defence measure? possibly a power failure in the night that you didn't know about?

[Bill]

Hey,

May or may not be a fish disease, could be water or air contaminants that somehow entered the tank. I would do a series of water changes over a few days and clean / inspect all filters, pumps, and sumps. I would also run extra carbon and ozone if you have it. If you have UV, I would get that going also.

[TheReefGeek]

Very true Bill, I too would start agressive water changes, run carbon, and clean all filters and replace all sponges and other media you can.

[michika]

We've been doing water changes every other day since the deaths occured. We've been running fresh carbon since the issue began.

Bev,

There has been no deaths lately.

As for seing any damage to the corpses I haven't seen anything that would indicate laserations, dermal damage, or cellular decay.

We have been looking each evening since you posted those links for the isopods

I still think its connected to the foxface in some way. Anywhere that anyone can think where I could research more on foxface posion. I did search ReefCentral once, but I can't stay up that late anymore. I've searched via google, and a few other databases.

[Ruth]

Catherine maybe try reef frontiers. They are pretty good at narrowing down problems. Anthony Calfo is on that board along with Mojoreef and both are pretty good at narrowing down things to try. Worth a shot anyway.

[michika]

I retract my earlier statement of having had no more fish deaths...

My little ocellaris clown was just found dead, he apprently got stuck in the durso overflow, and his face was above water. What a terrible way to go. RIP Mr. Looking for Love.

[michika]

Ruth,

Thanks, I think I will. Do they have a website?

[michika]

Murray,

We've only lost 5 fish total. I doubt its water quality, as our corals are thriving, clams are fully open. The gsp we got at the meet is thriving for the first time in two years (I'm so excited over this!).

I do have to say that I suspect it may be death by rabbitfish. They are poisonous and our rabbitfish is a bit, um twitchy, in that he is constantly flaring the moment anything moves in his line of sight.

We had, originally 13; LemonPeel Angel, Singapore Angel, two Tomato clowns, Ocellaris clown, regal tang, 4 chromis, fox face, two mandarins. All the fish that have died, LemonPeel, Singapore, large tomato, and both mandarins all frequented the rabbitfish's favorite areas to hide. The large Tomato was allow quite agressive when anyone approached the anemone.

Assuming it is a water quality issue, would I not see signs of something? None of the fish are breathing hard, nothing. They've all died sometime throughout the night, never lights on times. What illnesses attack at night? What type of symptoms should I be seeing?

Does anyone know what symptoms rabbitfish poision bring on? Or how long it takes to become fatal?