QT Problem

[Bozad]

I could use some help. I have been losing fish in my QT and I can’t determine what’s causing this. I am purchasing them from a reliable FS and they appear to be in good health when I purchase them. The QT is a BB with only PVC pipe for hiding. After about 5-7 days the fish start to show slight cloudy spots on fins and eyes. I was told to try a medication for flukes (PraziPro), the fish just got worse. I them switched to a bacteria treatment no help. I currently have only three blue damsels in the tank. The conditions are as follows:

Salinity 1.016
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 ppm
Ammonia 0
Ph 7.7

The salinity is low because I thought I would try HYPO Salinity. The PH continues to be low and I continue to adjust it. Can low ph cause death like this?

 

[dbmtrman]

Is there a reason for the hyposalinity? If it is for a specific condition, you have to make sure you lower the salinity down over a couple days.

 

[paulamrein]

Agreed. They should start out at normal salinity for a few days, than drop it. How do you acclimate them into the QT when you purchase them?

 

[Bozad]

I began dropping the salinity when the meds failed. I am aware that I need to drop the salinity slowly. The only fish left in the QT are three damsels. I am going to return the salinity to normal and wait for this tank to acclimate. The problem started when my 50g qt sprung a leak the day after I purchased these new fish. I had to purchase a new 40g and I used water from my main tank and transferred the filter from the cracked tank but I think allot of the biological filtration may have been on the old tank surfaces. I am going to wait and see when this tank is fully acclimated before I purchase anymore fish. What is strange about this new tank is I didn’t see an ammonia spike but the Nitrites never went to zero. The Ph remained low (7.7-7.9) unless I used a buffer. I examined the flame angel that died yesterday and I did not see anything that looked like flukes or ick. The only noticeable thing was tail rot and color fade. I really think this was caused un-established tank.

 

[Neptune777]

What size tank is the QT and what fish have perished?

 

[reefCrawler]

did you change water at least 2~3 days? poor water quality may build up in QT tank.

if your main tank free of disease, I'll suggest to use your main tank water to change 1/8 ~ 1/4 water everytime.

it's also benefits the new fish to get used to your main tank water.

 

[Bozad]

Neptune,

The original QT was a 50g. The new one is a 40g. The fish that perished were a Naso Tang, Scotts Fairy Wrasse and a Flame Angel.