Marine Emergency

[The-Raven]

I was just watching my for the most part recent setup. I have a 55gal semi-reef with 3 damsels... All of the sudden two of them are swimming at the very top of the water. One of them is laying on a rock quite obviously in distress.

Ammonia, Nitrites are zero. ph, salinity, temp, everything is normal.

What is going on?

 

[The-Raven]

One that was swimming on the top just fell to the bottom and died shortly after.

...

please help before the other two die off

 

[WILDER]

Have you used any household chemicals near the tank, the only other thing i can think of is parasites, any red inflamed gills or heavy breathing.

 

[The-Raven]

I used windex on the outside of the aquarium over 3 hours ago... I'm pretty sure I'm competent enough to not get any inside.


heavy breathing yes, the gills look fine as far as I can tell


If it was a parasite, this was by far the fastest acting/spreading I've ever seen. One second they were fine, I was eating dinner and noticed one was at the top, then the other, and I found the third on a rock in the back...

The question is, what can I do? I don't have a ready set-up quarantine tank, because I wasn't planning on introducing anybody new for a while

 

[WILDER]

Right do a water change and add an airstone you might have got a chemical into the tank, plus add a new sponge of activated black carbon.

Right didn't notice the quarantine tank if water premtures are the same transfer them over there, if they are normal we might no what we are dealing with.

 

[The-Raven]

I added an airstone before the first one died.


I just threw in the carbon filters from my old freshwater UGF that I used for like a few hours- so they should have at least a little cleaning power to them...

And I think you misunderstood - I said I DON'T have a ready quarantine

 

[WILDER]

I would still do a water change.

 

[The-Raven]

how much would you suggest?

 

[WILDER]

40%.

Did you have the tank lid of when cleaning the glass on the outside, and have you put your hands in the tank with out washing them after you applied the window cleaner to the outside of the tank.

 

[The-Raven]

lid was down, pretty sure I washed my hands.


So after adding a carbon and airstones - 1 dead, 1 appears to be back to 100%, 1 looks better but is still on the bottom inactive - isn't laying on his side or gasping quite as badly.


I think it was just an oxygen problem really