Sand or Ich??

I lost a clown today.
I didn't know that I had an ammonia spike, which I believe to be from a dead fish who was normally elusive so I didn't think much of it when I didn't see him for a few days.
Anyways this morning the clown woke and was covered, I mean covered in white spots. Yesterday there were none. A couple hours later all the spots were gone and he was swimming fine. An hour or so after that he was dead
I treated the tank for ammonia which seems to be adversely affecting my corals at the moment. Other fish are acting fine.
Is this most likely ich in my tank or just a fish stressed from ammonia with extra slime coating who picked up some sand?
Either way he's dead and I'm trying to diagnose the problem.

30 gal tank, no sump, coralife lunar lights, skimming, extra power head. Lights on 10 hours per day, lunar LED alone for 1 extra.
turbo snails (fine) coral banded and cinnamon shrimp (fine) one remaining fish, watchman goby. 60lbs live rock and soft corals
Levels fine except a 1.0 ammonia spike brought down to .25 with Am guard

 

FYI - I believe Am guard and similar products just detoxify ammonia, but will not lower ammonia if that makes sense. So your level is actually .25 PPM. As mentioned in your other thread, do daily water changes until it is 0. Did you happen to get any pictures of the clown? The symptoms does not sound at all like Ich to me. Most likely stress induced from the ammonia spike.

 

thank you so much. I already did one 20% change after the Am dose. Will do another tomorrow.
And really, I appreciate the help. Losing coral is like one of my kids getting injured
losing fish stinks, but losing corals really hurts!

 

Any other fish have at least 1 spot on then??

 

sounds like stress induced ich. you shouldn't have a ammonia spike of a small fish IMO, if you have an adequate CUC, but it could happen. I'd slow the additions to the tank down a bit and allow it to mature.

Sorry for your losses.

 

also, I'd use Prime instead

 

after using any of such products like amquel prime ammolock etc ur ammonia test kits are useless. they will falsify the readings. u need ammonia badge sold at petco/petsmart for better accurate knowledge of ammonia.

 

Sorry for your loss. That always makes for a sad day. When i have had issues with ammonia, or other issues for that matter, i always go with a water change first. It seems to me to be a quicker and easier way than adding a chemical to the tank. I have heard of several people who have had issues after adding AmGuard to their tank. I don't know if the problems were from the ammonia spike or the AmGuard itself but my preference would to be to do a water change, test again and then decide if i needed to add a chemical. Just my 2c. I try to keep mixed salt water on hand just in case i have an unexpected problem. Let us know how things work out!!

 

Here I am suggesting water changes...but probably is your best for the tank overall.