Sick Bali Emporess Tang.. Please help!

[Mikie_P]

My Bali Emporess Tang is very unhappy today, he is just sitting at the bottom of the tank and floating, having difficulty breathing. He doesn't have any physical parasites or fungus, not eating, although was eating fine yesterday.

The tank is 6 months old, I have just tested my water and have...

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0.25
Nitrates - 10
SG - 1.026
Temp - 27*C

I am currently mixing water to do a 10% change, last change was less than a week ago... Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

Mike

 

[Mikie_P]

Also he's changed colour from grey to dark brown (they do this when stressed)

 

[HumbleFish]

Getting a nitrite reading is a little concerning. How long has this tank been setup? How long has it been cycled?

 

[Mikie_P]

He's died unfortunatley it's been set up for 6 months and cycled for 4, last added fish 3 weeks ago and had an ammonia spike so added dr. Tim's and the nitrites are most prob the the last remaining since the spike, all other livestock are fine though I have 2 clowns, a yellow tang, royal grammar, 1 purple and 1 flame fire fish...

 

[DrPat]

right on HUMBLE! GOOD CALL

 

[DrPat]

Speeding up the nitrogen cycle

Speeding up the nitrogen cycle

He's died unfortunatley it's been set up for 6 months and cycled for 4, last added fish 3 weeks ago and had an ammonia spike so added dr. Tim's and the nitrites are most prob the the last remaining since the spike, all other livestock are fine though I have 2 clowns, a yellow tang, royal grammar, 1 purple and 1 flame fire fish...

The best way to combat spikes in a young tank is to add live bacteria, frits zyme, dr. tims, or similar directly into the filter medium or overflow box sponge etc. add on day 1,3 ,7 ,10 ,14 all you need is a 2 or 3 tablespoons the bacteria will grow in the sponge .BETTTER YET IS TO KEEP A SPONGE IN YOUR DT SUMP WHICH WILL BE READY TO .also get seachems amonia alert badge for marine tanks.

 

[Mikie_P]

Thanks drpat, I hadn't heard of the ammonia alert badges before, just googled them and deffinatley going to order one they look like a handy bit of kit

 

[Mikie_P]

Tested water again this morning post water change and nitrites have now gone, I am also worried about a soft tree coral frag it doesn't appear to have opened polyps since I bought it which is making me think its died, if the coral was starting tho decompose could that have been the reason for the ammonia spike do you think?

 

[slapshot]

When a tank is new you can cycle it with any addition. Not always but possible. You should not add any fish you don't mind losing for 6 months to 8 months. If you find ammonia or nitrites after adding a fish your nit done cycling. Like mentioned above add some bacteria for a couple of days. Sorry you lost that fish.