RussKubes
06/25/2014, 07:15 PM
I'm pretty new to keeping an aquarium and just experienced my first fish death. I think it has to do with the fact that my A/C broke yesterday; but I want to be sure in case I need to take action to protect the rest of my fish.
I added the Flame Angel on 6/11; from Blue Zoo Aquatics.
On the first three days, it would not eat mysis or brine shrimp. It would only peck at the rocks. On the fourth day I added garlic to the food and it ate plenty.
Since then, I had no issues getting him to eat; and only had to use the garlic once. I rotated between Hikari frozen brine, nysis, and angelfish food. He happily ate whatever I put in.
As previously stated, the A/C broke yesterday. I have a computer which measures the temp and automatically shuts off the lights once it reaches 83.5. Even after this point, the temps continued to rise before I got home, reaching a high of 84.7 degrees.
I brought the temperature down overnight, and when the lights came on this morning, I found the Angel to look slightly pale between his stripes - where it normally was red, it was more of an orange/yellow. He was also not swimming with nearly as much energy as usual. When I fed them, he ate normally. Then I went out for a few hours.
I came home and found him in the corner of the tank laying on his back (upside down) on the bottom - just breathing but not moving anything else. Not even his fins were moving. After about 5 minutes, the breathing seemed to stop. After a couple more minutes, he began to seize (very rapid twitching of all muscles) [symptom of whatever killed him or normal part of dying?]. He eventually landed in a cave under the most difficult rock to reach inside of the tank, and I believe he is now dead.
Aside from the paleness, I do not see anything else wrong with him. He does not have any spots. His eyes look fine. There is no visible damage. Fins are all 100% in tact.
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Tank Info
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The tank itself was started last September. FOWLR. 55 Gallon with about 70 lbs of Live Rock.
I'm about to do new water tests today to verify; most recent was last Thursday (6/19), and the tests were as follows [consistent readings]:
PH: 7.9 [this was measured early in the day, at night it is usually about 8.1]
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0.5 ppm
Phosphates: 0.04 ppm
Salinity: 1.023
Temp: 81.4 (right about where I keep it)
Other inhabitants include:
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Yellow Tang
1 Azure Damsel
1 Black Percular Clown
1 Red Scooter Dragonet
1 Peppermint, and 1 Cleaner Shrimp
5 Snails
All other inhabitants are doing well. No visible spots or issues. All are swimming as normal, with energy.
The Flame Angel was the last fish to be put in, and all fish get along. There was some initial bullying of the Flame Angel by the Yellow Tang (who dominates the tank). The Tang never nipped at him, he'd just use his rear fin to force water pressure at the Angel to scare him away when he got too close. After the first few days they found their own spots in the tank and didn't bother each other.
I added the Flame Angel on 6/11; from Blue Zoo Aquatics.
On the first three days, it would not eat mysis or brine shrimp. It would only peck at the rocks. On the fourth day I added garlic to the food and it ate plenty.
Since then, I had no issues getting him to eat; and only had to use the garlic once. I rotated between Hikari frozen brine, nysis, and angelfish food. He happily ate whatever I put in.
As previously stated, the A/C broke yesterday. I have a computer which measures the temp and automatically shuts off the lights once it reaches 83.5. Even after this point, the temps continued to rise before I got home, reaching a high of 84.7 degrees.
I brought the temperature down overnight, and when the lights came on this morning, I found the Angel to look slightly pale between his stripes - where it normally was red, it was more of an orange/yellow. He was also not swimming with nearly as much energy as usual. When I fed them, he ate normally. Then I went out for a few hours.
I came home and found him in the corner of the tank laying on his back (upside down) on the bottom - just breathing but not moving anything else. Not even his fins were moving. After about 5 minutes, the breathing seemed to stop. After a couple more minutes, he began to seize (very rapid twitching of all muscles) [symptom of whatever killed him or normal part of dying?]. He eventually landed in a cave under the most difficult rock to reach inside of the tank, and I believe he is now dead.
Aside from the paleness, I do not see anything else wrong with him. He does not have any spots. His eyes look fine. There is no visible damage. Fins are all 100% in tact.
----
Tank Info
----
The tank itself was started last September. FOWLR. 55 Gallon with about 70 lbs of Live Rock.
I'm about to do new water tests today to verify; most recent was last Thursday (6/19), and the tests were as follows [consistent readings]:
PH: 7.9 [this was measured early in the day, at night it is usually about 8.1]
Ammonia: 0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0.5 ppm
Phosphates: 0.04 ppm
Salinity: 1.023
Temp: 81.4 (right about where I keep it)
Other inhabitants include:
1 Coral Beauty Angel
1 Yellow Tang
1 Azure Damsel
1 Black Percular Clown
1 Red Scooter Dragonet
1 Peppermint, and 1 Cleaner Shrimp
5 Snails
All other inhabitants are doing well. No visible spots or issues. All are swimming as normal, with energy.
The Flame Angel was the last fish to be put in, and all fish get along. There was some initial bullying of the Flame Angel by the Yellow Tang (who dominates the tank). The Tang never nipped at him, he'd just use his rear fin to force water pressure at the Angel to scare him away when he got too close. After the first few days they found their own spots in the tank and didn't bother each other.