Urgent Help Requested - Wrasses Won't Come Out - CB Blue Tang Arriving Today (NO QT)

[BigEZ77]

Hi All,

Haven't been here in some time. Was out of the hobby for awhile and got back in over a year ago with a small 30 gallon tank. My coral were already outgrowing the tank...planning to upgrade to a new Waterbox Infinia Frag 175.6 in the spring. In the meantime, I found an unbelievable deal on a resealed G1 Reefer 450 so figured I'd get that for now (a couple months ago) until the WB upgrade to have more space for the time being, and then can sell it for much more than I paid for it. Also have since sold the smaller tank so am not running a QT.

I typically buy my fish from one LFS who does a full treatment and QT, or Reef Paradise in GTA (shipped) as they do the same thing. But recently I bought and Exquisite Wrasse and got it from another LFS where I'm not sure what their protocol is, thinking Wrasses are pretty bullet proof due to their slime coat, but looks like I was wrong (could have been fin rot, he is now gone). Big mistake, will only buy from my trusted LFS's with verified protocol moving forward.

A little more backstory...I set up a UV a couple days ago and my skimmer started making a ton of micro bubbles yesterday. I didn't think anything of it, thinking it would sort itself out overnight. Woke up this morning, still sending out a ton of micro bubbles and now my McCosker and Longfin wrasses won't come out, seem to be breathing heavy and are very lethargic...from what I can see, they don't appear to have any visible signs of infection. My Spotcinctus clown seems okay and just hanging out in her nem. I have a CB baby blue tang arriving today and not sure what to do without a QT...any help is greatly appreciated! See chronological order of events below...

-McCosker, Longfin and Spotcinctus are all pre-existing fish.

-Got the Exquisite late last week, started showing signs of what I think are fin rot shortly after. White ragged areas on fins. Blossomed to (the day before yesterday), his whole right side fin and area around it totally white. Had to get rid of him, RIP. Other fish all looked fin yesterday.

-Set up an Aqua UV 25 watt yesterday (pump speed with head loss at 525gph, did a bucket test before setting up). Pump in overflow of sump and returning to the return pump chamber. Once installed (and I have no idea why), the skimmer (in the middle chamber) started creating a ton of microbubbles. Thought it would sort itself out shortly so left it overnight.

-Came down this morning and noticed it was still making a ton of micro bubbles. Shut down the skimmer and UV light/pump early this morning, and have been off since. I will dismantle and clean the skimmer later today and test in a bucket.

-Both wrasses are in the rocks, when shining a light, I see they have their 'stressed' coloration and are breathing heavy. I touched the McCosker a bit with my soft reef tweezers and he moved, but went elsewhere to lay down. Doesn't appear to have any white issues on him. The Longfin is a little more difficult to see, but from what I could see, no white issues.

-Now I have a (not cheap) baby captive bred blue tang arriving today.

-Water params are all in check, inverts and corals look fine.

This obviously is a lot of issues to be having at once. Would love to get your thoughts and what I might do when the tang arrives later today. I.e. do you think it's the micro bubbles? The symptoms of the wrasses seems like it could be that (lethargy, possible paralysis, breathing heavy), but I guess it could be a ton of things. Could it be the new UV, could it be the fin rot, etc? Any suggestions on how to handle this are greatly appreciated!

 

[BigEZ77]

The other thing to mention, I don't see any micro bubbles now (not in the water or on any surfaces).

 

[leebca]

Hi All,

Haven't been here in some time. Was out of the hobby for awhile and got back in over a year ago with a small 30 gallon tank. My coral were already outgrowing the tank...planning to upgrade to a new Waterbox Infinia Frag 175.6 in the spring. In the meantime, I found an unbelievable deal on a resealed G1 Reefer 450 so figured I'd get that for now (a couple months ago) until the WB upgrade to have more space for the time being, and then can sell it for much more than I paid for it. Also have since sold the smaller tank so am not running a QT.

I typically buy my fish from one LFS who does a full treatment and QT, or Reef Paradise in GTA (shipped) as they do the same thing. But recently I bought and Exquisite Wrasse and got it from another LFS where I'm not sure what their protocol is, thinking Wrasses are pretty bullet proof due to their slime coat, but looks like I was wrong (could have been fin rot, he is now gone). Big mistake, will only buy from my trusted LFS's with verified protocol moving forward.

