Feeling nervous....

Kamull · Jan 3, 2015

Hi all!

I have always loved aquariums but this is my very first one. I bought this tank from my SIL who lost interest in it. He helped me set it up and get started. I love it and love all my critters and I'm trying to learn and adjust to be a responsible caretaker.

Now to my problem....I lost a fish last week. A new addition only in my tank for 3 days. Yesterday my coral beauty started acting strange- not eating, hiding in the rocks. It does have the slight appearance of a dusty look on it's side above an eye but no open lesions or wounds. It still seems to be swimming fine when it does come out from hiding.

My setup was established for about 6 years prior to me buying it. It's a 55 gal tank with two Marineland Penquin 300 filters, Eshopps HOB protein skimmer, two wave makers, 40 lbs of live sand (this was new sand, SIL had discarded his) and about 60 lbs of live rock. Tank looks good, growing some coralline algae and all other livestock seem happy. Temp is steady at 76 degrees. Salinity is 1.025. Ph is 8.4. Ammonia, nitrates and nitrates are 0. I'm using API test kits and a refractometer to monitor water parameters.

My live stock consists of a CUC of various snails and 5 hermit crabs, two Mexican turbo snails that are pretty good sized, a black spiny sea urchin, one scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp, a yellowfin fairy wrasse, one ocellaris clownfish, a barnacle blenny, a scooter blenny and my beloved coral beauty angelfish.

I don't know if I'm dealing with a parasite or if my coral beauty is being totally stressed out by the cleaner shrimp. The shrimp was a new addition on 12/26 along with the fish that died within 3 days.

I'll tell you one thing....I think I've learned my lesson regarding quarantine tanks and I'm planning to go out and look for a small tank setup today. No more adding new fish without quarantine.

Any thoughts from the voices of experience out there?? Am I doing something wrong? Should I get a UV sterilizer? And would you recommend moving the coral beauty into a quarantine tank for awhile? Or should I move the shrimp out and see if the CB behavior changes? Should I use any medications in my quarantine tank?

Thanks a million for any guidance. I am determined to learn how to be a successful reef keeper. I'm already bugging my hubby wanting a bigger tank but I will take my time to learn more about proper husbandry and what equipment to get the next time around.....

143MPCo · Jan 3, 2015

Not that you're doing anything wrong, but have you taken a water sample to a local fish store, one that you trust, to insure the reading are correct?

Kamull · Jan 3, 2015

Yes, each time I visit the LFS I have taken in a sample and its tested as at home. I even took in a sample of the water I was planned to use for water changes and top offs and had it tested too.

Robink · Jan 3, 2015

I don't think it would be the cleaner shrimp... I would guess some kind of parasite.

Yami Balayo · Jan 3, 2015

Hi Kamull, kindly post a picture of the coral beauty angel so we can better appreciate its appearance

i'm afraid it's some parasite or infection brought by the dead fish ... and by the way, what was the last fish you added, the one that died?

Kamull · Jan 3, 2015

The fish that died was a small yellow tang. Symptoms and behavior were the same. Seemed fine, swimming around and eating, then suddenly started hiding in the rocks, etc. I removed his body quickly. He died sometime after 11:30 PM. I took him out at 5:30 am. He had a similar "dusty" looking appearance to the sides of the head. I fear it may be HLLE or marine velvet but I'm not experienced enough to know with certainty.
I'm out looking for a QT. I'll try to get a photo and see if I can upload it when I return home. The CBA is still swimming with strength when it comes out of hiding but it will not eat. It comes out as if its hungry but won't take anything.

143MPCo · Jan 3, 2015

Are any other fish showing the same signs as the small yellow tang?
Can you post pictures of the inhabitants so we can look them over?

Kamull · Jan 3, 2015

No. Only the CBA. all other inhabitants behaving normally and eating normally.

I've set up a QT but haven't figured out how to catch my fish. It's still hiding and not eating but swims normally otherwise. The cleaner shrimp doesn't seem to be chasing her down the way he did the tang before it died.

I've taken some photos of my tank. Trying to learn how to upload them....

143MPCo · Jan 3, 2015

See below on how to upload...

Kamull · Jan 4, 2015

The coral beauty was relocated to a QT this afternoon. I dosed the QT with an organic solution by Aqua Herbals that claims to treat iChat, fungus, protozoans and dinoflagellates.

I also have a call into the LFS to inquire about exchanging my cleaner shrimp for a smaller one. The one I have molted on 1/1 and he's pretty good sized compared to my fish. One of my hubby's coworkers was formerly employed at a San Diego Aquarium and I asked his advice yesterday. His take is , although not common, a scarlet skunk shrimp can become predatory if it's size is closely matched to the fish. He suggested returning it for a smaller one.

I'll keep you updated on my sweet CBA. I hope she begins eating again.

And I'm working on learning the photo upload. I'm not too computer savvy and i no longer have one. Just my iphone and a very old ipad that should be upgraded. My photos are all on my iPhone.

Thank you all VERY much. I so appreciate your time and input!

Cheers! Kari

fishroomlady · Jan 4, 2015

Kari, most times organic solutions are not real effective. I don't know about the other things you listed but dinos are a type of nuisance algae. I'd wait for others to chime in on what medication to use for your QT. I'm pretty sure what you did use won't cause any harm.

Kamull · Jan 4, 2015

We have a smaller pet store close to my home that carries various API med packets. Most of them seem to be broad spectrum.

And I'm ordering a UV sterilizer for my display tank.