Help!! Fish may be sick?

[Smwaits]

Ok I'm pretty new to this. My tank has been running for 3 months and my parameters are PH-8.2, nitrate-0, ammonia-0, nitrates-10-20ppm. My firefish developed a smal transparent like spot on middle of his body yesterday and today it's flaking off. Anybody know what it is. I should mention I had 2 clowns die unexpectadly a week and a half after I got them under the same water params I mentioned above. Thanks

[jamescook]

I was surprised that the clowns died before the firefish. No one can tell you exactly what this is (although a picture might help). Sounds like new tank syndrome to me. (I just made that up) If your last fish dies, I'd let it sit fallow for 2 months.

[Smwaits]

He is acting fine and the spot is so transparent I can't get it to show up in a pic. It's almost like a single scale looks to be damaged and is flaking off who knows. If he does happen to die and I'm letting my tank sit fallow what if anything should I be doing during that time. Running lights, adding food, water changes etc.?

[jamescook]

It very well could just be a scratch. They like to squeeze into small spaces.
I'd take a water sample to lfs or friend and get a second opinion. I've had test kits go bad. If nothing is off, there really isn't much you can do.

[Smwaits]

I live in lfs dead zone in Warner robins ga. I never thought about the test kit being bad. It is basically brand new it's an AP or API or something like that that I got from pets smart but to tell you the truth I haven't seen any variations in the color in the test tubes since I started testing except for nitrate.

[rdnelson99]

Originally Posted by Smwaits

I live in lfs dead zone in Warner robins ga. I never thought about the test kit being bad. It is basically brand new it's an AP or API or something like that that I got from pets smart but to tell you the truth I haven't seen any variations in the color in the test tubes since I started testing except for nitrate.

API is not well liked by many. I still use some of them but am not entirely sure. There are several members from that area and I am sure one of them would be happy to help you out. Post a new thread and in the title say "Need Help near Warner Robins" and I know several will jump up to help.

[jamescook]

You really have to shake up those bottles. For me it was Nitrate. kept testing 0ppm even when my tank tested 80ppm elsewhere. It's not often that you'll register ammonia or nitrites except when you first start out.

[LegalReefer]

Originally Posted by Smwaits

He is acting fine and the spot is so transparent I can't get it to show up in a pic. It's almost like a single scale looks to be damaged and is flaking off who knows. If he does happen to die and I'm letting my tank sit fallow what if anything should I be doing during that time. Running lights, adding food, water changes etc.?

I had the same thing happen to my purple fire fish. It finally went away and hes doing great. That was about 8 monts ago. I did nothing to it but let it be.

[Butch]

It might just be a scratch as jamescook stated. If he started acting differently, shoot me a pm and I can give you a hand. There are a few of us here in town that can help you out.