Fish dying after 2 months

[tri88]

Hello all
I setup a 300G tank in September (my first marine tank) and spent a huge amount of time doing research and still learning but please bear with me

At the moment I have:
Scooter Blenny (eats on pellets and has gained weight, was one of my first fish)
1 Ocellaris Clownfish (current issues explained later)
One spot foxface
4 Chromis
1 Yellowtail Damselfish (It lives in refugium)
and assortment of CUC
1 Rhodactis Morph
1 Pulsing Xenia

Over the past 4 months I have had 3 deaths involving 2 clownfish and 1 coral beauty that disturbs me. 2 of the clownfish exhibited the same behaviour, basically not eating and actively avoiding food for an extended period time of up to 2 weeks, then on the last day of their death acting extremely erratically before dying. My Coral Beauty lived for about 2 months with no issues until the last week where it stopped eating altogether, then having a large lump on its left side and an extremely pinched stomach.

My water parameters at all the times where there was a death was:
0 Ammonia
0 Nitrite
10-20PPM Nitrate
0.10-0.25PPM Phosphate

I did look into all the common marine tank diseases but I've never been able to pinpoint one disease. I did try doing freshwater dips too but they didnt look like they helped. I'm in the process of setting up a quarantine tank and I know this should of been done sooner but budgetary concerns caused this one to be delayed.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[btb72]

Did you at your fish? Coulda been an internal parasite. How long before putting fish after the tank was set up? Did it cycle etc

 

[tri88]

I waited 2 months and measured parameters everyday. Once I was sure it was cycled I added 2 clownfish and a damsel which I took out. I'm going extremely slow with stocking but its kind of disheartening see fish die after seemingly be happy for a month or two. I've had other fish from the beginning and they've never had any problems.

 

[ClownFishGuy6]

Look for white spots on the fish and get back to me because if there not eating it could be common Marine ich. Get back to me if you notice any white dots on them. You have to look closely though because there could be only 2 on one of its fins and it could barley be noticeable. That has happened to me so inspect the fish while its out in open water

 

[tri88]

Oh I had a good look at the fish when they died. No white spots and I've seen Ich on other fish before. The only one with a visible clue was the Coral Beauty with a large lump in the middle.

 

[gulfcoastrfr]

Where did you get the fish and did you get all three of them from the same place?

 

[tri88]

The 2 clownfish were purchased from the same place and the coral beauty was purchased from another reefer. I have a third clownfish that was purchased from a different show that is starting to show symptoms of not eating.

 

[gone fishin]

What is the time frame on the 3rd clown from purchase to now?

When you say a lump, was it just that or was there an open sore, missing scales, discoloration?

 

[tri88]

3rd clown is 2months 20 days.

The lump was white about the size of the tip of my pinky, it had pushed scales out of the way. Stomach was extremely pinched as well.

 

[gone fishin]

going on the info so far, I am inclined to think you have something in your tank since similar symptoms appear on the fish and they were bought at different places. It is difficult without any pics.

IMO your fish should be removed from the DT and for right now treat with prazipro. I do not think it is ich but some sort of internal parasite. I also would leave the DT fishless for 6 weeks. Sadly some illness do not require a fish on timed schedule and can happily wait for the return of fish.

 

[scooter31707]

I don't think it's ich as you did not see any flashing or scratching. I too, believe it is some type of internal parasite.

 

[tri88]

Thanks guys. Looks like I'm going to be getting a quarantine tank sorted out.