Hi all,
Posting here asking for grace and advice as I try to navigate what the heck just happened to my tank. I was using this tank as a temporary/QT tank while my bigger tank (40 gallon breeder) cycles through.
20 gallon high
Salinity:1.025
Nitrates:0
Nitrates: 0
Alk: 289
pH: 8.4
Temp: 76
Had this setup for 3, almost 4 months now. Added CaribSea live sand and imagitarium brand Pacific water when setting up + dry rock. Things started off well, I added 1 Black Ocellaris and 2 Ocellaris clownfish (later learned that I should’ve only added 2, the BO was territorial). I then added 2 Chromis about a week later. *note, I was naive and didn’t invest in a QT, now I wish I did*
Eventually added a few more fish in anticipation of my 40GB almost done cycling. Got a hold of a Blue Tang from my LFS and it was going well, 4 days later it had an outbreak of white spots which I suspect was Ich. I began Ich treatment in my entire tank hoping to prevent any other outbreaks + because I read that once one has it, they all will probably catch it. (I did this for 3 days, per the directions on the bottle)
Fearing that it caught Ich because of stress and lack of suitable hiding spots, I went to LFS and purchased some live rock to add to the tank. The Blue Tang ended up passing a day or so later. About two weeks later and I noticed a few white spots on a few more fish, my Black Ocellaris and a Coral Beauty I had gotten a hold of (again, in anticipation of my 40GB). At the same time, my tank started growing an orange/brown algae which I suspected was diatom algae. Last night, my tank wasn’t looking so hot. I had a couple fish down at the bottom, not much movement and they just seemed to really struggle. Started another round of Ich treatment last night, second dose 12 hours later. I got back from work and things turn a terrible turn, I had my Coral Beauty was struggling, I ran to my LFS to seek advice and trying to figure out what to do. I came back home and found my coral beauty stopped moving and wasn’t breathing anymore- goner. I decided to try and do a water change in hopes that something would work. Within 2 hours my CB was gone. I pivoted my plan and decides to invest in a smaller tank to isolate the fish that we’re still looking okay. I put my 2 Ocellaris clownfish in there. Currently writing this as my Chromis are struggling and not able to swim and my BO is on the same boat.
At this point I’m a at a loss and I’m not sure what to do. I’ve accepted that this is a learning lesson and decided to break down my 40 while I get through this (emotionally, mentally, financially).
Hoping that my clownfish make it so that I can approach homing them better, and giving a more educated shot at this hobby.
Again, asking for some grace and support in navigating this. Please keep negativity away, I was reluctant to post this but acknowledge that I can only get better through learning from others that have the experience I don’t.
Thanks in advance!
Posting here asking for grace and advice as I try to navigate what the heck just happened to my tank. I was using this tank as a temporary/QT tank while my bigger tank (40 gallon breeder) cycles through.
20 gallon high
Salinity:1.025
Nitrates:0
Nitrates: 0
Alk: 289
pH: 8.4
Temp: 76
Had this setup for 3, almost 4 months now. Added CaribSea live sand and imagitarium brand Pacific water when setting up + dry rock. Things started off well, I added 1 Black Ocellaris and 2 Ocellaris clownfish (later learned that I should’ve only added 2, the BO was territorial). I then added 2 Chromis about a week later. *note, I was naive and didn’t invest in a QT, now I wish I did*
Eventually added a few more fish in anticipation of my 40GB almost done cycling. Got a hold of a Blue Tang from my LFS and it was going well, 4 days later it had an outbreak of white spots which I suspect was Ich. I began Ich treatment in my entire tank hoping to prevent any other outbreaks + because I read that once one has it, they all will probably catch it. (I did this for 3 days, per the directions on the bottle)
Fearing that it caught Ich because of stress and lack of suitable hiding spots, I went to LFS and purchased some live rock to add to the tank. The Blue Tang ended up passing a day or so later. About two weeks later and I noticed a few white spots on a few more fish, my Black Ocellaris and a Coral Beauty I had gotten a hold of (again, in anticipation of my 40GB). At the same time, my tank started growing an orange/brown algae which I suspected was diatom algae. Last night, my tank wasn’t looking so hot. I had a couple fish down at the bottom, not much movement and they just seemed to really struggle. Started another round of Ich treatment last night, second dose 12 hours later. I got back from work and things turn a terrible turn, I had my Coral Beauty was struggling, I ran to my LFS to seek advice and trying to figure out what to do. I came back home and found my coral beauty stopped moving and wasn’t breathing anymore- goner. I decided to try and do a water change in hopes that something would work. Within 2 hours my CB was gone. I pivoted my plan and decides to invest in a smaller tank to isolate the fish that we’re still looking okay. I put my 2 Ocellaris clownfish in there. Currently writing this as my Chromis are struggling and not able to swim and my BO is on the same boat.
At this point I’m a at a loss and I’m not sure what to do. I’ve accepted that this is a learning lesson and decided to break down my 40 while I get through this (emotionally, mentally, financially).
Hoping that my clownfish make it so that I can approach homing them better, and giving a more educated shot at this hobby.
Again, asking for some grace and support in navigating this. Please keep negativity away, I was reluctant to post this but acknowledge that I can only get better through learning from others that have the experience I don’t.
Thanks in advance!
