Lost some fish recently need help

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

Hi R2R

I need some expert assistance #reefsquad

I have a 150 g reef tank, set up since last fall. All was going well until the last few weeks. I bought a purple tang at the LFS, and no I did not quarantine. In about 2 weeks, I noticed he had what I thought was ich. I could not catch him to quarantine. He was fairly active and eating for about 10 days. The white spots got heavier. Eventually, he became fairly quiet and hid a lot, but still ate. About a week ago, I found him dead. A few days later I saw similar white spot on my clowns. I could catch them and put them in quarantine, adding Cupramine per exact directions. They both died in quarantine. No obvious signs of disease.
I also have a bonded pair of diamond goby's. I noticed the larger one was a bit less active in the edges of his pectoral fins were a little ragged yet he was still eating. He came out to eat last night as well. This morning i found him dead. I've attached a picture of him because he does appear to have some bruising on one side but I'm wondering if this was after death from a critter. Right now there is a magnificent fox face, the leopard grass and the other goby in the tank along with some corals and inverts. Those fish at the moment look fine.

Parameters are ammonia zero nitrate zero nitrate two . Phosphate zero. Alkalinity 8.2. Calcium 420. Magnesium 1300. I've never had this type of problem before I'm not sure what I'm dealing with . I'm trying polyp lab medic . Can you please give me some opinions or ideas the fish and I are very stressed. Thanks in advance

DSC reef · Feb 21, 2018

Let's bring in some other experts. @Humblefish @eatbreakfast sorry for your losses.

Diesel · Feb 21, 2018

If possible remove all fish from DT even they look good.
Monitor with CP in QT.
Leave DT fallow for at least 76 days but I will do a week extra as I noticed that the 76 days aren't in some cases enough any more.
Good luck!

saltyhog · Feb 21, 2018

That looks like uronemia on the goby. Did the tang or clowns have any lesions like that? This may be a combination of more than one disease. Maybe velvet and uronemia? Let's see what @Humblefish and the other disease experts say.

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

saltyhog said:
That looks like uronemia on the goby. Did the tang or clowns have any lesions like that? This may be a combination of more than one disease. Maybe velvet and uronemia? Let's see what @Humblefish and the other disease experts say.

I did not see anything at all on any of the other fish. I thoughtt it was post mortem from a crab, but who knows. The fish was only dead for a maximum of 5hours and last night he did not have those lesions.

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

Diesel said:
If possible remove all fish from DT even they look good.
Monitor with CP in QT.
Leave DT fallow for at least 76 days but I will do a week extra as I noticed that the 76 days aren't in some cases enough any more.
Good luck!

The only way i can get them out is to pull out all the rock, etc.. I tried to catch the foxface and he shot straight up in the air a foot above the tank. Scared the crap out of both of us.

Diesel · Feb 21, 2018

andyg1960 said:
I did not see anything at all on any of the other fish. I thoughtt it wasaybeet mortem from a crab, but who knows. The fish was only dead for a maximum of 5hours and last night he did not have those lesions.

It could be a crab or shrimp in your tank on the moment that all doesn't matter anymore.
What matters is that you have for sure Ick maybe Velvet in your tank even you don't see any signs on your fish.
Follow protocol set by Bobby or Meredith in the disease forum if you want your tank to be cured.
If fish make it through QT is just a matter of time.
If they make it through the first week most likely you will be good but still keep them in quarantine for the time you leave your tank fallow.

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

Diesel said:
It could be a crab or shrimp in your tank on the moment that all doesn't matter anymore.
What matters is that you have for sure Ick maybe Velvet in your tank even you don't see any signs on your fish.
Follow protocol set by Bobby or Meredith in the disease forum if you want your tank to be cured.
If fish make it through QT is just a matter of time.
If they make it through the first week most likely you will be good but still keep them in quarantine for the time you leave your tank fallow.

Ok, this is what i plan to do. Thank you.

Diesel · Feb 21, 2018

andyg1960 said:
The only way i can get them out is to pull out all the rock, etc.. I tried to catch the foxface and he shot straight up in the air a foot above the tank. Scared the crap out of both of us.

I know it sucks but if that what it takes to do so I don't see another way.
Maybe you can borrow a fish trap or corner them.
Just be careful with the fox as their stings can be unpleasant for most of the day.

Humblefish · Feb 21, 2018

When you say the "white spots got heavier" on the PT, does that mean they became too numerous to count? Like in the photos below...

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

Humblefish said:
When you say the "white spots got heavier" on the PT, does that mean they became too numerous to count? Like in the photos below...

Yes, like this on the tang, but only a few on the clowns, and i did not see any on the goby, maybe because the fish is mostly a light color.

Humblefish · Feb 21, 2018

andyg1960 said:
Yes, like this on the tang, but only a few on the clowns, and i did not see any on the goby, maybe because the fish is mostly a light color.

You have velvet in your tank: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

The goby that died had either uronema or a secondary infection.

First things first, though. You need to pull all of your fish out of the DT ASAP, and follow this protocol: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/#post-2499437

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

Yes, with all ive been reading on velvet, that must be it. I'm not sure how to get them out without dismantling the whole tank but I guess that's what I have to do

Humblefish · Feb 21, 2018

DIY fish trap:

andyg1960 · Feb 21, 2018

Thank you #humblefish for all the info. I will do my best to get the remaing fish out asap. During the fallow period, do I need to ghost feed tank so I don't lose the bacteria/ start a cycle? There is a fair amount of coral in there as well as snails.

Big G · Feb 21, 2018

Yep, life goes on as usual in your DT during the fallow period. Might be a good time to add some corals or CUC, but remember the 76 day clock starts when the last "wet" thing goes out or into the tank.