Need some advise

[vder]

Tank has been up and running since March of this year. Over the first three months I place a total of 6 fish into the tank. Two weeks goes by and I lost a total three out of the six fish. All readings on the tank were fine no spikes of any kind. There were no outstanding markings on the fish themselves that would lead to a definitive indication on why they passed.


One month later added two more fish to the three survivors and in about a two-week period the two new fish passed also. In talking with the live fish store they indicated he stress of a new tank lead to the two new fishes passing away.


About 1 month ago I added 2 more fishes to the original three that survived. All was good for 3 weeks and then one of the new additions died and the following day the second one died. All looked good and ate well leaving me with the three survivors. All corals in the tank are coloring up and are performing well.


Any ideas on what it could be? I have never experienced this before sort of weird to me.

 

[Oscar47f]

How big is the tank and what types of fish are these that you have and the ones that you added? sounds like one of your fish hate new tank mates?

 

[Empress]

Did you quarantine before putting them in your DT?

 

[vder]

How big is the tank and what types of fish are these that you have and the ones that you added? sounds like one of your fish hate new tank mates?

The tank is 135 gallons with a 40-gallon sump. The three remaining fish are a yellow tang, wrasse, and on green chromis. I added two green chromis (dead now) and a hippo tang (dead now). Last addition was two green chromis’s and a flame which are also dead.

Did you quarantine before putting them in your DT?

No I did not quarantine them

 

[Empress]

Find out what's killings your fish before adding any more. I would QT the ones you still have. Let the tank sit Fallow for 76 days.

 

[CMD2213]

What are your water parameters?
Do you acclimate the fish,if so what's your procedure?

 

[Oscar47f]

I don't think you have to leave your tank fallow for 76 days just yet lets narrow it down first... Hippo tangs are especially susceptible to ick are you sure you saw no signs of disease? And i had that problem when adding chromis too sometimes unfortunately they just die, they do need a lot of food in terms of feeding then small quantities several times a day because they are so active, tangs as well although if you leave nori in the tank they'll graze on it all day for now quarantine any new arrivals for at least a month or more.. What exactly are your parameters?

 

[vder]

What are your water parameters?
Do you acclimate the fish,if so what's your procedure?

My readings are as follows;

Salt 1.025

Temp 79

Cal 430

Mag 1450

Phos .04

PH 8.0

Amonia 0.0

Nitrate 0.1

Nitrite 0.0

I typically float the bags for fifteen minutes the transfer to a pail. Over an hour and thirty minutes slowly drip water from the aquarium into the pail. After that period of time will then transfer the fish over to the tank.

I don't think you have to leave your tank fallow for 76 days just yet lets narrow it down first... Hippo tangs are especially susceptible to ick are you sure you saw no signs of disease? And i had that problem when adding chromis too sometimes unfortunately they just die, they do need a lot of food in terms of feeding then small quantities several times a day because they are so active, tangs as well although if you leave nori in the tank they'll graze on it all day for now quarantine any new arrivals for at least a month or more.. What exactly are your parameters?

I was away when the first set of fish died. My wife made mention to me that it looked like ick but smaller. She also mentioned one of the fish had like a coating on them.

 

[Oscar47f]

Theres your culprit some sort of disease looks like it definitely killed your blue tang.. not sure about the others though, do any of theme parameters fluctuate like temperature??

 

[vder]

Theres your culprit some sort of disease looks like it definitely killed your blue tang.. not sure about the others though, do any of theme parameters fluctuate like temperature??

Temp will move up and down by 1.5 degrees. the odd thing is anything added at least to date will die. The original three that survived the first time are not affected. I am currently leaning towards Velvet but not sure.

 

[Empress]

If one fish has ich/velvet then they may all have it. Put them in QT and go fallow 76 days.

 

[melypr1985]

I was away when the first set of fish died. My wife made mention to me that it looked like ick but smaller. She also mentioned one of the fish had like a coating on them.

This sounds like velvet to me too. It's possible that your original 3 fish have built up a temporary immunity to it and that's why they are still alive. I would advise you to take them out, QT with copper for 30 days and leave the tank fallow for 76 days as mentioned above. Don't add or purchase any new fish until these three are clear and back in the display after the fallow period.

 

[Humblefish]

This sounds like velvet to me too. It's possible that your original 3 fish have built up a temporary immunity to it and that's why they are still alive. I would advise you to take them out, QT with copper for 30 days and leave the tank fallow for 76 days as mentioned above. Don't add or purchase any new fish until these three are clear and back in the display after the fallow period.

+1

 

[vder]

I appreciate all the feedback received it was great help.

Stops at several LFS stores and all felt that the use of an UV sterilizer would be enough to eradicate the disease and to keep it from reoccurring again. I am not sold on the after reading thru various threads.

My plan to address this issue moving forward is to setup a second display tank to act as a quarantine tank as needed. Moving forward nothing will make its way into the main tank until it has been quarantined. Looking to setup a Fusion Micro 30L has the secondary display tank.

Any other suggestions in setting up the secondary display/quarantine would be greatly appreciated.

 

[melypr1985]

I appreciate all the feedback received it was great help.

Stops at several LFS stores and all felt that the use of an UV sterilizer would be enough to eradicate the disease and to keep it from reoccurring again. I am not sold on the after reading thru various threads.

My plan to address this issue moving forward is to setup a second display tank to act as a quarantine tank as needed. Moving forward nothing will make its way into the main tank until it has been quarantined. Looking to setup a Fusion Micro 30L has the secondary display tank.

Any other suggestions in setting up the secondary display/quarantine would be greatly appreciated.

My advice would be to not look at is as a secondary display. That would imply live sand and rock which will interfere with medications like copper if you need to use them. You'll probably have to use them more often than you think.

 

[vder]

Nope will leave it bare bottom with out any rock. Where it is being placed the wife wants it to look just like the main tank but without all the rock and sand. Thanks

 

[vder]

Finally removed all fish from the tank (boy that was fun). Tank will now be fallow for a total of 80 days. Without any fish in the tank for pollutants will the cycle get messed up? I feed the corals on a weekly basis.

 

[melypr1985]

Finally removed all fish from the tank (boy that was fun). Tank will now be fallow for a total of 80 days. Without any fish in the tank for pollutants will the cycle get messed up? I feed the corals on a weekly basis.

Nah. The bacteria populations may get slightly smaller, but from what I understand, they just adjust their metabolism and breeding rate.... wait a sec..... @Brew12 did some research on this and wrote an article. I'll let him say it so that way it's right.

 

[Brew12]

Nah. The bacteria populations may get slightly smaller, but from what I understand, they just adjust their metabolism and breeding rate.... wait a sec..... @Brew12 did some research on this and wrote an article. I'll let him say it so that way it's right.

You pretty much nailed it. Without a food source the bacteria will stop reproducing and their metabolisms will slow down. If you maintain good water conditions the only thing you really have to worry about for a few months is something eating the bacteria. That shouldn't be a problem in your system. A little ghost feeding wouldn't hurt, especially a week or two before you put the fish back in to start making the bacteria more active.