New Fish Always Die Off

[blumarln]

I am at a complete loss. After establishing my 55 gallon tank with 2 Chromis, I added a hawaiian blue tang and a few shrimp. About 4 months later I began to introduce new fish, a copperband butterfly = fin rot & death. Next, a pink square anthias = fin & mouth rot & death. With the anthias I also added a goby that filters the sand through its gills, now the goby has suddenly become inactive and has fin rot. I have also been infected with an incurable bout of red slime algae - i have done water changes, dosed with both the yellow and white red slime algae powder, it just will not go away. For the fin rot I have dosed with Rally ruby reef, to no avail. I check my water, and the only things I find are that my salinity is 1.022-021, and my pH hovers right about 7.8 - 8.0. I NEED HELP!!!

the tank is a 55 gal FOWLR, 10 gallon sump with DSB & Caulerpa

 

[Airwolf75]

First, Buy a really nice protien skimmer. The slime is a sign your tank is too dirty for the delicate fish you are buying. The rot is the result.

Personally, I'd add ozone, carbon, and some peroxide, increase flow too, but a skimmer will get it going in the right direction.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

It sounds like you are having water quality issues. First thing to do, stop adding fish. Then deal with the water quality.

What to do there depends on what sort of setup you have now. What are you using for filtration, anything other than the sump, ie protein skimmer? What type and how much flow do you have? How long has the tank been set up? What is your quarantine protocol?

 

[blumarln]

I am not running any other filtration, just the ecosystem sump. My LFS provided the start-up water and I top off with RODI on a float switch. What kind of water quality issue would result in this. The same LFS, suggested that the slime was a result of low flow in the areas of the tank where it is proliferating. They said the fin rot is "in the system" and I need to keep treating with Rally until its gone.. I don't remember what my flow rate is, but I had this same setup going for a 3 years, about 5 years ago, except I had miracle mud in the sump. Never had an issue like this. I really don't have the means to setup a seperate quarantine tank, so I just acclimate the new fish then add - minus any new water from the LFS. Is there any way to test for the fin rot bacteria?

 

[Airwolf75]

In this instance the LFS would be incorrect.

Fin rot in your system is definitely the result of poor water quality. If you improve the water quality, the fin rot will go away.

So to sum up,
your goal: improve water quality
result: no more fin rot
So go and get 'em.

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Your LFS is right about more flow helping with the cyanobacteria, but in my opinion adding chemicals will not deal with your fin rot problem. I would stop adding chemicals and increase flow, probably substantially.

How much flow do you have? What type of pumps are you using to get the flow?