Dead Tang

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hbright

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
May 31, 2003
Messages
35
Location
Tennessee
I came home last night and found my yellow tang lying at the bottom breathing heavily. I checked the water parameters. They are as follows:
PH 8.2
ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 40
Spec Grav. 1.022
He was dead when I woke up. I don't know what happened, there were no visible signs of disease. I did add some rock to the tank yesterday, but all the other fish are fine. Wouldn't is all of them if I accidentally introduced a contaminant? Any ideas what could of happened??????? :cry:
 
I would say maybe the high nitrates would have something to do with it. Nitrates should be at 10 or less. :wink: Sorry for your Loss :bawl:
 
My guess would be the rock not the nitrates, 40ppm is not that high even for a fish only tank. Whether is was a temporary ammonia spike that passed by the time you tested or a contaminate it is difficult to tell. I would never add rock directly to the tank without some form of QT period in a bucket, testing to tell how cured it is. Then there always remains the possibility of an unknown cause the hobby is not familiar with yet.

Can you describe your system a bit (size, filtration, etc.)
 
It couldn't have been die-off from the rock because it was dry base rock. I just needed a few to fill in gaps. I rinsed it a million times-even with the water hose at full blast so I dont know whats going on. I done a 20 gal water change and replaced the filter media but the nitrates didnt go down at all! Any suggestions for decreasing the nitrates. Tank is a 75 gal, wet/dry filter-can't remember specs om filter but it was built for a 125 gal tank, about 70 lbs LR, only fish now are 2 percula clowns, 2 blue devil damsels, 2 emerald crabs, various snails and hermits. I dont have a skimmer yet.
 
water hose

What kind of hose? Outside garden hose type?

To reduce the nitrates, a skimmer will help. A wet/dry filter is a nitrate factory, as long as that is in place it will always contribute to nitrates. I would begin phasing it out by removing media and implementing a deeper sand bed or complete DSB with detrivores.
 
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