Newbie with total fish loss, needing advice!

[Brandon218]

Just the background: I bought a 26 gallon bow front aquarium a little over a month ago and I'm not sure what I should do from here. I got the tank set up and put in microbacter and the following day I added some live rock with a leather coral and sea squirt. The lfs tested my water sample and told me I could add a few fish. I added a small blue tang and small long horned cow fish. They seemed to be doing well. In the mean time, I got a clean up crew to try and combat the brown algae I was seeing. 5 days after adding the first 2 I added a coral beauty and 12 line wrasse. The following day I noticed a spot on the fin of the coral beauty but was told it was probably nothing to worry about, a scale might have come loose. So, I kept an eye on the spot and 3 days later it was gone! Well, I noticed the blue tang wasn't looking so hot. It had several white spots on it!! I rushed to the lfs to get some medication but because I got live rock with coral on it I had to resort to using Herbtana to treat the Ich. Well, I treated for 12 days. The fish would look fine one day, and then be covered the next... On the 13th day everything appeared to me to be fine. So I added 2 clown fish. (Hind sight: I should have waited and kept treating) I noticed the coloring of the cowfish was beginning to be quite pale. The next morning I noticed the eyes were cloudy of the cowfish and coral beauty. Also, the cowfish appeared to be "pealing," and the coral beauty's fins looked like they had been picked on. I scooped them both up and took them to the lfs to be quarantined. (As the Herbtana just wasn't cutting it) They both died... I then came home to 2 dead clown fish. So, I took my wrasse and tang out so I could get them quarantined. I'm now dealing with a total loss in all fish!
I'm trying to see where to go from here. I'm thinking of just starting over with a reef tank and some fish. I'm thinking of going with a 75 or 90 gallon reef ready tank since they both have the same footprint. I just don't want to encounter the same loss of fish! I have read that the larger the tank, the easier it is to care for. So, at this time I'm open to some KIND suggestions on what to do. What types of fish would be a good idea for me? Coral? Other creatures? I have attached some photos of what I currently have in the tank.

 

[homer1475]

Fish died from ich. Whatever your LFS sold you to cure it, doesn't work. There are only 3 known ways to cure ich, Tank transfer method, hypo-salinity, and treating with copper. There is a sticky at the top of this forum that explains how to use those methods to cure it.

Unfortunately for you, the only way to rid your tank of the parasite now is to go fallow(fishless) for 72 days. I just went through this(lost a flame angel, but other fish made it), and have 2 days left of my 72 days.

 

[Gagonzalez]

Sounds like you dove right in. I would read up on the "Set up:How to" section and learn how to properly test your parameters before anything. Then you need to learn the quarantine process. It sounds like your tank wasn't ready yet. Especially not corals and a sea squirt. Yikes! Adding all those fish one after the other in a 26g is also a no no. And a Tang!!!! Holy Cow! Tang Police are gonna get you!

Seriously though.........you really need to read a little more before doing it again and go much slower next time.

Good Luck!

 

[Sk8r]

Step one is to read the sticky atop this forum entitled SETTING UP. In a small (under 100 gallon) tank you have to limit fish choices. One of yours was toxic, one required a 300 gallon tank, and the rest required more than a 26. Your tank wasn't cycled, fish weren't quarantined and you ran no tests for alkalinity, had no autotopoff and probably the salt balance got off via evaporation--- there's more, but over all, any one of those things could have taken the tank down. Start by reading how to set up the right way, over 4 weeks, with enough live rock, and with a quarantine tank and the proper equipment for what you want to keep. You can't just go through the lfs and pick what you like: you have a lot of things to consider about size, habit, and compatibility.

 

[BuzzPion]

Please be nice

 

[TangingOut]

I'm surprised your corals and anemone look to be doing well.

First of all, buy your own quality test kits and don't rely on your LFS tests. Actually don't rely on them for anything. They sold you many fishes that were inappropriate for your size tank. You also added too many and possibly too soon.

Research everything you plan to add to your tank and most importantly, get a get QT regime so everything gets OK'd before going into your DT.

 

[Brandon218]

Wow BuzzPion, you really know how to make a newbie feel welcome!! Thank you for your kind words! I have been doing a lot of research. Fish get Ich though.

 

[BuzzPion]

Be nice.

 

[Reefstarter2]

The corals look good because they haven't had a chance to start dying lol . well as long as params stay good they will be fine . but yeah way way way too many fish of the wrong kind in that small a tank . Tangs even with using Dr Tims won't make it long in a newly set up system . not to mention 98 % of tangs need a tank of at the very least 100 gallons . with some needing upwards of 3-500 . your LFS is what ? Petco ?

 

[JoeVandal49]

There is a steep learning curve to reef keeping, and not a lot of forgiveness when it comes to mistakes being made.

Time to start reading. While BuzzPion is not very eloquent with his words, what he is stating is indeed truth.

Most of us have been in your situation, or one similar, when we first started out. The rest of us are lying.

Some are more likely to have issues starting out, Especially those of us that entered the hobby without a mentor or someone that we actually know with first hand experience to fall back on, or for those of us that live in locations where reef keeping is not necessarily a well known and practiced hobby.

Sounds like you want to learn from your mistake, which is a great first step!

Dont let those of us that crawl out of a hole once a week to tear into a new reef keeper keep you from using these forums as the valuable tool that it is. Most of us want nothing more than to help.

 

[Brandon218]

There is a steep learning curve to reef keeping, and not a lot of forgiveness when it comes to mistakes being made.

