mdrobc1213
New member
Okay...looks like an old problem is back again. I have a 150 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump and have what I think is a re-occuring problem.
Tank seem to be re-infected OR continuously infects with some nasty sort of parasite. LFS thought it was marine velvet as it was killing off my fish in April on a daily basis. Lost literally 1/2 my tank over a week with losses on a regular basis from 30 April thru 14 May. Initial water check showed zero nitrate/nitrate, PH=8.2 and ammonia levels barely readable during testing in Feb but I still loss fish. Narrowed it down after talking to my LFS to a likely infected batch of green chomis without adequate quarantine. LFS thinks it was uronema infection which then spread throughout the tank due to the behavior and red sides of the few chromis before they died. Also all previous tank inhabitants had been quarantined using Mardon Coppersafe for at least 21 days before adding to my main tank. Initial outbreak in May killed numerous tangs (powder brown and chevron), angels (Passer and Koran), 2 ocellaris clowns, and all of the chromis. Dosed the tank with New Life Spectrum Ick Shield for 21+ days throughout Feb and did a 40 gallon water change and added activated charcoal before restarting to stock the tank in June after a 40gal water change. Throughout the initial ordeal the following fish survived: 1 mocha clown, 1 lunare wrasse, 1 melanarius wrasse, 1 clown tang,, 1 coral banded shrimp, 2 blue sapphire damsels, 1 orange spotted goby, and 1 foxface low, and 1 orange spotted rabbitfish. So didn't loose who tank initially.
Well now suddenly over last 4 weeks I've again started losing fish..losses include 1 yellow tang and a lavender tang (after 1 week of normal behavior and eating), and my mocha clownfish who previously was doing well. Past weeks losses include: bicolor angel and rusty angle also after (1 week away on work), then my old neon dottyback and a orange spotted goby (had been in tank since last Sept and was doing fine) died this AM, and earlier this week lost 1 flame angel, 1 fuzzy dwarf lion fish, 1 powder blue tang, and Harlequin tusk (both died on day two of introduction). These losses all have begun again over last 30 days. Water test reveals nothing crazy as below:
Temp=76
Ph=8.01
Sp grav=1.019
Nitrate=0
Nitrite=0
Amonia=0.25
Alk=77
Calcium=352
Most of the above fish were eating normally then found dead/distressed 24-36 hrs later. Hell my Powder blue tang was spending his time harassing a French Angel until showing up dead in the next day. Only weird behavior has been some of the remaining seem to be flashing against some of the rocks from time to time (Huma trigger and lunare wrasse). No spots on them that I can see. Foxface seems a bit stressed as he's alternating between his regular yellow and mottled brown on occasion. Recently started dosing: Brightwell Code A & B (12ml every other day), Brightwell Trace elements (8ml every other day), Red Sea Nitrate-POx (3ml twice a day every day), and was dosing Marine Snow (10ml in AM and 5ml in PM). So doubt this was the cause. Feeding mix between frozen mysis, Ocean Nutrition flakes formula A and B, seaweed strips, and also Ocean Nutrition Granules about 2-3 times a day.
Anyway not sure what recourse I have now other than 1) re-dose the tank (all corals have been removed), 2) complete tear down and re-start? I have about 80+ lbs of live rock which will make catching remaining fish fun and almost impossible to a some degree until the whole tank is drained. Anyway at this point am confused on what to do or what is going on..so appreciate the help. Is this in the water, the rocks or are the fish carriers and thus I'll never clear this tank?
Tank seem to be re-infected OR continuously infects with some nasty sort of parasite. LFS thought it was marine velvet as it was killing off my fish in April on a daily basis. Lost literally 1/2 my tank over a week with losses on a regular basis from 30 April thru 14 May. Initial water check showed zero nitrate/nitrate, PH=8.2 and ammonia levels barely readable during testing in Feb but I still loss fish. Narrowed it down after talking to my LFS to a likely infected batch of green chomis without adequate quarantine. LFS thinks it was uronema infection which then spread throughout the tank due to the behavior and red sides of the few chromis before they died. Also all previous tank inhabitants had been quarantined using Mardon Coppersafe for at least 21 days before adding to my main tank. Initial outbreak in May killed numerous tangs (powder brown and chevron), angels (Passer and Koran), 2 ocellaris clowns, and all of the chromis. Dosed the tank with New Life Spectrum Ick Shield for 21+ days throughout Feb and did a 40 gallon water change and added activated charcoal before restarting to stock the tank in June after a 40gal water change. Throughout the initial ordeal the following fish survived: 1 mocha clown, 1 lunare wrasse, 1 melanarius wrasse, 1 clown tang,, 1 coral banded shrimp, 2 blue sapphire damsels, 1 orange spotted goby, and 1 foxface low, and 1 orange spotted rabbitfish. So didn't loose who tank initially.
Well now suddenly over last 4 weeks I've again started losing fish..losses include 1 yellow tang and a lavender tang (after 1 week of normal behavior and eating), and my mocha clownfish who previously was doing well. Past weeks losses include: bicolor angel and rusty angle also after (1 week away on work), then my old neon dottyback and a orange spotted goby (had been in tank since last Sept and was doing fine) died this AM, and earlier this week lost 1 flame angel, 1 fuzzy dwarf lion fish, 1 powder blue tang, and Harlequin tusk (both died on day two of introduction). These losses all have begun again over last 30 days. Water test reveals nothing crazy as below:
Temp=76
Ph=8.01
Sp grav=1.019
Nitrate=0
Nitrite=0
Amonia=0.25
Alk=77
Calcium=352
Most of the above fish were eating normally then found dead/distressed 24-36 hrs later. Hell my Powder blue tang was spending his time harassing a French Angel until showing up dead in the next day. Only weird behavior has been some of the remaining seem to be flashing against some of the rocks from time to time (Huma trigger and lunare wrasse). No spots on them that I can see. Foxface seems a bit stressed as he's alternating between his regular yellow and mottled brown on occasion. Recently started dosing: Brightwell Code A & B (12ml every other day), Brightwell Trace elements (8ml every other day), Red Sea Nitrate-POx (3ml twice a day every day), and was dosing Marine Snow (10ml in AM and 5ml in PM). So doubt this was the cause. Feeding mix between frozen mysis, Ocean Nutrition flakes formula A and B, seaweed strips, and also Ocean Nutrition Granules about 2-3 times a day.
Anyway not sure what recourse I have now other than 1) re-dose the tank (all corals have been removed), 2) complete tear down and re-start? I have about 80+ lbs of live rock which will make catching remaining fish fun and almost impossible to a some degree until the whole tank is drained. Anyway at this point am confused on what to do or what is going on..so appreciate the help. Is this in the water, the rocks or are the fish carriers and thus I'll never clear this tank?
