Oldest aged fish in your tank?

[BullSnapper]

I was wondering how long have you guys kept a single fish alive for? or a tank without ich.

I had a tank years ago that had a ich infestation that caused me to go fish less for 8 weeks so I put my Clown in a HT for treatment and for the duration of 8 weeks.

WHen I put him back, things were well for a very long time, but the second i would buy any other fish they would still catch ich within 3-5 days and die. Anything from Coral beauties to Firefish to Chromis to yellow clown goby, you name it.

This clown however did survive through everything for nearly 8 months before he died because my entire tank crashed which we never found out the cause for.

But my problem or concern now on this new venture I am making into a 40 gal after being away for a while is, how to make sure I keep my fish alive without them catching ich?

Somehow my fish kept getting ich even after 8 weeks of a fish less DT, I suspect this clown might have been a carrier that wasn't being healed via cupramine hence the ich constantly coming back to get other fish, I did manage to keep my Clarki for 2 months and a Coral beauty for 2 months before the crash but the CB was infested with Ich towards the last few weeks but would fight it without dying..the ending days of my tank was a disaster...I never got to treat him because my entire tank started to crash corals dying snails dying as i got my HT up and ready everything was gone but the Clarki. When I saw the ich on my CB i knew 8 weeks of fish less was coming up again but the crash blindsided me.

Do you guys go through fish often on a monthly basis or do they survive for at least 6 months?

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

I have had a tank for 3 years. My tank has been overrun with majano anemones. My dad went through surgery and let his tank grow wild for around 6 months. Most hardiest fish I have ever seen. It even went through a new cycle with new dead rock!

 

[ritter6788]

I started keeping SW over four years ago. I had a nasty ick outbreak my first year. I learned about proper QT and treatment and haven't had it in my display since. My oldest fish is almost 4 years old now.

 

[acronautical]

I started my first saltwater tank in April, 2003. I added my current Coral Beauty angel in November of that year, so she's been with me for 8 1/2 years! My only ich episode was when I foolishly added a beautiful (for about two days) Powder Blue Tang about two years ago. My Coral Beauty and Yellow Tang both got it soon after, although the Coral Beauty kicked it without assistance in short order. I had to lure the Yellow Tang into a trap and treated her with cupramine for about two weeks, followed by two more weeks of recuperation in the backup tank. My wrasses never got ich; I guess maybe their heavier slime coat aids them in fighting it off.

 

[slojmn]

I have a clownfish that has been with me for about 6 1/2 years. I had its mate for 9 years before it suddenly died. I think it got stung by a rabbifish defending its eggs. I also have a purple serpent starfish that has been with me for over 15 years.

 

[BullSnapper]

I started keeping SW over four years ago. I had a nasty ick outbreak my first year. I learned about proper QT and treatment and haven't had it in my display since. My oldest fish is almost 4 years old now.

What did you do ? When i did my QT i sensed it created more stress as the tank isn't the best condition compared to one such as a matured DT.

 

[BullSnapper]

I started my first saltwater tank in April, 2003. I added my current Coral Beauty angel in November of that year, so she's been with me for 8 1/2 years! My only ich episode was when I foolishly added a beautiful (for about two days) Powder Blue Tang about two years ago. My Coral Beauty and Yellow Tang both got it soon after, although the Coral Beauty kicked it without assistance in short order. I had to lure the Yellow Tang into a trap and treated her with cupramine for about two weeks, followed by two more weeks of recuperation in the backup tank. My wrasses never got ich; I guess maybe their heavier slime coat aids them in fighting it off.

Iagree with your CB comment, my 2nd one was a complete tank, sad thing had over 1000 dots probably, it was a cake topping, but it kicked the ichs ***, my crash is what kiled the poor guy. I wish i had time to save this tank but i gotta admit, i started to hate the tank because no fish would survive outside of clown fish. I couldn't go fish less for a 3rd time so i felt soon iw as going to tear it down and start new.

So even though there was ich intro ducted to the tank, it didn't dominate your tank? mine was a DISASTER>

 

[hvd78]

3 years

 

[Big E]

My purple tang will be 20 years old in April & I also have a Muelleris copperband that's 9. My taupu damsel died a while back after living for over ten years. I sold a pair of Maroon clowns that were 9 years old. I've had some other difficult species live over 5-6 years.

You have to properly QT new additions to have fish live this long. Do things properly............don't overcrowd, choose tankmates wisely, ect. Follow the rules & there is no reason any fish shouldn't live at least 5-6 years minimum. Ten years should be an age target for about 90% of the species that are available to reefers.

 

[BullSnapper]

Wooww how do you Quarantine? All the tips u can give will be great

 

[Steelerfan747]

I have an oc clown from my previous tank which is now about 4 years old

 

[mainereefer]

my mandarin is 7 (cant get ich) I have never had ich in my any display. the only fish I have had that I had to qt was a pink tail trigger I got from petco

I dont qt my fish. imo it causes more stress, stress is what causes problems
before fish go into my tank I treat them in the bag with quick cure. it is cheap and has worked for me for 15 years. double dose for about 5 min

 

[Cyber-Burn]

Currently I have a a Regal Tang that is 8 1/2 and two clowns that are 8. Proper QT and buying fish from reputable dealers has always worked for me. I've lost others in the past, a mandarin I couldn't get to eat, a coris wrasse due to an injury and a bi-color blenny from stress after I moved my tank. The wrasse was 3 and the blenny was 4.
I had a 29 gallon setup with a sump and ATO that I used for my QT before.

 

[acronautical]

Quote: "So even though there was ich intro ducted to the tank, it didn't dominate your tank? mine was a DISASTER"

Nope, once the PBT died, the ich disappeared. The system is pretty healthy and it's never been an issue after that outbreak.

 

[wysiwyg]

i have 2 blue saphire damsels that have been in the tank for 5 yrs when my buddy first set the tank up i took bought the tank from him in march and there still going strong. the only ich i have had was on my longhorn cowfish which are ich magnets and he kicked it in 2 weeks and has been ich free for 2mnths

 

[ritter6788]

Wooww how do you Quarantine? All the tips u can give will be great

I keep a 10 gal (was a 20 when I QT'd my tang) running with an HOB filter, sponge, heater, and pvc pipes for hiding, no sand. It basically cost me less than $40 at Wal Mart and has saved me $100's in fish losses.

 

[BullSnapper]

my mandarin is 7 (cant get ich) I have never had ich in my any display. the only fish I have had that I had to qt was a pink tail trigger I got from petco

I dont qt my fish. imo it causes more stress, stress is what causes problems
before fish go into my tank I treat them in the bag with quick cure. it is cheap and has worked for me for 15 years. double dose for about 5 min

That's exactl what I have been thinking. Catching netting chasing etc all extra stress.

 

[BullSnapper]

By the way how do u get ur fish out of the bag u bought them in...my net never fits in one.

 

[mainereefer]

I acclimate the fish in the bag or in a small bucket like normal then give them a double dose of the "quick cure" chemical for a few min then I usually just reach in and grab the fish

if you are using ate bag, after acclimation dump the bag into the net

 

[MIKE NY]

my 13 year old PBT in my avatar