Water Cloudy and keep losing Chromis

[liquid_wind]

So I set up my 20g tank about three months ago, cycled it and added a Chromis as the first fish, it lived a couple week, but then died. I have since added a Tail Spot Blenny and Clown Goby, both with no issues. On Friday I added a Chromis, which when I woke up this morning, had died. Is there a reason why Chromis would not survive whereas others would?

Also starting a few weeks ago my water has been getting cloudy and not clear like it used to be. Ammonia, nitrites are 0ppm, nitrates looked to be closest to 0 on the color chart. I changed ten gallons of water this Sunday and it seems to be slowly getting cloudider again. What could be the source of this?

Any help appreciated!

 

[nfritz565]

Bacteria bloom is my educated guess, mine did the same and I only lost "select" species for no apparent reason, my water tested great so I have no idea what killed the fish

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[rockhead51]

I don't have chromis, but a quick Google search seems to indicate:
1. Chromis are more sensitive to water quality issues than many other fish (so it is no mystery why the others are persisting but they die).
2. US populations seem to be often Infected with something called "Chromis Disease" which I believe is Uronema Marinum.
3. They are often shipped in overcrowded bags because they are not individually expensive, so the dealers try to make money in bulk. Combine this with their sensitivity to bad water quality, and many die if ammonia poisoning.

It sounds to me like you haven't fully established your bacterial colony- like it is still settling in to sustainable levels.

Did you completely cycle the tank and ensure the biological filter was effectively nuetralizing ALL ammonia within 24 hours of it being introduced? I'd test a couple times a day for a week or so to make sure it isn't still cycling.

What is the source for your water changes, and is your change procedure removing too much of your bacterial colony? You could be adding in nutirents that are feeding bad bacteria.

Lastly, when the tank is under control and you go looking for another Chromis, try an LFS that uses a different supplier, and make sure that the fish is healthy and eating at the LFS for a while (I'd say at least a week- to give any symptoms incurred in shipping time to show up) before you bring him home.

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[liquid_wind]

So bacterial bloom would also be related to not completely cycled tank meaning that would explain both correct? That may be as well, forgot to mention I seeded the tank with some existing LR, but removed it a few weeks ago. Is there a way I could get it to settle with the Blenny already in there, or just give it time?

The source of my water changes is the local aquarium, it is natural sea water that they filter and skim, I talked to one employee in charge there and he was very proud of it, but have never tested it myself, I do use it for another tank and have no issues.

In terms of another LFS...unfortunately the only store on island that does SW is Petco.

 

[rockhead51]

Yeah. I think your good bacterial colony (Turns ammonia to nitrite to nitrate) is fluctuating causing bad bacteria (cloudiness) to grow, which may also be killing (or at least stressing and rendering susceptible to killing) the Chromis.
You also may be importing wierd stuff like excess nitrates or phosphates.
I'd test and chart daily values for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, pH. As long as everything is stable for at least a week, you can start looking for other causes.
Don't take any sand, live rock, or filters out of the tank (rinse the filters in tank water you are discarding).
You could if you see ANY ammonia or a nitrite spike, it just needs time with the hardy fish. You can try bacteria in a bottle (like Tim's) to speed that along.

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[scattered]

Yeah. I think your good bacterial colony (Turns ammonia to nitrite to nitrate) is fluctuating causing bad bacteria (cloudiness) to grow, which may also be killing (or at least stressing and rendering susceptible to killing) the Chromis.
You also may be importing wierd stuff like excess nitrates or phosphates.
I'd test and chart daily values for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, pH. As long as everything is stable for at least a week, you can start looking for other causes.
Don't take any sand, live rock, or filters out of the tank (rinse the filters in tank water you are discarding).
You could if you see ANY ammonia or a nitrite spike, it just needs time with the hardy fish. You can try bacteria in a bottle (like Tim's) to speed that along.

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"˜Bad' bacteria does not cause cloudiness*. You need to understand aerobic versus anaerobic bacteria and their role in the ammonia cycle. Ammonia in a bottle and other shortcuts are not panaceas for understanding the living cycle a reef tank represents. Shortcuts are making people stupid and worse reef keepers as a result.

 

[scattered]

I will not apologize for calling people stupid either. The ammonia cycle is a well known aquarium reality and if you do not take the time to understand it and it's role in a reef tank you are not just stupid, you are a creature killing, money wasting idiot.

If you do not know the role of bacteria in your tank, commit to learning it or get a cat.

 

[liquid_wind]

Well what I know is I cycled the tank, ammonia up...and to zero, nitrites up...and to zero, they have tested zero ever since and the water is cloudy. Whether they fluctuate in between times I've tested, there's no way to know I suppose, but if it's something to try, I'm game.

 

[rockhead51]

Scattered,
1. I hate cats.
2. MY reef water is crystal clear.
3. New tank syndrome can absolutely cause bacterial blooms that cause cloudiness.
4. Before you call people stupid, consider how much of a douchebag you want to come across as.
5. Thanks for all YOUR constructive help.
6. To be clear about #4, above. You are a a douchebag.

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[scattered]

Scattered,
1. I hate cats.
2. MY reef water is crystal clear.
3. New tank syndrome can absolutely cause bacterial blooms that cause cloudiness.
4. Before you call people stupid, consider how much of a douchebag you want to come across as.
5. Thanks for all YOUR constructive help.
6. To be clear about #4, above. You are a a douchebag.

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I have fish spawning, you have fish dying. Your definition of douchebag and mine are not equal.

Constructive help? Go to the new reef keeper forum and read all the stickies top to bottom. You aren't asking about things that are not covered.

 

[rockhead51]

I have fish spawning, you have fish dying. Your definition of douchebag and mine are not equal.



Constructive help? Go to the new reef keeper forum and read all the stickies top to bottom. You aren't asking about things that are not covered.

Hey, *******, my fish are fine. Learn to read and focus less on being the aforementioned douchebag. This guy was asking for help interpreting a picture he posted.
To give the douchebag (you) his due: yeah, at some point we could have probably told him to go spend a couple hours combing through the reefkeeper stickies. Instead we got into a conversation. Now, I get that that notion may be foreign to you, because most people stay out of conversations with douchebags (again, to be clear, that'd be you), but it's how normal people relate and (in this case) try to help each out.
Now see, if you start one by calling people you don't know stupid, they tend not to go too well. So how's about you quit being a douchebag, and use these forums for what they are designed to to: help out fellow aquarists of all experience levels?
Enjoy your spawning fish.

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[Sugar Magnolia]

Thread closed. Y'all need to quit with that name calling.