Testing numbers - dead fish

[tb582]

High range ph = 7.8
Ammonia = .50
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 10

Woke up to a dead butterfly fish this am; had him about 2.5 weeks. My other fish, clown, foxface, goby, CUC are all seemingly fine.

any ideas? Take is about 2mo old and there’s def an algae bloom going on…

 

[Rmckoy]

First .
what butterflyfish was it ?
Most have been notorious for being hard to keep . But also my favourite fish

being only 2 months old . We can see either diatoms on the sand and which may appear to be Cyanobacteria on the glass by the heater . All signs of a immature system

 

[mtraylor]

Welcome to the forum. If The ammonia level is 0.50ppm its starting to be detrimental to all inhabitants. If you had a fish perish and you remove the fish and it doesn't start to quicky go down. Then you will need to do an immediate water change before all the fish perish over time and add live bacteria. Two month old aquarium is young but if its after cycle, the ammonia should go down quickly.

High ammonia over time where your levels are at will kill the fish. So if you have been checking the levels regularly and its always that high. Do the water change now and add some live bacteria post the water change.

 

[tb582]

First .
what butterflyfish was it ?
Most have been notorious for being hard to keep . But also my favourite fish

being only 2 months old . We can see either diatoms on the sand and which may appear to be Cyanobacteria on the glass by the heater . All signs of a immature system

it was the CooperBand butterfly

 

[Reeflix]

that might be why... very hard to keep and with ammonia in the tank it could of deteriorated quickly

 

[Rmckoy]

it was the CooperBand butterfly

They are very hard to keep alive in a mature system . Being a newer system with ammonia is most
Likely what happened .

getting them to eat is the first battle .

 

[tb582]

They are very hard to keep alive in a mature system . Being a newer system with ammonia is most
Likely what happened .

getting them to eat is the first battle .

Thanks - he was so nice looking and even was eating! But yeah maybe their temperament wasn’t the best decision for a newish tank…

I guess I let the algae bloom do it’s thing and then hopefully the tank is fully cycled…

 

[LordofCinder]

you are using the api master test kit right, the ammonia level reading might not be accurate with API.

What kind of water are you using? What kind of filtration do you have?

Its a heavy bioload for only 2 month old tank, and looking at your previous posts, other fish have died.... looks like you are maybe going too fast. How big is the tank?

 

[tb582]

you are using the api master test kit right, the ammonia level reading might not be accurate with API.

What kind of water are you using? What kind of filtration do you have?

Its a heavy bioload for only 2 month old tank, and looking at your previous posts, other fish have died.... looks like you are maybe going too fast. How big is the tank?

75gal with fx4 filter

 

[LordofCinder]

Canister filter provides mechanical filtration which doesn't do much for heavy bioloads.

You should have sufficient live rock, and sufficient flow through the rocks. A skimmer also helps provide oxygen to such a large tank, you should have very turbulent water surface if no skimmer.

And add fish slowly, give the tank time to adjust to each new bioload, bacteria grows very slowly, it should be several weeks in between each adidtion.