Tank Die Off :(

[YukonJet]

I really hate that my first post here is this and I really appreciate you taking the time to read and offer any ideas. I am not new to fishkeeping, but this my first tank in quite some time. Basically though, I diagnosed an ich outbreak about a month ago and I have been treating with hyposalinity. Since this is a newer FOWLR tank with no corals and no inverts, I elected to just treat my display tank. I will admit, nothing was quarantined before being added to the display so I take full responsibility for the outbreak but I am really at a loss as I have never seen just ich kill like this and I wonder if that is what's doing it alone, or what the hell else I could have going on in there. Here's some details -

90 gal display
Trigger 30 sump (running socks, skimmer, live rock, sponge & carbon)
Reef Octopus 150 INT skimmer
300W Finnex heater
75lbs dry live rock (minimal diatom algae)
100lbs Arag Alive Live Sand
951 gph return pump
Tunze Osmolator ATO
All Water sourced from BRS Value Plus RODI system

Death Dates -
5/30 - Coral Beauty Angel
6/1 - Diamond Goby
6/4 - Flame Fin Tang
6/5 - Orchid Dottyback
6/7 - 2 Clowns, 1 Kupang Damsel

What's Left
1 Yellow Tang (not doing well - hiding, not eating, dark in color, clamped fins, no visible cysts)
2 Kupang Damsels (seemingly fine, no visible outbreaks, eating normal, very active)

Water Parameters As Of An Hour Ago
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Salinity - 1.011
pH - 7.7 (been a tad low since going hypo, prior to hypo was holding 8.1)

Tests done with Red Sea test kits, Hanna pH checker, ATC refractometer


1. How old is this aquarium?
7.5 mos

2. If less than six months old, what is ammonia level?
0

3. What is SG of this aquarium? How measured?
Holding 1.009 - 1.011 during hypo treatment

4. When was the last fish added to this aquarium?
May 21, 2016

5. Was it quarantined? If so, how? And how long? Was it prophylactically treated? How?
No QT used :facepalm:

6. If you are using a copper based medication, which one? How often do you measure level? When?
n/a

7. If you are using hyposalinity, how did you calibrate your refractometer?
Aqua Craft solution included with the ATC refractometer from BRS

8. Please describe in detail, the appearance of the fish? If there is one or more pimples, are they lumpy? What color?
Typical ich outbreak seen mostly on head and pec fins. Outbreaks come an go on different fish every few days

9. Please describe the behavior of the fish as best you can. Is it acting reclusive? Is it always up towards the top of the aquarium? Is it avoiding light? How active is the fish?
During outbreaks, fish mostly seemed fine. Still active and eating normally. Most fish that have died hid for 1-2 days before dying

10. Is the fish eating? What?
Alternating Ocean Nutrition Pellets, Ocean Nutrition Algae sheets and cubed frozen mysis shrimp

 

[YukonJet]

 

[mgreenough]

Have you turned your display into hyposalinity with the existing live rock? If so this is not a good idea as it can kill off the beneficial bacteria in the live rock. Really you should use another basic tank with pvc pipe for hiding places and bare bottom. That allows you to keep the tank clean easier. The display should be left fallow without fish for at least 72 days to ensure the ich cycle is broken. In the quarantine tank keep the fish well fed with food enriched with garlic (only whilst beating the ich as longterm garlic feeds can promote liver damage issues).

And most importantly dont beat yourself up over it, as nearly everyone on these forum has had issue like this at one time or another. When i first started out i had ich wipe out my entire tank. Just follow the fallow period which can be hard, but it is a must.

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[Deinonych]

Timelines and mortality would indicate velvet. Ich usually doesn't kill quickly - certainly not within 10 days of exposure to the vector fish.

 

[YukonJet]

Is it possible for velvet to occur simultaneous with ich? Can velvet also be fairly invisible too? I claim to be no expert but just going off of photos I've seen of velvet...it doesn't seem like a fit here....I'm open to any ideas though....thank you!!!

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[YukonJet]

Timelines and mortality would indicate velvet. Ich usually doesn't kill quickly - certainly not within 10 days of exposure to the vector fish.

I fully believe now that I am dealing with velvet and not ich. Thanks much for the insight!