Help Me Succeed With This Obsession

[karlc]

I have a 72 gal bow front with 20 gal sump. No refugium, just BM Curve 7 skimmer. The tank has been running for 3+ years. Lots of live rock covered in coralline.

In 2015 the tank crashed when I improperly treated for red slime. I lost everything. I let it sit for several months, then in Dec started again. Over a couple months I added 2 clowns, flame angel, potters angel, carpenter wrasse, christmas wrasse, blue jaw trigger and powder blue tang. my PBT got ich and I've been treating it, but he finally succumbed yesterday. I also had a stray voltage problem which I believe is the reason for me also losing my 2 clowns, carpenter wrasse and flame angel. Needless to say I'm really frustrated to keep dropping so much $$ on a hobby I love but can't seem to make work.

I also began adding some coral frags: zoa, kryptonite candy cane, ricordea, acan, toadstool, acropora. I regularly feed them and do 20% water change each week.

I fixed my stray voltage. My potters, blue jaw and christmas seem to be doing fine. I'll finish the ich treatment before adding anything, but wonder what you all think I should get or do? I love the color of the PBT, but I learned yesterday that they require more swimming space. True? Did I stress him out? What about another angel or two? Swallowtail? I used to have a foxface & loved him.

I'm frustrated. What more can I do to keep my investment and love of the hobby alive? What colorful, cool fish would you put in? Help!

---
CA 450; KH 8.7; MG 1350; temp 78; Salinity 1.024; Nitrate 20ppm; Nitrite 0; Ammonia 0; pH 8.2

 

[Saltlife757]

Sorry for your loss. I think patience is something we all need help on. This hobby is extremely addictive and we always want to do more! That's me at least. How much time went by when you were adding everything this time around.

So starting with the voltage, How did you fix this? Do you have everything set up to a surge protector or 2?

The PBT is definitely one of the prettiest tangs IMO, but they CAN be difficult to keep. I believe the majority of tangs are more likely to catch ich than other fish. But the powder blue and brown are extremely prone to this disease. I wish I could tell you why, but im not sure. I would definitely quarantine the PBT to make sure it is eating and breathing well.

How are you treating the ich?

 

[karlc]

All the fish were added over a 2 month time period--starting with the clowns. I also started adding coral frags in between adding fish. So far, the coral seems to be doing well.

On the voltage question, I found that it was coming from one of my powerbeads. I took it out and cleaned it to where it looked brand new, and the voltage leak stopped. I also put in a grounding probe in the tank.

i'm treating the ich with Ruby Reef Kick-Ich. Just started the process this week.

Also, I'm running four HO T5 bulbs. I also have a orange spotted goby which appears very happy and a cleaner shrimp.

 

[TatorTaco]

Sk8ter really needs to compile all those helpful posts and turn it into an ebook!

 

[Saltlife757]

All the fish were added over a 2 month time period--starting with the clowns. I also started adding coral frags in between adding fish. So far, the coral seems to be doing well.

On the voltage question, I found that it was coming from one of my powerbeads. I took it out and cleaned it to where it looked brand new, and the voltage leak stopped. I also put in a grounding probe in the tank.

i'm treating the ich with Ruby Reef Kick-Ich. Just started the process this week.

Also, I'm running four HO T5 bulbs. I also have a orange spotted goby which appears very happy and a cleaner shrimp.

Sounds like you've got everything under control. Hopefully that will be the end of your bad luck. the only thing I can think of would be to add a quarantine tank for new fish in the future for certain fish, especially the powder blue

 

[karlc]

Thanks everyone. If you have further thoughts I'm always listening. I've never QT fish before, but perhaps it's time. No one has ever really pushed that as something to do.

 

[CStrickland]

KickIch will not remove the parasite from your tank. If you are going for an ich free tank, there are several thread stuck to the top of the disease subforum, and also linked in the "setting up" sticky of this part of the forum (the one with a big red arrow) that will explain how to do that. There is no product that you can pour in the tank to get rid of ich. That's why it's a struggle. You are looking at 3 months of fish-free tank while you keep the survivors alive in a smaller hospital tank to cure them.

20% water change every week is excessive. Are you having trouble keeping your parameters in range? Water changes accomplish 2 goals: remove waste and supplement elements that are used up by growing things. You need to be testing: temp, salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrates, and phosphates at a minimum to keep a coral tank. Those numbers tell you if your water is getting too dirty for coral, or missing something it needs to grow. Sometimes water changes are enough, sometimes not. You don't know unless you test.

I think you're coming at it a little sideways by looking for which fish to add next. I'd get your husbandry in order first and proceed from there. The reason it's an "obsession" is because it requires a fair amount of research. Some of the fish you have eat coral in the wild, they will likely do the same in your tank as they have been lifted straight from the ocean. Some of them are fairly territorial as well. The powder blue was definitely a poor choice for a 72. You did stress him out, I'm sorry to say. The same "setting up" sticky has a link to the tank size recommendations for tangs, and liveaquaria.com is a great place to check out fish before you buy. If you make a list of what appeals to you, the experts here will be happy to help you figure out if those fish will get along together, and not eat your coral.

Happy reading, happy reefing, and good luck on resetting your tank!