A little more backstory...I set up a UV a couple days ago and my skimmer started making a ton of micro bubbles yesterday. I didn't think anything of it, thinking it would sort itself out overnight. Woke up this morning, still sending out a ton of micro bubbles and now my McCosker and Longfin wrasses won't come out, seem to be breathing heavy and are very lethargic...from what I can see, they don't appear to have any visible signs of infection. My Spotcinctus clown seems okay and just hanging out in her nem. I have a CB baby blue tang arriving today and not sure what to do without a QT...any help is greatly appreciated! See chronological order of events below...

-McCosker, Longfin and Spotcinctus are all pre-existing fish.

-Got the Exquisite late last week, started showing signs of what I think are fin rot shortly after. White ragged areas on fins. Blossomed to (the day before yesterday), his whole right side fin and area around it totally white. Had to get rid of him, RIP. Other fish all looked fin yesterday.

-Set up an Aqua UV 25 watt yesterday (pump speed with head loss at 525gph, did a bucket test before setting up). Pump in overflow of sump and returning to the return pump chamber. Once installed (and I have no idea why), the skimmer (in the middle chamber) started creating a ton of microbubbles. Thought it would sort itself out shortly so left it overnight.

-Came down this morning and noticed it was still making a ton of micro bubbles. Shut down the skimmer and UV light/pump early this morning, and have been off since. I will dismantle and clean the skimmer later today and test in a bucket.

-Both wrasses are in the rocks, when shining a light, I see they have their 'stressed' coloration and are breathing heavy. I touched the McCosker a bit with my soft reef tweezers and he moved, but went elsewhere to lay down. Doesn't appear to have any white issues on him. The Longfin is a little more difficult to see, but from what I could see, no white issues.

-Now I have a (not cheap) baby captive bred blue tang arriving today.

-Water params are all in check, inverts and corals look fine.

This obviously is a lot of issues to be having at once. Would love to get your thoughts and what I might do when the tang arrives later today. I.e. do you think it's the micro bubbles? The symptoms of the wrasses seems like it could be that (lethargy, possible paralysis, breathing heavy), but I guess it could be a ton of things. Could it be the new UV, could it be the fin rot, etc? Any suggestions on how to handle this are greatly appreciated!

My concern is the 'resealed' sysetem. Was it resealed properly? When it was previously used, were there parasite/disease issues?

Micro bubbles usually indicate one or more of these conditions: poor water quality; organics in the water; and/or contamination (e.g., soaps). Are you sure nothing had died in the display? Maybe a coral or two?

I would not introduce a new fish into the display tank. Set up a QT immediately. You can 'kick off' the biological filter by adding bacteria now sold in many lfs and online. I would not be so 'sure' on your fish source. Using a QT protocol is still your best choice if not for maintaining and parasite-free display but for making sure the new fish eats without having competition.

I would perform a huge water change -- no less than 50%. The 'new' water must be properly mixed if from a mix and stabilized to the same pH and salinity as the current display water. Be prepared to perform another 50% water change in a few days if things don't improve. Your system, if a 'normal' 450 holds about 116 gallon. With substrate, rocks and corals present you want your water changes to be greater than 50 gallons.

I believe the biggest concern is the possibility that your previously owned 450 was not properly handled.

Hopefully the fish can be gotten to eat. Help the fish by improving its immunity and ability to heal wounds by adding supplements for an ill fish to its diet as recommended in the Fish Nutrition document. Click on that link, then download (and read) the document. Use especially Beta-1,3/1,6-D-Glucan found online, in health-food stores, and pharmacies. Directions for its use and quantity are provided in the link.

 

[Uncle99]

They could “hide” if they were being bullied.
Is it “fin rot” or the results of fin nipping by someone?....(the clown would get my vote).

Micro bubbles can occur when something enters the water in enough volume to change water tension. An good example is the use of 2 part Expoxy, use enough and the skimmer will scream for many hours and the tank, tons of micros.

Any tang may have a higher risk of being a carrier, but if there’s no possibility of holding him separate for the 30 day period, not sure there’s anything you can do that would be meaningful.

like you posted, your trusted LFS would be the next best solution IMM.

Good luck!