Loosing fish???

[Sharkbait whohaha]

I have had my 90gallon corner tank with a bow front set up for 6 months now and when I get a new fish, it lasts for a month or so and just dies. I only have 1 fish in my tank and that is a sailfin tang and he seams to be doing ok but I lost a panther grouper, a juvenile emperor angel, an undulated trigger, a tomato clown, a flame angel, and a powder blue tang. All of them were eating good even up to the night before they died. I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary and have been doing this for 20+ years. I am looking for any ideas for what I may possibly be doing wrong. Thanks in advance.

 

[helen ann]

Awwwww sorry about your fish!
Let me get you some help #reefsquad!

While you wait, let me say Hello and ...

 

[cameronh]

@melypr1985, @Humblefish

How long do the fish usually last? Have you noticed they're colors fadin? Especially the emporer angel?

 

[melypr1985]

I'd like to know if you QT any of these fish? Did they display any behavioral symptoms such as: scratcing, flashing, heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead, lack of appetite? Any red patches, loss of scales, stringy white poo? Would you be able to do a fresh water dip on the sailfin tang?

 

[cameronh]

I'd like to know if you QT any of these fish? Did they display any behavioral symptoms such as: scratcing, flashing, heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead, lack of appetite? Any red patches, loss of scales, stringy white poo? Would you be able to do a fresh water dip on the sailfin tang?

Now why didn't I ask about qt? Dumb me

 

[Sharkbait whohaha]

The powder blue tang and the emperor angel faded in color about 2 days before dying, but where eating good till the end. Most all the fish have lasted about a month. And for the sailfin tang, why do a fresh water dip if he appears to be healthy?

 

[melypr1985]

And for the sailfin tang, why do a fresh water dip if he appears to be healthy?

It's a diagnostic tool. It will confirm or rule out flukes. If your other fish had it, then he has it. So you do the Freshwater dip and confirm or rule that out first since it's the easiest thing to do. You said they all lasted about a month, so I'm thinking velvet is out. Here's how to do the dip
Freshwater Dip: Provides temporary relief for Brooklynella, Flukes & "Black Ich", Marine Velvet disease (Amyloodinium); possibly even Ich & Uronema marinum (both unproven). Can be used to confirm the presence of Flukes.

How To Treat - Fill a bucket with RODI water, and use a heater to match the temperature to the water the fish is coming from. Aerate the water heavily for at least 30 minutes prior to doing the dip, then discontinue aeration while performing the dip. Fish aren’t overly pH sensitive for short durations like this, but you can squirt a little tank water into the dip just before the fish goes in to help bring it up.

Place the fish in the freshwater (FW) dip and observe closely. It is not unusual for them to freak out a little at first. Also, tangs are notorious for “playing dead” during a FW dip. The important thing is to watch their gills; they should be breathing heavily at all times during the dip. If breathing slows, it’s time to exit the dip. Dip the fish for no longer than 5 minutes. Multiple dips may be done, but it’s important to give your fish a day to recuperate in-between dips.

For flukes, use a dark (preferably black) bucket so you can see if tiny white worms fall out of the fish (especially out of the gills) at around the 3-4 minute mark. The worms will settle to the bottom, so you can use a flashlight to look for them there as well.

Pros - Provides temporary relief for a wide range of diseases in a chemical free environment. Can “buy you more time” until a proper treatment can be done.

Cons/Side Effects - Not a permanent “fix” for any disease, as FW dips are not potent enough to eradicate all of the parasites/worms afflicting the fish. Some fish can have an adverse reaction to a FW dip by appearing unable to maintain their equilibrium once returned to the aquarium. If this happens, hold the fish upright (using latex, nitrile or rubber gloves), and gently glide him through the water (to get saltwater flowing through the gills again). It is also a good idea to place the fish in an acclimation box until he appears “normal”.

 

[melypr1985]

Could you answer the rest of my questions? I'd like to help you figure this out but I need info to do that. Thanks!
I'd like to know if you QT any of these fish? Did they display any behavioral symptoms such as: scratcing, flashing, heavy breathing, swimming into the flow of a powerhead? Any red patches, loss of scales, stringy white poo?

 

[Sharkbait whohaha]

Thanks. I will try anything if it will save my last fish. I also have a 200 gallon reef tank and everything in that tank is doing great. That is why this is so troubling.

 

[Sharkbait whohaha]

I did not QT any of these fish because I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with them. The powder blue tang looked lighter in color and an hour later he looked just fine same with the emperor angel. I fed them before bed and they ate like pigs and the next morning dead.

 

[cameronh]

I did not QT any of these fish because I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with them. The powder blue tang looked lighter in color and an hour later he looked just fine same with the emperor angel. I fed them before bed and they ate like pigs and the next morning dead.

FW dip the sailfin, see what drops off of it. then into qt. QT all your fish no matter what my friend. Always.

 

[Sabellafella]

I did not QT any of these fish because I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with them. The powder blue tang looked lighter in color and an hour later he looked just fine same with the emperor angel. I fed them before bed and they ate like pigs and the next morning dead.

Welcome! Sorry to hear, lets get some photos of tank, and if you still have the fish, them also. The issue here is they died overnight correct? No spots, no twitching, not looking odd regardless if you qtd or not. Alot of them died... could be ammonia, could be a lack of oxygen, could be velvet, they both couldve duked it out and killed eachother in lights out. Could be a BAD strain of bacteria. Anyways lets get a pic of the tank!

 

[4FordFamily]

The powder blue tang and the emperor angel faded in color about 2 days before dying, but where eating good till the end. Most all the fish have lasted about a month. And for the sailfin tang, why do a fresh water dip if he appears to be healthy?

Pale prior to dying indicates to me disease, most likely velvet from not quarantining. Zebraskma (like your sailfin) can occasionally build strong resistances to velvet and Ich.

 

[4FordFamily]

I did not QT any of these fish because I didn't see anything out of the ordinary with them. The powder blue tang looked lighter in color and an hour later he looked just fine same with the emperor angel. I fed them before bed and they ate like pigs and the next morning dead.

Unfortunately it's what you can't see at the Lfs that gets you. They often keep enough copper in the water to keep symptoms away but not kill the parasite.

 

[MCooper]

Sorry for your loss! This has happened to a few fish of mine in QT. I just had a yellow eye kole tang that was great in the store. Got him a few days ago in my qt and never ate and just died.
Test your water, Q T every fish no matter what and patience.
Best luck with fixing this and all your future fish.
QT is difficult. People at the LFS tell you it's a waste of time, friends think they know and say it is a waste of time, yet it is best thing to do for sure. I barely lost fish in my old tanks and never QT, now I have fish die in QT. I was doubting my QT skills and usefulness, but I know in the long run it is best.