New fish dying

[bobhowr05]

Hi. Having an issue adding new fish within 72 hours they end up dead. Water parameters are ph 8.0 ammonia 0 no2 0 and no3 0. All done on api test kits. Temp is 79f Tankmates include small blue hippo, medium ocselaris clown, coral beauty, and 6 line wrasse. Inverts black bristle star and green serpent star was told it's not green death star. Mine is like 2 shades of green stripes and doesn't have bristles just rough texture. Over past month and half or more I've added foxface, yellow tang, and melanarus wrasse all at least 2 weeks apart all died within 48-72 hrs. While alive they seemed to eating swimming just fine no sign of illness ate while at the pet store as well. All current livestock seem healthy and active no sign of illness. Could the wrasse be the culprit? Also added a purple reef lobster last weekend haven't seen it since even at night. Have been vodka dosing last 3 months could this be the issue? Setup is 55 long with 30 sump. My acclimation consist of floating the bag for 20-30 min then slowly add tank water to bag. Not drip to prevent temperature change.

 

[r.bergonia19]

First of all why do u have a blue hippo tang in a 55g?

 

[LostInTheDark]

One of the most common reasons is the difference in salinity. Most shops keep there salinity very low to help with parasites. Next time test the water in the bag. I'm sure you'll find it very low. This is one of the reasons to use drip acclimation over a long period of time.

 

[Diesel]

Tell us more how you acclimate the fish before we go on to the next chapter of deceases and QT.
















#reefsquad

 

[4FordFamily]

If a parasite it's definitely velvet. I had an established hippo thy survived for 4-6 months in velvet before it got her.. no other tang I've had has made it past a month in velvet.

 

[jsker]

First, Welcome to posting on R2R

How old is the system?
what is your
Ca ??
Mg ??
Alk ??
No 3 is at 0
Po 4 ??
salinity ??
temp is at 79
PH ??
Do you have any picture of the fish that have passed, tang will get ich very easily do to stress. My reason for asking so many question is to help with trouble shooting the issue?

 

[Deinonych]

This is one of the reasons to use drip acclimation over a long period of time.

Or even better, match the salinity in a QT and temperature acclimate only.

 

[adamk]

+1 on matching salinity in qt tank. thats by far the best way then just slowly drip salt water or ro water into qt to match to your DT

 

[melypr1985]

Hi. Having an issue adding new fish within 72 hours they end up dead. Water parameters are ph 8.0 ammonia 0 no2 0 and no3 0. All done on api test kits. Temp is 79f Tankmates include small blue hippo, medium ocselaris clown, coral beauty, and 6 line wrasse. Inverts black bristle star and green serpent star was told it's not green death star. Mine is like 2 shades of green stripes and doesn't have bristles just rough texture. Over past month and half or more I've added foxface, yellow tang, and melanarus wrasse all at least 2 weeks apart all died within 48-72 hrs. While alive they seemed to eating swimming just fine no sign of illness ate while at the pet store as well. All current livestock seem healthy and active no sign of illness. Could the wrasse be the culprit? Also added a purple reef lobster last weekend haven't seen it since even at night. Have been vodka dosing last 3 months could this be the issue? Setup is 55 long with 30 sump. My acclimation consist of floating the bag for 20-30 min then slowly add tank water to bag. Not drip to prevent temperature change.

Welcome to R2R! Did you test the salinity in the bag before acclimation and after (before adding the fish to the tank)? I'm very sorry for your losses. The two most likely culprits here, considering the timeline would be either velvet (doesn't always show spots or dustiness) or acclimation.

 

[bobhowr05]

First of all why do u have a blue hippo tang in a 55g?

Like i said it's a small one. When it gets bigger I'm going to trade it in. Please answer the question and not criticize. Didn't ask for the tang police.

 

[bobhowr05]

One of the most common reasons is the difference in salinity. Most shops keep there salinity very low to help with parasites. Next time test the water in the bag. I'm sure you'll find it very low. This is one of the reasons to use drip acclimation over a long period of time.

When fish were added to the tank the salinity and bag both matched and still waited 10-15 min til adding fish.

 

[bobhowr05]

Tell us more how you acclimate the fish before we go on to the next chapter of deceases and QT.
















#reefsquad

Float bag for 20-30min. Then open bag and small amount of tank water every 5 min while still floating bag. Dont drip acclimate i feel dripping will cause water from bag to cool substantially i keep house around 70f.

 

[melypr1985]

It looks like your acclimation procedures are on point, so that leaves us with the unfortunate assumption of velvet. It's possible for your current fish to develop a temporary immunity to it while all new additions succumb quickly. I hope I'm wrong, but I strongly suspect this is the case.

 

[bobhowr05]

Welcome to R2R! Did you test the salinity in the bag before acclimation and after (before adding the fish to the tank)? I'm very sorry for your losses. The two most likely culprits here, considering the timeline would be either velvet (doesn't always show spots or dustiness) or acclimation.

Yes. Salinity matched for 10-15 min before adding to tank. It wasn't just yellow tang lost it was foxface and melanarus wrasse. Would my tank itself have velvet? Why would no other fish show any signs over 2-3 month period?

 

[Diesel]

Cosider to acclimate new fish in a 20 gallon QT and see if they stay alive.
If they do observe them for four weeks.
And treat them for parasites and bacteria desease at the same time.

 

[melypr1985]

Yes. Salinity matched for 10-15 min before adding to tank. It wasn't just yellow tang lost it was foxface and melanarus wrasse. Would my tank itself have velvet? Why would no other fish show any signs over 2-3 month period?

yes. the whole tank would have it, if that's the problem. It's very possible for your fish to have developed a temporary immunity to it. That probably won't last and you'll continue to have problems adding new fish to the tank.

I like Diesel's suggestion. Try introducing a new fish to a sterile QT on the next one. Follow your same procedures for this. Be sure you have an HOB filter, heater and a few PVC elbows for hiding spots. Do water changes as needed for ammonia control. See if he makes it longer than the other three that didn't. If he does, then we have more evidence that the problem is in your tank. In the mean time, be looking very closely at your current fish. They should still exhibit some of the behavioral symptoms of velvet, if they have it and are temporarily immune to it. I'll post a link for you that lists these symptoms, pictures and other solid info about how to treat it. Velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum) This is still only a possibility, but a strong one, so we are going to investigate as best we can. ok?

 

[bobhowr05]

yes. the whole tank would have it, if that's the problem. It's very possible for your fish to have developed a temporary immunity to it. That probably won't last and you'll continue to have problems adding new fish to the tank.

I like Diesel's suggestion. Try introducing a new fish to a sterile QT on the next one. Follow your same procedures for this. Be sure you have an HOB filter, heater and a few PVC elbows for hiding spots. Do water changes as needed for ammonia control. See if he makes it longer than the other three that didn't. If he does, then we have more evidence that the problem is in your tank. In the mean time, be looking very closely at your current fish. They should still exhibit some of the behavioral symptoms of velvet, if they have it and are temporarily immune to it. I'll post a link for you that lists these symptoms, pictures and other solid info about how to treat it. Velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum) This is still only a possibility, but a strong one, so we are going to investigate as best we can. ok?

Sounds good.