Hi there ladies and gentlemen, this is my first post here on RC. I want to firstly thank everyone for their knowledge and opinion, and apologize for my ignorance.
I am new to the hobby and have only been a member of the saltwater club for 2 months now. I like to think that I have decent knowledge of water chemistry, culturing plants, raising livestock, Parasites, Diseases, things of that nature. I work with plants, and have always had animals, so I can relate that somewhat to fish and corals. I also have a good friend who has had an awesome 155g for 6+ years, so at least I'm not coming into the hobby blind eyed. :thumbsup:
Anyway here goes,
I have had my tank up and running now for a short time (a speck in the sands of time), 2 months. Cycle went well everything has gone smooth and perfect. Until a days ago, I woke up one morning and my Lavender tang looked ill. He had signs of some sort of bacterial infection or parasitic infection. Eyes were very cloudy, lethargic, sitting at the bottom of the tank breathing heavily, wouldn't eat, SUDDEN out brake of what I presumed was Ich. I also observed discoloration to the body, and frayed fins. The discoloration was splotchy and of lighter color than the fish, looked as if it was coming from the interior rather than appearing on the scales.. ( makes me think of Marrium.. I pray to god I don't have that...)
Within hours, my Yellow eyed Kole started behaving the same way and all of the same symptoms became visible. With the exception of cloudy eyes.
The tangs do not show signs of aggression toward one another. I stressed the tank the night before, removed a problem fish, had to remove 95% of rock to catch the bastard.
Water parameters are on point bar 5ppm nitrate.. ( I attribute this to using to much crappy fish food, working on beating that habit.. ).
Within 18 hours the Lavander was dead.. I pulled him out and fresh water dipped him in RO/DI right after he took his last breath. I watched the parasites fall off of his body and gills. White tiny things. Another 6 hours koly died.
36 hours after the first signs of impending doom.. My school of four fire fish died.. My guess respiratory problems they didn't have signs of external parasites, but did have what appeared to be mucus coming out of the gills while getting blown around my tank by the power head. They couldn't swim properly... Dipped them as well and observed the same critters coming out of there gills.. Could have been mucus.
Next day the fish aids heads for my mated pair of Perculas.. With these guy I observe LOTS of velvet.. Looks like someone talcked them.. Not bigger spots like Ich.. They swim erratically brushing themselves against the glass and rocks.... Twitching, Staying near my fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp, begging for help. At this point in getting depressed. :worried2:
Night came, and the female really looked rough, so I ended her suffering. Scoped her out placed her in a bowl of water at 3 degrees Centigrade. She was gone in 2 seconds. ( I find temp shock to be to must humane for fish, No handling, almost instant death. NEVER PUT A FISH IN A FREEZER it is not humane!! ).
I put in place a 20g QT today. I know I know.. A little prevention goes a long way and I have certainly learned my lesson. EVERY fish will now get a 4 week QT. All my livestock is dead, Bar a goby who has signs of velvet on his Pectorals.. But looks happy, healthy, and is eating. And the male Clown.
QT for the Goby tomorrow for sure, He will be treated for Velvet using a copper treatment.. and the display tank will sit bare for the next 4-6 weeks. I'm installing a UV on the DT in the next couple days. I have lots of coral so I cant treat the display.
The Clown looks like ****.. He is eating, but is covered head to toe in a fine velvety white.. From what I read, at this point hes probably a gonner. Since velvet starts in the gills and moves out he is thoroughly invested.. He has lost his mate, and I fell like an *******. What would you do? should I end his suffering? Should I QT him and see what happens, hoping he doesn't further hurt my more expensive favorite fish Goby?
I'm torn here..
Thanks again everyone.
I am new to the hobby and have only been a member of the saltwater club for 2 months now. I like to think that I have decent knowledge of water chemistry, culturing plants, raising livestock, Parasites, Diseases, things of that nature. I work with plants, and have always had animals, so I can relate that somewhat to fish and corals. I also have a good friend who has had an awesome 155g for 6+ years, so at least I'm not coming into the hobby blind eyed. :thumbsup:
Anyway here goes,
I have had my tank up and running now for a short time (a speck in the sands of time), 2 months. Cycle went well everything has gone smooth and perfect. Until a days ago, I woke up one morning and my Lavender tang looked ill. He had signs of some sort of bacterial infection or parasitic infection. Eyes were very cloudy, lethargic, sitting at the bottom of the tank breathing heavily, wouldn't eat, SUDDEN out brake of what I presumed was Ich. I also observed discoloration to the body, and frayed fins. The discoloration was splotchy and of lighter color than the fish, looked as if it was coming from the interior rather than appearing on the scales.. ( makes me think of Marrium.. I pray to god I don't have that...)
Within hours, my Yellow eyed Kole started behaving the same way and all of the same symptoms became visible. With the exception of cloudy eyes.
The tangs do not show signs of aggression toward one another. I stressed the tank the night before, removed a problem fish, had to remove 95% of rock to catch the bastard.
Water parameters are on point bar 5ppm nitrate.. ( I attribute this to using to much crappy fish food, working on beating that habit.. ).
Within 18 hours the Lavander was dead.. I pulled him out and fresh water dipped him in RO/DI right after he took his last breath. I watched the parasites fall off of his body and gills. White tiny things. Another 6 hours koly died.
36 hours after the first signs of impending doom.. My school of four fire fish died.. My guess respiratory problems they didn't have signs of external parasites, but did have what appeared to be mucus coming out of the gills while getting blown around my tank by the power head. They couldn't swim properly... Dipped them as well and observed the same critters coming out of there gills.. Could have been mucus.
Next day the fish aids heads for my mated pair of Perculas.. With these guy I observe LOTS of velvet.. Looks like someone talcked them.. Not bigger spots like Ich.. They swim erratically brushing themselves against the glass and rocks.... Twitching, Staying near my fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp, begging for help. At this point in getting depressed. :worried2:
Night came, and the female really looked rough, so I ended her suffering. Scoped her out placed her in a bowl of water at 3 degrees Centigrade. She was gone in 2 seconds. ( I find temp shock to be to must humane for fish, No handling, almost instant death. NEVER PUT A FISH IN A FREEZER it is not humane!! ).
I put in place a 20g QT today. I know I know.. A little prevention goes a long way and I have certainly learned my lesson. EVERY fish will now get a 4 week QT. All my livestock is dead, Bar a goby who has signs of velvet on his Pectorals.. But looks happy, healthy, and is eating. And the male Clown.
QT for the Goby tomorrow for sure, He will be treated for Velvet using a copper treatment.. and the display tank will sit bare for the next 4-6 weeks. I'm installing a UV on the DT in the next couple days. I have lots of coral so I cant treat the display.
The Clown looks like ****.. He is eating, but is covered head to toe in a fine velvety white.. From what I read, at this point hes probably a gonner. Since velvet starts in the gills and moves out he is thoroughly invested.. He has lost his mate, and I fell like an *******. What would you do? should I end his suffering? Should I QT him and see what happens, hoping he doesn't further hurt my more expensive favorite fish Goby?
I'm torn here..
Thanks again everyone.