Four fish died and fifth not looking so good

[Michaelriccs]

sonrecently I had solved a temperament problem in my tank by bringing what I think was the most gorgeous six line wrasse I've ever seen back to my store in exchange for something less tempurmental. It was such a good looking fish somebody had bought him within minutes of me walking in. Any way that pet of the story just adds insult to injury or could just be a coninsidence. I exchanged him for a yellow wrasse. Went home put him in the tank and everything was well. My tank was completely different all the fish were out and swimming. No more bullies. Anyway a week goes by and my hippo and kole tang have white spots. Clowns and dotty back looked fine. Did what I could to try and save them with out getting a qt ( not possible at this time). Cleaner shrimp were all over the hippo and thought I was going to luck out. Nope not at all woke up my kole tang and dotty back were dead. Next day hippo was dead and today one of my clowns is dead. The other doesn't look so great. Now it looks as if it almost a haze on her and not like flakes of salt. Not sure what it is but doesn't look promising can't really get a good picture. Ironic part is I believe I introduced this parasite with the new wrasse but from what I was told this wrasse won't or can't get ich because the they sleep in sand? Any way point of my story is what do i need to do with the tank before i restock. Thanks for any help.

 

[GHsaltie]

Does it look like fine sugar sprinkled on the fish or a film? Given the timeline of how fast things progressed it sounds like you are dealing with velvet, https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/ If you scroll down you will see the emergency treatment protocol for velvet.
The only way you will be able to save your remaining fish is to remove and treat in QT with copper for 30 days. In order for your tank to be safe for fish again you will need to run it fallow for 76 days. Six weeks is standard for velvet but it's safer to go 76 days in case ich is at play also. As for the wrasse, unfortunately your LFS did not inform you correctly. They have a thick slime coat compared to most fish, so that can help them fend off parasites. Typically though what happens is they are carriers but they are not showing obvious signs like the other fish because of their slime coat. They also can develop temporary immunity easier than other species however it typically doesn't last more than 6 months.

 

[GHsaltie]

Correction, you will want to use a chelated copper such as Coppersafe and the corresponding test kit (API) since wrasses are sensitive to CP and ionic copper like cupramine.

@Humblefish @melypr1985 @ngoodermuth

 

[melypr1985]

Now it looks as if it almost a haze on her and not like flakes of salt.

A haze? Before the haze, with the tangs and dottyback.... what did the spots look like? Tiny and covering the fish? Or a little larger and spaced out with just a few spots on them? Heavy breathing? Hiding from the light? Swimming into the flow of a powerhead or return line?

I was told this wrasse won't or can't get ich because the they sleep in sand?

Absolutely not true. They can and do get ich and can be killed by it just like any other fish. These guys are well protected and are often one of the last to succumb because of their slime coat.

what do i need to do with the tank before i restock.

You need to remove the remaining fish and QT with copper for 30 days. Leave the display fallow for 76 days to make a "clean start" for the fish when they return and any new fish you get. I highly suggest using the QT for any new additions after this as well.

 

[Michaelriccs]

Spots were smaller on the kole tang larger on the hippo. Didn't notice heavy breathing until the last day of the hippos life never saw anything on the dotty back. Spots were all over

 

[melypr1985]

It could possibly have been velvet unfortunately. The good news is that the treatment is the same regardless. Copper for 30 days, fallow for 76. If the last fish is really bad, a freshwater dip to flush out the gills will help give him some time for treatment to help. An acriflavin dip (can be found in ruby reef rally) will help ward off infection which is very common with velvet.

 

[ngoodermuth]

It sounds very much like velvet to me. Here is a good read on the subject:
Velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum)

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Velvet-(Amyloodinium-ocellatum).217570/

I'm very sorry for your losses :/

 

[Michaelriccs]

It could possibly have been velvet unfortunately. The good news is that the treatment is the same regardless. Copper for 30 days, fallow for 76. If the last fish is really bad, a freshwater dip to flush out the gills will help give him some time for treatment to help. An acriflavin dip (can be found in ruby reef rally) will help ward off infection which is very common with velvet.

Thank you very much I was being ignorant not qt my fish and I learned my lesson

 

[Michaelriccs]

It sounds very much like velvet to me. Here is a good read on the subject:
Velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum)

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Velvet-(Amyloodinium-ocellatum).217570/

I'm very sorry for your losses :/

Thank you very much

 

[LuckyPhil]

I think we have all learnt from our mistakes of not QTing at some point.

You should check out @Jeffdstafford thread where he had to QT 50 fish!