Sensible Advice needed!

[Leo123]

Ok, as I start I know i have done everything the wrong way and now I'm trying to correct all my mistakes, got too eager too quickly and lost -- lesson learnt and want to fix it!

Firstly I have had my Kent marine 94l tank running 6 weeks - live sand live rock, I currently have a hammer coral, toadstool, duncan and Kenya tree, all seem to be in correct places and doing well.

Fish - recently lost 2 clowns which looked like they had brook - no Qt tank so couldn't treat - happened quite fast, they had been in tank from beginning did cycle with colony and them- they died within 2 days of each other. Have lost cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp with no explanation about 2 weeks apart from each other. Have a box fish for 4 weeks who has had what i thought was white spot for three weeks - ive been treating with poly lab and peroxide - but hes just getting worse and worse hes covered to where i think he maybe now blind - still swimming and eating but looks horrendous! completely covered so now maybe velvet but i really dont know!
have a white spotted goby who seems fine - snails and emerald crab and hermit crabs.

we also had a bubble tip get shredded in the power head a 2 week ago where tank went completely cloudy treated with carbon and a lot of water changes to clear.

currently have green algae on the glass in a film like substance wipe with magnet cleaner and you can see it float of and come back - having to do it multiple times daily - cleaned all filters and equipment -- have scrubbed rocks and again kept on top of a lot of water changes

every time i do the tests which has been roughly every 2 days - all readings are within limits that it should be temperature has always maintained in the 26.3-26.6 - test for PH , amonina, nitrate, nitrite, calcium and phosphate.

my question is - what do I do when the boxfish dies - do i need to catch goby and pass it on andthen let the tank go fallow for the white spot for 70 odd days - do i leave it for a couple of weeks and just get more clowns ??
i know ive rushed and made mistakes lost fish and money and i want to get on the right track again so please only respond with suggestions on what to do... Many Thanks

 

[New&no clue]

My suggestion would be to set up a QT for the fish and let the tank go fallow for I think 72 days. Try to figure out what the Box Fish has and treat both him and the goby for it. If it's not possible to set up a QT, then maybe the LFS will take the goby or possible another reefer in your area can hold it for you.

 

[Miller535]

Personally I would recommend getting rid of the boxfish. Liveaquaria list it as "Expert only". And the reason the do is for this line: " If stressed, the Cubicus Boxfish releases a poisonous substance, called ostracitoxin, from its mucous glands which will kill other fish in the tank very quickly"

I have never kept a boxfish, but my understanding is they stress and get bullied easily. Besides the fact the adult size is listed at 18"

I would then let your tank go fallow for the 72 days.

 

[Miller535]

Some more information about you tank would also be helpful. How did you cycle it? Did you use RODI water ONLY?

 

[MERKEY]

Sounds like you had a alot happen in a short time, I'm sorry for your loses.

At this point as stated above I would QT the fish and go fallow for 80 days.

 

[Leo123]

Thanks everyone i think that's going to be the best option - i know i rushed and that's on me.

We cycled with live rock sand and colony with the clowns and yes used rodi water from the same source for all water changes, - yes we wont be getting a box again and - ill ring the shop today and see if they can take the goby and just leave it fallow with the corals .

thank you

 

[brandon429]

Your cycle is locked and done, eliminate any concern over nitrification. I too believe disease is the cause and regarding shrimp, the changing params in response to loss


*even if you test for ammonia and report .25 or .5, it’s false, your ammonia and cycle is fine due to multiple clues in the description


knowing what you can instantly eliminate helps avoid wasted time. cycle doesnt factor.

 

[Fishbird]

Can you ask at your LFS if they know of anybody who would be able to take the boxfish and give it the care it needs/nurse it back to health?

Going forward, I would make sure to triple check whether fish will be appropriate for your tank size. 94l is 25 gallons. There are a number of fish appropriate for such a tank but a boxfish is not one of them (as you're learning).

Given that the boxfish could poison and kill the rest of your tank I'd try and get it into a QT immediately. Can you go get a 10 or 20 gallon (38 or 75 liter) tank today as QT for the boxfish?