Fish Woes - More Touble in the Biocube

[agentfive]

We recently about a month and a half ago added some new fish to our empty Biocube 14 - a cleaner shrimp, neon goby, and hector's goby - with the intention in 2-3 weeks after adding in 2 very small clowns to get everyone in and happy.

Well - for the first 3 weeks - the gobies and cleaner shrimp - AOK. Did our weekly water changes - etc. Great.

We then went and got two very small clowns - so cute. Well - within the first 4 days one of the clowns just was stressed out - the other clown and neon goby just were picking on him. And he died in the middle of the night.

Then the next 3 weeks - the hector's goby disappeared never to be found.

After that - the clown, cleaner, and neon were happy. Occasionally the neon would try and ride on the clown - but they ate happily along with the cleaner shrimp every other day - looking great. Swimming all over the place.

Now this morning - clown found under NAS snail - after just seeing him last night as happy as can be eating it up. Neon and cleaner look great. Just did a water change to make sure we're okay. Tested tank water - all levels normal - no ammonia - no nitrates - nitrite - PH fine - salinity fine - etc.

What the hell are we doing wrong? All of our corals are growing splitting - etc. The hermits are getting larger - the snails are the same ones we've had since we started the tank last year.

Bummed on the fish front - really loved the clown and hectors goby - and feeling a bit stupid - but can't tell what's going on - or if this is just part of the fishkeeping thing. Keep telling myself should have gotten a bigger tank to start instead of the 14g.

 

[stingythingy45]

The fish showed no sign of a parasite?
Saltwater fish seem to be very particular about picking places to call home.If the tank is too tight for them to have,"their"space they'll fight.
I'm thinking in a 14 gallon maybe two fish would be tops.Perhaps a pair of mated clowns or goby/shrimp combo.
One other thought,how much water do you change?
Do you mix your own....aerate it?

 

[agentfive]

No sign of parasites. We mix our own - I do a 1 gallon water change - and aerate it - mix it in a bucket and with a small heater get it the right temp - for us 79-80F. I clean the sponge and rinse the filter - and change the filter monthly.

The clown did have a bit white towards the front - towards the top of the front of his head - but it was not spots - etc. He also ate and acted fine.

We also waited 12 weeks since the last Gramma and Clown passed due to we believe brooknella or ICK.

 

[stingythingy45]

Glad to hear you take the time to mix your own.
Are you checking salinity with a refractor?
Brooknella can kill a clownfish in less than 24 hrs.... nasty stuff.
Is it possible that the store you're getting the fish from has a parasite problem?
If this white looked like a lumpy,cauliflower appearance it could have been lymph.
Lymph isn't really fatal to fish and clears up if the water quality is good.

 

[agentfive]

I have a refractor and calibrate it monthly. I also mix the day before and then recheck.

Wasn't lumpy - also fish store doesn't seem to have a parasite problem.

No ideas. Going to enjoy the neon goby and cleaner shrimp and call it a day I guess.

 

[daveb]

Not sure exactly whats going on. Sometimes its really hard for anybody to determine fish deaths. All i can say is dont give up. Get a fish or two that will make you happy, and do your best to keep it healthy.