Help, sick fish maybe?

Seafan · #1 09-04-2010, 05:12 PM

Just one more note that might help you out a bit. You might try this sight;
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/monofaqs.htm

This is a couple of quote's from this sight;
"Do review circulation, oxygenation, and water temperature. Monos are classic "surf zone" fish and they are hyper-sensitive to stagnant, oxygen-poor water. Given enough oxygen, they're tough as old boots, but if the water lacks sufficient circulation, they turn grey, gasp, and sicken very quickly"

"Monodactylus can be converted to marine conditions quickly. I'd use the drip method across an hour, as if they were swimming through an estuary, but yes, you could in theory dump them straight in."

Monos also require a ph of 7.5 to 8.5

Hopefully you are using reef salt or equivalent, and not aquarium salt as there is a difference.

I would definately rule out ich if your salinity has been high enough brackish as ich does not fair well in brackish water.

I wish you luck and hope you can get your tank turned around soon

wookie · #2 09-04-2010, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the posts. I used salt in cups, placed it in the tank and let the salt slowly disolve. I've been told to do this by a number of people as it's slow.

I had the water tested at Pisces in Calgary.

I'm not sure about oxygen but there's a air pump attached to a blue ball that does tons of little bubbles, I've got a Eheim pro filtering the water and getting good flow and we bought a powerhead a month or so ago to have good flow. I thought that was all enough to keep the oxygen levels up.

Thanks again for the reply.

One GSP left, he actually ate some snails today and bloodworms, but he looks grey and unhappy and the one mono, laboured breathing and not eating still.

Gotta go, will give more feedback on water changes, my ride is here.

wookie · #3 09-04-2010, 11:38 PM

I did change the water quite a bit over the last week as things were getting out of control. I don't have a quarantine tank or had any options. Fish were sick or getting sick and the best guess was the water changes.

wookie · #4 09-05-2010, 04:05 AM

Here's the sole Mono remaining. You can see something going on badly with his skin. The other ones progressed like this - but never as bad. I think they died before it got that ugly.

Sigh . . . . I'm thinking this will be the end of my aquarist days... The GF is choked/sad about how much time has gone into this and money and of course losing the nice fish, only to have this happen and pretty much nothing we can do but watch.

Seafan · #5 09-05-2010, 04:13 AM

Hi, you didn't say which salt it was that you were using? Aquarium or actual salt water salt? Do not let it desolve in your tank, always premix your salt in some kind of a bucket get it to proper salinity, and ph, and aerate it, even if it is only for a few minutes, but hours is better than minutes. It's a good sign that your puffer has started to eat. Hopefully your mono starts to come around soon too. You have decent flow by the sounds of it, but if your mono is still labored in his breathing I would add an extra airstone if you can. Good luck again, hope it turns around for you.

Seafan · #6 09-05-2010, 04:17 AM

Hi, sorry I didn't see your last post before I replied. I wouldn't rule out salt or ammonia burns as the culprit. Others on here may have an idea if it maybe something else. Again dissolve salt out of the aquarium and definately a good idea to have your own test kits to monitor your own water.

wookie · #7 09-05-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seafan

Hi, sorry I didn't see your last post before I replied. I wouldn't rule out salt or ammonia burns as the culprit. Others on here may have an idea if it maybe something else. Again dissolve salt out of the aquarium and definately a good idea to have your own test kits to monitor your own water.

Yup, thanks..

Hi eyes look a little puffy/cloudy too..

Maybe it's a salt burn, but I doubt it as I have never expereinced that before and I didn't "go to town" with the salt at the time.

Thanks for the replies.

Llamarama · #8 09-05-2010, 04:50 AM

just wondering...with all these water changes have you been making sure that the new water is the same SG as the water in the tank? what are you using to measure the SG? I would guess salt/ammonia burns as well maybe invest in a $30 kit that tests the main stuff...the API one is cheap...isn't the most accurate but gives a decent picture of whats happening...what kind of test was the LFS using? i've seen petsmart use stips to test and they don't give anywhere near accurate results

wookie · #9 09-05-2010, 04:19 AM

Thanks for reminding me, sorry I forgot.

Yeah, glad he's eating, the mono looks rough, don't think he's making it... and with 2 of 8 left and maybe 1 of 8.... Doesn't bode well for the future of the tank.

Marine Salt. "Coralife"

This time it dissolved in the tank, often during prior water changes I'd do it in a bucket with unchlorinated water.

Thanks again