MY FISH ARE DROPPING LIKE FLIES!!!!!

[loans_n_fishes]

GEEZ! I can't seem to get a break these days! :angry

I had some beautiful fish in my tank and still have 4...but I bet it is 3 by the end of the day! :(

I went out of town for 4 days last week, and came back to a dead Atlantic Blue Tang and a dead (half-way up the powerhead) Yellow Mimic Tang. My second Yellow Mimic Tang bit the dust 2 days ago (he seemed scared and lonely without his buddy :( ), now my Mandarin is moving slowly. As of yesterday, I noticed the telltale white spots on my Mandarin and I think the clown fish (pair) and coral beauty have velvet and/or ich. I usually let the ich take care of itself as it usually clears up in a day or two with my 2 cleaner shrimp and feeding well. I haven't had any show up at all for almost a year until now. However, it does not seem to be the run of the mill stuff.

My husband and kiddos took care of the tank. I'm not sure whether they over fed and stressed them with some resulting ammonia, or there was already something awry (the Atlantic blue and yellow mimics were fairly new--maybe it just stressed everyone out to have new fish in the tank--or they introduced something...).

I think I can get the clowns and mandarin (providing he survives) out for possible treatment, but that coral beauty will be a hard one to catch. Plus, I will need to set up another treatment tank. I know treating in the main tank is usually a no-no, but is there something safe that I can use and is effective (I do have softies, lps, snails, crabs and cleaner shrimp)? The less stress I put on these guys (moving them) the better.

Any suggestions? I will run to the store when it opens at noon.

[erikharrison]

you could lower the salinity, but it would be for an extended period of time. I say use the UV, since I got mine, I have been VERY pleased, and although I havent ran it in a couple of months, my recurring ICH problem has ceased. If you introduced a new fish, that fish probably brought it in.

[loans_n_fishes]

Angela- are ou running a UV? I dont know about treatments, we've always relied on a sterilizer. HTHs
-christina

Do you still have that one for sale? I really wanted one for my seahorse tank, but looks like my reef needs it, too. :angry So, should I just hook up the sterilizer, or do treatment first?

I could trade you a couple of gorgeous ricordia (orange mouth, pink, green and purple) as partial payment? They are small (around 1/2" diameter each, but breathtaking and they grow FAST)

[erikharrison]

the sterilizer will treat the whole tank. It's non invasive, unlike chemicals, except it might give some pods a tan. You should be able to find one locally.

[caferacermike]

Angela- are ou running a UV? I dont know about treatments, we've always relied on a sterilizer. HTHs
-christina

Do you still have that one for sale? I really wanted one for my seahorse tank, but looks like my reef needs it, too. :angry So, should I just hook up the sterilizer, or do treatment first?

I could trade you a couple of gorgeous ricordia (orange mouth, pink, green and purple) as partial payment? They are small (around 1/2" diameter each, but breathtaking and they grow FAST)


Angela you can borrow the one I recently bought if GM does not have that one available anymore. If GM's is to large for your tank I'll work a deal with you by buying GM's and letting you work out whatever you can for the one I'm offering for loan. You know where I live.

[Tim Marvin]

Since you had a couple fish die already a 25-30% water change might be in order. Make sure you don't have anything shorting into the water, you can either use a meter or put a finger in the water that has a small cut on it and you'll feel the shock. When ever I had fish irritated it was because of a power headshorting or too much salt creep on light cause a small discharge of current into the water. Grounding probes are cheap and a must have piece of equipment for every tank in my opinion. You can also use fresh ground garlic from HEB (in the jars) and soak some flake food with the juice to feed the fish. Garlic boost the appitite and will keep ich at bay.

[loans_n_fishes]

Angela you can borrow the one I recently bought if GM does not have that one available anymore. If GM's is to large for your tank I'll work a deal with you by buying GM's and letting you work out whatever you can for the one I'm offering for loan. You know where I live.[/quote]

So, if I get one too large for my tank, it could fry the good stuff? (I have a 75 gal)

Mike, it would be awesome if I could borrow that from you! Does it have a pump with it? I may work it out where I buy it from you, but I have bid on one through ebay--so I will see how that goes first.

Pm me your address again--or if you are going to the meeting, we can exchange there.

Just lost the mandarin. :cry Geez this is heartbreaking!! :(

[loans_n_fishes]

Oh...and yesterday...I broke my toe! This is just not my week!

[loans_n_fishes]

Ok...this morning I embedded a toothpick in my foot (other foot) :angry

My 2 clownfish and coral beauty still had stuff all over them this morning. I just couldn't take watching it anymore and bought some Copper Safe.

I set up my 10 gallon tank caught the clownfish and added the first treatment. Well, apparently, I sped up their demise! :( I haven't caught the coral beauty yet. Should I try sticking him in the copper treated tank, or just let him wither away (or miraculously come back--yeah, right!) in the display?

When all this is said and done (probably no more fish :( ), I may take down the 75 and either completely re-do it (plumbing, etc), or sell it to save for the 180 I would like to have eventually.

Anyone in the market? <_<

[caferacermike]

Sorry Angela I was away most of the weekend. I missed your reply on Sat. PM sent.

[Headless_donkey]

I am in the market for your live rock. How are the horses?

[loans_n_fishes]

Got your pm, Mike. Thanks for your help!

[loans_n_fishes]

The horses seem to be doing great. Man, if that tank crashed, I'd be completely beside myself!

I doubt I will be getting rid of the inhabitants and rock. It would really just be a CPR RR Bakpak and the 75 gal tank itself.

However, I am going to be making some of my own rock soon. If it turns out good, I'll let you know! I plan to make, cure the base rock, then cure it as live rock (with live sand...and maybe some zoos, gsp, 'shrooms, etc.). I'm hoping it will be as cool as it is in my head...not that my head is full of rocks! :P