HELP ME! No one seems to know what is killing my fish!

[xtreme]

Do you run a skimmer? Sounds like a fair size bio-load and not enough live rock for filtration.

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Originally Posted by Salty_Hobby

I have 3 clown fish (2 spp), the green tip polyps, a cleaner shrimp, anemone, lawnmower blenney, 2 fire tail gobies I think they're called, hermit crabs (with the blue tip claws), a long spined urchin (he's not looking so good) and a yellow tang. I have about 10lbs of live rock in a 47US Gallon tank.

So just to confirm from what I have been reading you have

7 fish
4 or 5 inverts not including snails
10 lbs live rock in a 47 gal.

I do have to agree with xtreme with his comment.

xtreme Do you run a skimmer? Sounds like a fair size bio-load and not enough live rock for filtration.

I initially suspected flatworms when you called me earlier today but from your pictures that is not the case or they are not anything I have encountered. Try and explain a little more about the white spots. Are they soft?. Do they come off the glass easy or are they stuck on firm? Do they squish and denigrate when you touch them? Do they move around? etc. Any info would help identify them.

Small frequent water changes are superior to larger water changes (you do not want to stress out everything more)
Run carbon
Set your skimmer up to run wet
Until you are certain what the problem is do not move your fish.
Bring in a water sample to the store and I will run some tests. ( a sample before a water change)
Call the store if you need some advice.

Kevin

[Marlin65]

Your yellow tang needs to go!!! Your tank is too small. I usually don't say that but a 48 is way too small for a yellow tang. Please find a better home for this fish unless you plan to upgrade??

[Funky_Fish14]

Originally Posted by Red Coral Aquariums

Small frequent water changes are superior to larger water changes (you do not want to stress out everything more)

Kevin;

I dont mean to directly dissagree, but in this case, with such high ammonia, a large water change is needed to bring it down. If you do the math it will take 7 water changes at 10% in size to achieve less than .5ppm ammonia (which is still high), while 1 50% waterchange will achieve .5ppm ammonia. (if someone wants to see the math I'll post it)

I only suggest a large water change to get the 'white crud' out, and eliminate the ammonia which I think in this case is a more severe matter than water change stress. Otherwise i would agree.

However, to the OP: Please do not read 'smaller frequent water changes' as 10% once a week, it means 10-25% every day to 3 days. 10% once a week will not make enough of a difference.

Cheers,

Chris

First if your water changes have not had any afect on the ammonia levels you test kit maybe bad. you should see a deffinit drop in the ammonia level exspecialy if you have done a 25% water change. you could do anouther 10% water change today and every 2-3 days till you find out what is happening. What snails do you have in your tank?
I am asking you this because I have white disk like snail eggs on my glass and rocks and they apear almost over night. I'll try and get a good pic of some and post in this thread. you also said that you have afilm on the water top this could be from the snails sponing and you have extra ditris that is being suspended in the water colume try and redirect your power head so it disterbs the water surfaces see if this helps to clear it up. I get this on my kids tank once in a while you can scoop as much of the floating stuff off the top.
If you have too many snails or there spon is dead it will rase your ammonia level.
don't panic go slow.

I'll check back in a while as I have to go get some shrimp and maybe my fish came in also.
Bill

[Salty_Hobby]

I have a skimmer fit for the size of tank and a filter on it, it was ok before with some die offs if I didn't do frequent enough water changes but I've been good about them lately.

The ammonia kit should be ok, I've done tests in the recent past that were zero for ammonia. I don't have any film on the water surface, just the glass and stuff inside the tank under the water. I don't have any snails, other than 2 tiny ones that came with the live rock way back in Feb.

I will keep up with the water changes every few days, the ammonia levels have come down but not by much I'm only panicked because I feel terrible I am killing my fish!

Thanks everyone, I will update in the morning with how the increase salinity, temp and Stability additive for ammonia works out.

Originally Posted by Salty_Hobby

I have a skimmer fit for the size of tank and a filter on it, it was ok before with some die offs if I didn't do frequent enough water changes but I've been good about them lately.

The ammonia kit should be ok, I've done tests in the recent past that were zero for ammonia. I don't have any film on the water surface, just the glass and stuff inside the tank under the water. I don't have any snails, other than 2 tiny ones that came with the live rock way back in Feb.

I will keep up with the water changes every few days, the ammonia levels have come down but not by much I'm only panicked because I feel terrible I am killing my fish!

Thanks everyone, I will update in the morning with how the increase salinity, temp and Stability additive for ammonia works out.

I took another look at the pics you posted and they look very similar to the white spots I have and the ones I have are snail eggs. Can you see from the out side of the glass is there a bit of yellow in the center of the disks on the glass if so they are eggs. If your white spots are eggs some maybe dieing off and that could give you a higher ammonia level. Hay everyone lets solve one problem at a time Bio load maybe on the demanding side of things but you have to take in to consideration the depth of the sand bed and how often he does water changes in the first place. And yes you can do a larger water change but not this often.

You have stated the ammoinia is droping with the water changes you have done alreadyand you have not done many water changes. With your bio load you should be doing water changes every 7 -10 days. I would get about 30 - 40 pounds more rock and sell 2-3 fish this will balance your tanks bio load out.
I still think the white spots maybe snail eggs, are they all about the same size and shape?
I have snail eggs every where, they hatch out and in a mounth or so there is a new batch on the glass and rocks and it only takes about 2 days for then to appier every where. As I said if they are not fertile they maybe decaying where they were layed, that will rase your ammionia


take your sample in and get the resualts and post them here.

Bill

[Funky_Fish14]

25% of 1ppm is still .75ppm = still rounds up to 1ppm. Test kits are not very accurate (when you really think about it), and I dont think the small water changes will be making much of a difference. I would try doing a 40-60% water change. 10% water changes wont really get you too far. As long as you let the fresh saltwater mix long enough(at least 12hrs) a 50% waterchange should be no problem. I know a guy who does a 50% waterchange on all of his salt tanks every 2 weeks and does not use a skimmer.

Good luck.

Chris

[Funky_Fish14]

To accentuate - Do much bigger water changes, and suck out as much of the 'white stuff' as possible.

Chris