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Help - Clown and Cardinalfish Fins Question (1 Viewer)

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CKramer

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Howdy! We have a 150-gallon reef tank with an Apex Fusion system. On Friday, we noticed a green Chromis (1 of 4 green chromis + 2 black and white chromis) was looking beat up and breathing hard. We took him out and put him into a quarantine tank, where he continued to deteriorate rapidly and then died by Sunday. A similar situation happened about three months ago, but we chalked it up to the other chromis bullying.

Since the latest fish went down, we have been keeping an extra close eye on all other fish, and now we are worried there is something wrong with the fins on our two pajama cardinals and two clowns, but we're new to this hobby, so not sure. There seems to be a very light, almost translucent edge on their fins, but again, we aren't sure if this has always been there and are just now noticing. Otherwise, everyone is acting perfectly normal.

I have attached some photos and a couple of short videos for those interested:

Clowns video

Cardinalfish video

Cardinalfish Photo.jpg Clown Photos.jpg






Thank y'all!
 

foos

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Outer edge of fin being translucent like on your clowns tail is normal. None of the fish look in bad shape in what I can see. Cardinal video not processed yet.

I see you have a purple tang, they can be very mean but as far as I know usually don't bug small fish.

If you sit in front of your tank all the time, like it is in your office or livingroom and the fish are used to you always being there, they will fight in front of you. Otherwise if you walk up they are likely to be more interested in you being around and not fight. Cheap webcam on the tank might help you find aggression.

I had blue/green chromis and did not lose any for years, but I had 7 all from same batch, so they were familiar with each other and aggression was spread out. I also had other fish they were afraid of so while they did fight, it was limited. 4 green and 2 black and white, I would be surprised if you put a camera and did not find that they were fighting each other.

That is a black clown, right? If they have not paired and one gone female, keep a very close eye on them. They will do some light fighting to figure out who is dominate, and that one will go female, and if she accepts the other one, you are fine. If she does not accept, it should be obvious it has gone from fighting to downright attempted murder and you will have limited time to rehome the male.
 

foos

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Also, what is your stocking overall, fish and inverts? The image of the Cardinal fish, is that an overflow/return of some sort in the back? Can you get a close up of it? Looks like you might have bubble algae. I've had it for years and you can live with it if you have an emerald crab or two keeping it under control, and you pull out any clumps. Judging from the wall of the tank in the video, I would recommend adding like two mexican turbo snails and a checkerboard nerite. I ran a 210 gallon for years and I am starting it back up. People will tell you that you need a lot more snails than you really do.
 
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CKramer

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Also, what is your stocking overall, fish and inverts? The image of the Cardinal fish, is that an overflow/return of some sort in the back? Can you get a close up of it? Looks like you might have bubble algae. I've had it for years and you can live with it if you have an emerald crab or two keeping it under control, and you pull out any clumps. Judging from the wall of the tank in the video, I would recommend adding like two mexican turbo snails and a checkerboard nerite. I ran a 210 gallon for years and I am starting it back up. People will tell you that you need a lot more snails than you really do.

Thank you! That's one of several intakes that you see on the back wall of the tank. I don't think it's bubble algae, but you're right about needing some more snails! I attached a couple more photos, it's hard to get a good picture of the intake thing, but it has some hard spiky growth on it, (not really sure what it is, still pretty new to the game!).

Here is the main makeup of the tank:
-3 Green Chromis (started with 5 in when we moved into the house in July)
-2 Black & White Chromis
-2 Clowns (1 is black)
-2 Pajama Cardinals
-1 (large) Purple Tang
-1 Lawnmower Blenny
-1 Filefish
-1 (large) Coral Banded Shrimp

-7 (at least) Urchins
-3 Brittle Stars
-an assortment of blue leg and halloween crabs
-2 large snails, not sure what kind

Corals:
Green Polyp Umbrella Leather
Birdsnest
Bubble
Zoanthids
Red Candy Cap Montipora (so much, anyone want some?)
Green Star Polyps
Button Polyp
Lots of Torches
Bubble Tip Torches
 

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