Fish Died???

[Jess18]

So just a quick update on my tank, I have now lost all fish within the past 2 weeks.

I started the tank 4 months ago with 2 clownfish and then added a tri color angel who lasted just a few weeks.

I also added the following fish in this order:

Blue Hippo Tang
Royal Gramma
Sand Sifting Goby
Firefish
4 Blue Green Chromis

Like I mentioned above they all died, I'm not sure what went so wrong, I check the water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph regularly and everything seems fine. I checked again today and it looks fine.

I was doing 25% weekly water changes and the only thing I can think of that changed in the past few weeks was the addition of fake corals. Everything was going well and all the fish started to die after the addition of the fake corals.

also I noticed the blue tang had white spots all over its body just before it died last week.

The 2 clownfish were last to die yesterday and from what I understand they are hardy fish so something is seriously wrong but can't figure it out.

I would appreciate any sort of help/advice you guys can offer.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Parasite would be the best guess if you had a fish with white spots all over it, whether it was ich or velvet is very hard to say without a picture. Is there anything left or have all your fish passed on? If the tank is empty now, I would strongly suggest going fishless for 76 days to let whatever was in there die out. After that be sure to quarantine all fish before having them enter the display tank. It really helps with the headache and heartache down the road. If you'd like to learn more on quarantine I'd read this thread over: The guide to quarantine and acclimation and also @Humblefish post on quarantine
also the do's and don'ts of quarantine
and last but not least, the pros and cons of quarantine
Sorry for your losses

 

[saintsreturn]

Sorry to hear about the loss, that is always frustrating! White spots on a tang sound like an issue with ich. could be, but pictures make it easier to tell. Also, the tank is fairly new. The goby probably didnt have established sand for him and the bio load could have been to high during your introduction. Unfortunately, water parameters at "fine" do not help identify much. Can you post your results so the folks here can try to figure it out?

also, what size tank? Chromis are not hardy (at least for me) and hippo's (for me) have been very finicky. the rapid introduction to a new system most likely stressed them out, allowing Ich and/or something else take over.

Crabs sited some great reading material.

Good luck!

 

[Katrina71]

Sorry for the losses. Don't give up!

 

[Jesterrace]

What size is your tank? I also agree that it was a parasite issue. Blue Tang and Chromis are parasite magnets.

 

[Jess18]

The tank is 240l or approx 63 gallons.

I did google white spots on tang when I seen them on there and read about ich but just wasn't sure as he seemed fine and was eating and moving about as he usually would.

Did not see white spots on any other fish.

So can ye clarify if going fishless for 76 days will kill the parasites or can this be done with chemicals??

I don't have a quarantine tank so after 76 days I would be worried about introducing new fish that may have the parasite again, this is a complete nightmare and I think I'm just about done with the entire thing!

 

[Jess18]

Okay so after doing some research it looks like copper cupramine is an effective treatment for ich, right??

I don't have a quarantine tank but do I really need one since the main tank is just fish and live rock anyway?

So... can I use the copper treatment in my aquarium since the main tank is just fish and live rock?

I won't be adding live corals ever as I am going with fake, I know some people don't like fake corals but they work for me.

 

[Bxr126]

Very sad.

 

[Jess18]

Okay after further research it looks like I will be leaving my tank empty for the next few months and setting up a quarantine tank.

Looks to be the only way forward.

So, how do I maintain the tank over the next few months??

Do I continue with water changes, will the tank need to be cycled again??

Any advice is appreciated

 

[Jess18]

I went ahead and purchased a 64l quarantine tank.. be great to get some input from someone?

 

[Jess18]

Been reading up, does anyone know where I can get prazipro or equivalent in Ireland???

*** HELP PLEASE ***

 

[Jess18]

This place is a like a ghost town??

Well thanks for the help people..

 

[GBRsouth]

This place is a like a ghost town??

Well thanks for the help people..

@Jess18 please be patient with us all as we don't all live in your timezone and maybe sleeping, working etc. But we will respond in time.

Do not use copper based medications in your display as they will also harm other inverts, not just corals.

The 76 days fishless for your display is to starve out the parasites which will then die without a food source.

