So now some back story. For the most part, the coral in the tank has been thriving other than a brief period early on when there was not enough fish in the tank, and the nutrients crashed a bit. I lost 2 small sticks of SPS to RTN, and many others paled out significantly. Once I got the nutrients squared away, and the chaeto in the sump started picking up, so did the coral. I still find I need to dose Nitrates from time-to-time (about every other week) to keep it from dropping too low. The last few months have witnessed strong growth and great coloration. Even the clam is growing rapidly, and my alk consumption has risen to match.
The fish have been another story completely. All was going well, I was patient and moved over the fish from the existing tank slowly. Then I got a bit greedy and impatient and added some new inhabitants from a LFS. One addition was a a pair of blue throat triggers. This is where I made a fatal mistake. I will point out that up to this point in my reefing experience, I have always bought fish locally and placed them directly into my DT. Many will call me lucky, but I have not experienced any losses from this approach. I have lost fish to carpet surfing and starvation when I didn't do research (bought a mandarin for the 38 before I had a fuge and thriving pod population), but I have not lost fish to disease. Mainly I attribute this to the fact that I make it a point to observe the fish I want to buy multiple times in the LFS to be sure they are healthy and eating before I bring them home. I did not do this with the blue throat triggers. The LFS had to order them for me, since they don't regularly buy them, and I really wanted a pair. Because of this, I had to take them when they came in, shortly after acclimation to the LFS tank. The fish ate well in my tank, but were very stressed by the tangs, and ultimately developed what I believe was velvet. It wiped out nearly the entire tank. Only 3 fish survived, a melanarus wrasse, one blue-green chromis (of 5), and the hippo tang (go figure).
This led to some changes. I did not remove the remaining fish to a hospital tank and let the tank go fallow as many would suggest. I didn't do this for a several reasons. One, catching the remaining fish in the DT would have been extremely difficult, and would have added even more stress. Two, these fish had demonstrated that it is possible to develop enough immunity to survive, and I had always had some ich present in both tanks that had been manageable. Third, I added an appropriately sized UV filter (Pentair 25W) plumbed via a separate DC controllable return pump in the sump with an Apex flow meter to ensure the proper flow rate through it.
I did try the QT method when I started restocking, even prophylacticly treating prior to introduction to the DT. This had mixed results. I lost some fish in QT, and I lost others when they were introduced to the DT that clearly still had parasites in it due to their compromised immune system from the copper treatments in QT. So now I'm doing a hybrid approach that works for me. I buy fish locally or from a trusted on-line source (I've had great luck with DD). I place them in a natural QT (the old 38g) with live rock, sand and a fuge. I observe for several weeks and make sure they are healthy and eating well. I then introduce them to the DT, no more than 1 fish every 2 weeks. Nearly every addition briefly exhibits signs of ich after a couple days, but as long as stress is in check, and they are eating well, they pretty quickly recover (3-4 days typically). This is working for me now. I'm nearly re-stocked. I like this more natural approach. The fish in medicated QT never seemed happy or thriving to me. I know it's not the recommended approach, and I realize it's not for everyone, particularly a beginner with little knowledge. All I know is it 's working, and it can't all be luck.