Time to start reading. While BuzzPion is not very eloquent with his words, what he is stating is indeed truth.

Most of us have been in your situation, or one similar, when we first started out. The rest of us are lying.

Some are more likely to have issues starting out, Especially those of us that entered the hobby without a mentor or someone that we actually know with first hand experience to fall back on, or for those of us that live in locations where reef keeping is not necessarily a well known and practiced hobby.

Sounds like you want to learn from your mistake, which is a great first step!

Dont let those of us that crawl out of a hole once a week to tear into a new reef keeper keep you from using these forums as the valuable tool that it is. Most of us want nothing more than to help.

Thank you! I do intend to stay in the hobby and realize there are mistakes I made. Glad you realize we're not all perfect and there's a way of getting your point across to someone without spreading hate. A mentor would definitely be a welcomed asset! On a different note, any suggestions on what size tank I should upgrade to?

 

[JoeVandal49]

Thank you! I do intend to stay in the hobby and realize there are mistakes I made. Glad you realize we're not all perfect and there's a way of getting your point across to someone without spreading hate. A mentor would definitely be a welcomed asset! On a different note, any suggestions on what size tank I should upgrade to?

If you are serious about reef keeping, go as big as you can afford to setup and maintain. Most of us are always eyeing the next upgrade.

I would start with at least a 40 breeder ($40 during petco sale) personally. I started with a 55g, and would choose a 40 breeder now over a 55g if i was doing it over. Even though its a downgrade in gallons, the footprint is easier to work with.

75g is another good choice.

But go as big as you can afford to setup and maintain. if thats 30 gallons, then thats 30 gallons. If its 125g, or heck even 300+g, if you are serious about staying in the hobby long term, you will eventually end up as big as you can afford anyways.

 

[BrianD]

Thank you! I do intend to stay in the hobby and realize there are mistakes I made. Glad you realize we're not all perfect and there's a way of getting your point across to someone without spreading hate. A mentor would definitely be a welcomed asset! On a different note, any suggestions on what size tank I should upgrade to?

You need to read all the stickies in this forum, as suggested. You should also read the "suggested tank sizes" thread in Reef Fishes.

Asking "what size tank" is like asking "what size boat" or "what size dog". It is impossible for someone else to choose or recommend a tank size. You need to decide first your budget, and then you can design a tank (and inhabitants) to fit that budget.

I am somewhat confused about "a lot of research" leading you to make the choices you have up to this point. However, I wouldn't be so quick to upgrade to a different tank size when a tank the size you currently own can be a great learning tool before you decide to move up to a larger tank.

 

[BrianD]

But go as big as you can afford to setup and maintain. if thats 30 gallons, then thats 30 gallons. If its 125g, or heck even 300+g, if you are serious about staying in the hobby long term, you will eventually end up as big as you can afford anyways.

I don't agree with that. I know reefers who have incredible 75 gallon tanks, and they have no desire for a tank any larger than that. Larger tanks can mean exponentially larger expenses for lighting, skimming etc etc.

 

[snorvich]

Thank you! I do intend to stay in the hobby and realize there are mistakes I made. Glad you realize we're not all perfect and there's a way of getting your point across to someone without spreading hate. A mentor would definitely be a welcomed asset! On a different note, any suggestions on what size tank I should upgrade to?

Some words of advice. Go slow. Then, slow down even more as nothing good happens quickly in this hobby. Sk8r suggested some reading, great advice. Read it, assimilate it, then ask questions about it. Your LFS sold you fish that were totally inappropriate. Either they did not know, or they were playing you. I am not sure which case is worse. Decide what you want to keep as that will help you decide what sized tank you may wish to acquire. Make sure your budget will support this sized tank. This hobby in not inexpensive. Always quarantine. Not quarantining is like playing Russian Roulette: noone wins, some just get to play longer.

Reef Central is your mentor. We have nothing to sell except experience. And the vast majority of folks here are nice and very helpful.

 

[JoeVandal49]

I don't agree with that. I know reefers who have incredible 75 gallon tanks, and they have no desire for a tank any larger than that. Larger tanks can mean exponentially larger expenses for lighting, skimming etc etc.

True,

There are of course exceptions to every rule, but i would be willing to wager that if you created a thread asking every RC member "if you had the resources to upgrade and maintain your display tank, would you?" i would be willing wager most reef keepers would choose to upgrade.

I also am a believer that often times smaller systems, while often less expensive, can mean MORE maintenance and more time spent.

As you mentioned previously, everyone ideal system will be unique to their circumstances.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Sorry for your losses and troubles. Everyone was new at one point. Stick with it, take the great advice found here and elsewhere and use it to learn. Not everyone's situation is the same, figure out what size is right for you and your budget. Large tanks I think are a bit more forgiving to mistakes, but over the last 20 plus years my favorite, nicest, easiest tank to keep was my 90. My current 180 is nice but double everything.

Going slow is also a good piece of advice. Rome was not built in a day. And remember fish and coral are living creatures. Just as we would want the best for a family dog or cat, our fish are family too. Give them the right environment and care and they will grow and flourish and give you years of enjoyment.

Good luck

 

[BrianD]

True,

There are of course exceptions to every rule, but i would be willing to wager that if you created a thread asking every RC member "if you had the resources to upgrade and maintain your display tank, would you?" i would be willing wager most reef keepers would choose to upgrade.

I also am a believer that often times smaller systems, while often less expensive, can mean MORE maintenance and more time spent.

As you mentioned previously, everyone ideal system will be unique to their circumstances.

I agree with all of that.