I am in Australia so I am not familiar with what medications are available to you. Prazipro's active ingredient is praziquantel which is also in API General cure.

All the best.

Mick.

 

[Jess18]

@Jess18 please be patient with us all as we don't all live in your timezone and maybe sleeping, working etc. But we will respond in time.

Do not use copper based medications in your display as they will also harm other inverts, not just corals.

The 76 days fishless for your display is to starve out the parasites which will then die without a food source.

I am in Australia so I am not familiar with what medications are available to you. Prazipro's active ingredient is praziquantel which is also in API General cure.

All the best.

Mick.

Thanks Mick

Was beginning to think I did something wrong

Anyway, you mentioned not to dose copper in my display tank, well I'm not going to as I just purchased a QT tank but just to make the point my DT does not have inverts or corals, it now has no fish and some rock with fake corals in there and that is it.

I've read even after 76 days it's possible that all the parasites may not have died in the DT? That would be a nightmare, is there any other way to guarantee that all the parasites die, don't mind stripping down the entire tank at this point, could I bleach it??

Will look up API General cure, thanks for that.

also, I don't have a sump but use a canister filter instead, don't ask why, it just ended up that way, here's a pic of the filter, is there anything I do, maybe change sponges or something to improve it??

 

[Jess18]

 

[lapin]

Praziquantel or Prazipro will not cure Ich. It is a de-wormer for internal parasites.
Copper cupramine is an effective treatment for ich, right?? Yes. However it must be done in a QT tank with strick dosage requirements. Too high you kill the fish. Too low and it will not be effective. It is hard on fish and can kill certain types. Deadly to inverts.
Stress is a big factor in the spread of Ich. Fish can fight it off under the right conditions. I find the TTM works best as a cure and preventative method. It is less stressful on fish. This will break the cycle of Ich. When doing this feed live foods if you can. If its real bad a fresh water dip can help reduce some of the attached parasites.
http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/Cryptocaryon

 

[GBRsouth]

I think it's highly unlikely ich or velvet would outlast the 76 days without something else coming into the tank, introducing them.

I think draining the tank and using ammonia is an option in your case as all you would lose is bacteria. However, by the time you would cycle it again it probably wouldn't save time.

If you do go that route with ammonia, rinse the tank thoroughly with rodi water afterwards.

Also, to clarify with prazipro and general cure. They treat flukes and worms, not velvet or ich.

 

[lapin]

Okay after further research it looks like I will be leaving my tank empty for the next few months and setting up a quarantine tank.

Looks to be the only way forward.

So, how do I maintain the tank over the next few months?? Just keep doing what you were doing just dont feed it very much.

Do I continue with water changes, will the tank need to be cycled again?? Do a few water changes over the next 76 days. No the tank will be fine and full of bacteria as long as you ghost feed it a little.

Any advice is appreciated

Your filter is fine. With a canister filter on a saltwater tank you will need to keep it clean. Detritus will build up and cause issues if you dont.

 

[Jess18]

Praziquantel or Prazipro will not cure Ich. It is a de-wormer for internal parasites.
Copper cupramine is an effective treatment for ich, right?? Yes. However it must be done in a QT tank with strick dosage requirements. Too high you kill the fish. Too low and it will not be effective. It is hard on fish and can kill certain types. Deadly to inverts.
Stress is a big factor in the spread of Ich. Fish can fight it off under the right conditions. I find the TTM works best as a cure and preventative method. It is less stressful on fish. This will break the cycle of Ich. When doing this feed live foods if you can. If its real bad a fresh water dip can help reduce some of the attached parasites.
http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/Cryptocaryon

Yes I am aware the Prazipro will not cure ich but I've been reading on correct Quarantine methods that Crabs posted above and on one of the posts the guy mentioned he doses all new fish with Prazipro first then Cupramine.. I have a QT ready to go, just trying to get things straight before I do anything. It's a pretty steep learning curve..

 

[Jess18]

Your filter is fine. With a canister filter on a saltwater tank you will need to keep it clean. Detritus will build up and cause issues if you dont.

That's good to know, yeah I try and stay on top if it as much as possible, thanks!