Is my tank a death trap?

MarcW · Jan 15, 2020

Hi. So, we set up a 40 gallon fowlr tank. Let it stew with the rock and live sand and a couple of snails for a few weeks. Had an algae bloom, and the little white copepods, so thought all was well. Put a few fish in. They all got white spots and died a few days in. Waited another week or 10 days. Put a few fish in. White spots and death. I assume ich, so I leave the tank empty and running for six weeks, which I read would get rid of all the ich. Put a couple of fish in and they seemed great. Week goes by, so I put a couple more in. Everybody was all good for about three weeks, and now they are all dying off in the order I introduced them. I've had a freshwater tank for 7-8 years, so I'm not a complete novice, but this is our first attempt at salt. Throughout all this, test strips have been perfect, including amonia, salinity has been perfect. Using ro water for top off. Do I just have to get rid of everything and start over? Do I have a tank of death? Any input or suggestions would be appreciated. I'm almost ready to give up and make it fresh water, but I really love the saltwater fish...

Billldg · Jan 15, 2020

If in fact you did have have Ick, then I believe you should go 76 days fallow, better to go 3 months.

I wish I was welcoming you to R2R under better circumstances, but stick with it as it is worth it.

mike werner · Jan 15, 2020

Welcome

TheShrimpNibbler · Jan 15, 2020

MarcW said:
Hi. So, we set up a 40 gallon fowlr tank. Let it stew with the rock and live sand and a couple of snails for a few weeks. Had an algae bloom, and the little white copepods, so thought all was well. Put a few fish in. They all got white spots and died a few days in. Waited another week or 10 days. Put a few fish in. White spots and death. I assume ich, so I leave the tank empty and running for six weeks, which I read would get rid of all the ich. Put a couple of fish in and they seemed great. Week goes by, so I put a couple more in. Everybody was all good for about three weeks, and now they are all dying off in the order I introduced them. I've had a freshwater tank for 7-8 years, so I'm not a complete novice, but this is our first attempt at salt. Throughout all this, test strips have been perfect, including amonia, salinity has been perfect. Using ro water for top off. Do I just have to get rid of everything and start over? Do I have a tank of death? Any input or suggestions would be appreciated. I'm almost ready to give up and make it fresh water, but I really love the saltwater fish...

I’m sorry this is happening, but I have some advice. First of all, a fallow period won’t do much good if you don’t quarantine your fish. The parasite came from lfs water, so letting all the parasites die just to add more lfs water isn’t super useful. Because of this, I quarantine all of my fish. I had an experience similar to yours with ich, and it was solved by a quarantine. Test strips are also not very accurate have your lfs test your water for you every now and then or get a more reliable test. How long was the tank set up before adding fish. For future reference, ich can survive fishless for up to 76 days.

vetteguy53081 · Jan 15, 2020

Welcome to the hobby, R2R and the world of chemistry and disease. When purchasing fish. focus on:
- overall image of store
- Health of all fish
- Breathing rate of fish
- unusual skin issues such as ich(salt grains), bacteria, fin rot
- Does the fish eat (always ask to see it eat - don't buy a fish that ignores food)
- sunken belly or eyes (weak fish or starving)
- how fish interacts with other tank mates in store display (if its chasing others- Red Flag)

JasonK84 · Jan 15, 2020

MarcW said:
Hi. So, we set up a 40 gallon fowlr tank. Let it stew with the rock and live sand and a couple of snails for a few weeks. Had an algae bloom, and the little white copepods, so thought all was well. Put a few fish in. They all got white spots and died a few days in. Waited another week or 10 days. Put a few fish in. White spots and death. I assume ich, so I leave the tank empty and running for six weeks, which I read would get rid of all the ich. Put a couple of fish in and they seemed great. Week goes by, so I put a couple more in. Everybody was all good for about three weeks, and now they are all dying off in the order I introduced them. I've had a freshwater tank for 7-8 years, so I'm not a complete novice, but this is our first attempt at salt. Throughout all this, test strips have been perfect, including amonia, salinity has been perfect. Using ro water for top off. Do I just have to get rid of everything and start over? Do I have a tank of death? Any input or suggestions would be appreciated. I'm almost ready to give up and make it fresh water, but I really love the saltwater fish...

It’s time to read up on fish QT. Saltwater aquarium diseases are no joke and my first attempt back in 2010 without QT was going much like your experience. I finally got a few fish that made it and were with me a while. Started back in early 2018 and used QT for everything and my experience has been much better and I’m even able to keep difficult species. I actually just finished QT of a Moorish Idol and am observing and trying it on different foods before it goes to the DT.

