all tank inhabitants suddenly became ill.. advice needed urgently

[nureefer2008]

Hello,

I have a fish only tank. Its size is about 180 gal. with 250 lbs of LR. I had the tank for over 2 years now and all fish were doing extremely well. A few days ago, my emperor angel, about 7" long, who had been in the tank for about 1 1/2 yr. suddenly died with its skin surface looks to have some sort of filming residue. A now, all tank inhabitants (Sohal tang, Yelow Tang, Purple tang, Powder blue tang, Hippo Tang, Flame Angel, Annularis Angel, Maroon Clown, Sailfin Tang) begin to show the same sign. Not eating all at. Some of the fish also showed signs of Ick.
I am begining to treat my whole tank with Hyposalinity. But does anyone have any suggestions as to why most of the fish have this filmy type of residue on their skins. Any recommendation on how to treat this disease would be greatly appreciated.
My wife has given me my final notice... that if all the inhabitants died, I am no longer allowed to restock the tank and must get out of the hobby. I don't want to... so please help....
Thank you.

 

[Sk8r]

A film is often bacterial. This would require withdrawing the worst affected to quarantine and treating with medication: I hope you have some in house as it is getting late on a Sunday. Google "Maracyn" and see if that will possibly handle it. But wait for a more definitive opinion on what to do: I have not dealt with this problem in many, many years.

 

[nureefer2008]

Sk8r, do you recommend treating the whole tank with Formalin?

 

[sugartooth]

Also check your pH, I think fish would slime too if pH is out of range.

 

[nureefer2008]

current ph reading is at 8.25

 

[sugartooth]

I guess there a couple of things you can do quickly, while getting ready to begin some sort of treatment.
Without knowing exactly what's wrong, you can in the meantime:

- do a large water change. Get your water quality as clean and pristine as possible.

- Check to make sure nothing was accidentally dumped in your tank (chemicals, food, etc)

- If you can catch one or all of the fish, perform a freshwater/formalin dip. It may provide some immediate relief. If anything falls off, that would help you identify what the problem is as well.

Make sure that the fish is healthy enough to withstand the dip. If not, don't do it.

Good luck.

 

[Sk8r]

What kills bacteria should not be put into a reef: it will kill ALL bacteria indiscriminately, especially the broad-spectrum antibiotics. Erythromycin [as in red slime removers] is one of the least damaging, but it's no guarantee it would get the bacterium you're after.

A complete water test, partial water change, and running carbon to remove any contaminant and polyfilter strips to detect any metals are all possibilities. I note you're a student, with the potential for parties and other occasions when craziness can happen near a tank, including somebody with a grudge---one hates to mention it, but such things have happened. Look your tank over carefully for things that don't belong there. It is rare that an infection appears like this out of the blue.

 

[nureefer2008]

I am going to treat the whole tank with Formalin according to its recommended dosage tomorrow morning. If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know.

 

[tylorarm]

Look up Marine Velvet/Amyloodinium, sounds possible. Start with this article http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-07/sp/feature/index.php

 

[nureefer2008]

tylorarm, thanks for the referenced article about marine velvet. Its description completely matched the behavior of my fish. I have started the treatment in my display tank with Formalin this morning. I am so bumped out that another one of my long lived Annularis angel had succumed to the disease this morning. The rest of the fish are not looking so good and are breathing heavily. My ph dropped to 7.95 after I introduced Formalin into the tank.

 

[Patrick12]

I am thinking velvet (amyloodinium) as well considering how fast it has come on. It is a quick killer. Have you added anything recently? Gotta QT.

Formalin has dropped your pH because your ammonia and nitrite are gonna skyrocket. It also will kill off all of your biological filtration. Water changes are gonna be a way of life for the duration of the treatment with formalin.

 

[nureefer2008]

no new addition to the tank. I don't have a QT as I have not introduce any new fish for the past 1 1/2 year.
This is really bumping me out as I have spent so much time and effort in ensuring the well being of the fish.
Thank you all for your input.

 

[nureefer2008]

Latest updates: three more fish died today. The only remaining fish are: sohal, yellow, purple, hippo, sailfin tangs, six line wrasse. This is tearing my hearts out as I had these for a long time.