MarcW · Jan 15, 2020

TheShrimpNibbler said:
I’m sorry this is happening, but I have some advice. First of all, a fallow period won’t do much good if you don’t quarantine your fish. The parasite came from lfs water, so letting all the parasites die just to add more lfs water isn’t super useful. Because of this, I quarantine all of my fish. I had an experience similar to yours with ich, and it was solved by a quarantine. Test strips are also not very accurate have your lfs test your water for you every now and then or get a more reliable test. How long was the tank set up before adding fish. For future reference, ich can survive fishless for up to 76 days.

It was set up for a couple of weeks, added the snails, let that go for about 3 weeks or so, then had the algae and copepods, so that's when I added the first fish. I guess about 5 weeks before fish. I had the store test after the 2nd round of dead fish, and they said the water was fine, said the only thing they could think of was a bacterial infection. That's when we went the 6 weeks fallow.

Alexreefer · Jan 15, 2020

All responses above will put you in the right direction!

Alexreefer · Jan 15, 2020

MarcW said:
It was set up for a couple of weeks, added the snails, let that go for about 3 weeks or so, then had the algae and copepods, so that's when I added the first fish. I guess about 5 weeks before fish. I had the store test after the 2nd round of dead fish, and they said the water was fine, said the only thing they could think of was a bacterial infection. That's when we went the 6 weeks fallow.

I would quarantine any fish from any supplier. Just way safer this way

MarcW · Jan 15, 2020

JasonK84 said:
It’s time to read up on fish QT. Saltwater aquarium diseases are no joke and my first attempt back in 2010 without QT was going much like your experience. I finally got a few fish that made it and were with me a while. Started back in early 2018 and used QT for everything and my experience has been much better and I’m even able to keep difficult species. I actually just finished QT of a Moorish Idol and am observing and trying it on different foods before it goes to the DT.

Sounds like I have to to get a qt tank set up. Heck I've already put upwards of $600 in this tank and fish. I guess if I want living fish, spend some $ on a qt tank. Thanks!

TheShrimpNibbler · Jan 15, 2020

MarcW said:
It was set up for a couple of weeks, added the snails, let that go for about 3 weeks or so, then had the algae and copepods, so that's when I added the first fish. I guess about 5 weeks before fish. I had the store test after the 2nd round of dead fish, and they said the water was fine, said the only thing they could think of was a bacterial infection. That's when we went the 6 weeks fallow.

Based off of this, it doesn’t sound like ammonia from the initial cycle was the problem. That leaves parasites and diseases. Adding a quarantine tank was probably the single best decision I’ve made since starting my tank, and it sounds like one would benefit you too. Every lfs has parasites, and not quarantine means that they are just waiting in your tank until the fish get stressed.

Squeaky McMurdo · Jan 15, 2020

No joke indeed. I quarantine and still managed to introduce velvet. The only thing it could have come in on was a couple pea sized pieces of rubble some corals were attached to from a fellow hobbiest’s healthy tank.

Peace River · Jan 15, 2020

Welcome to R2R!!! There is a lot of good information above and a lot more throughout the forums.

Mastiffsrule · Jan 15, 2020

Hi Marc

as said, sorry about the troubles. You will find some things translate from fresh to salt. Mostly the tank and there is water

. The rest is a learning curve. In salt we don’t really use test strips.

Your tank is not a death trap, just kind of got out of order in set up. Take a minute read thru QT process and fallow guidelines as mentioned and kinda do a reset of the tank.

and #WelcometoR2R ask lots of questions and you’ll be surfing in no time

Beginners Guide to Acclimation and Quarantine

Beginners Guide to Acclimation and Quarantine Your beautiful new display tank is up and ready for fish. You have come up with your stocking list and you are finally ready to buy your first fish but you aren’t confident on how to proceed. I am going to walk you through a basic acclimation and...

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zalick · Jan 15, 2020

MarcW said:
Sounds like I have to to get a qt tank set up. Heck I've already put upwards of $600 in this tank and fish. I guess if I want living fish, spend some $ on a qt tank. Thanks!

QT setup can be pretty basic. Air stone, heater, HOB filter. Some people use plastic tubs. Others use a 10g tank.

I use a 20g long tank just for added stability, since the cost of the tank is minimal.

MarcW · Jan 15, 2020

zalick said:
QT setup can be pretty basic. Air stone, heater, HOB filter. Some people use plastic tubs. Others use a 10g tank.

I use a 20g long tank just for added stability, since the cost of the tank is minimal.

Thanks! I just told my wife we had to set up qt tank. Not good...lol! "You mean we have to another tank? And spend more money on fish stuff?" She'll get over it...!

The Aquatic Arsenal · Jan 15, 2020

Welcome to R2R!!! I am sure with all the great advice above, you are headed in the right direction

dbl · Jan 15, 2020

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family, where as you can tell, plenty of people to help when needed.

BeejReef · Jan 15, 2020

Welcome

You were unlucky right out of the gate. Usually u get to enjoy your fish for a few months before killing them all by introducing a parasite

If ur lfs has it, tail chasing if no qt.