Probably too late, but....

[Mr_Cool]

Bad news. I thought it would be easier for me to sell some of my livestock if I could get some of it in the sump/fuge. With all the rock in the display tank, it took me a while, but I finally got the Kole and the small yellow tang. I got the bigger yellow tang, too, but decided the sump was too small for him and the other two tangs. So, I put the big buy back in the display. Anyway, the small yellow died Friday night and the Kole was dead Saturday night. The big yellow tang has a popped out right eye, but he looks like he might be okay. I don't know what happened. Could it be that I moved some rock around to try to catch them and had a spike? I haven't tested the water (since it's so late), but I'll do that in the morning.

My flame angel, emperor, and GSM pair look normal. Maybe it just a "Tang Thing?"

Any thoughts here?

[stoneroller]

Stress in the chase and capture and spike from stirring things up; was the sump pretty clean or could have the two fish stirred things up in there too. Double whammy?

[Kristy]

Ouch. So sorry to hear about this. Sounds like the catching and moving of the tangs was just too stressful on them. The big yellow can recover from the popeye, but needs good water conditions, good diet, and no more stress in order to do so.

This is why most folks won't sell their fish until the live rock and corals are removed from the tank, because it's just so difficult and stressful. Once the rock is out, you can just syphon the water level down until the fish are easy pickings. Again, really sorry to hear about this. Must be very frustrating.

[Mr_Cool]

Thanks, Kristy. I tested the water this morning, and Nitrates were a little high. (They're normally barely detectable, but today they were reading about 10-15.) It could be from moving the rock and stirring things up, or it could be that I haven't done a water change in a LONG time. I think you're right, Stoneroller. It was probably a Double Whammy.

I'm trying to figure out how I can break down the tank and still keep everything alive. I just can't part things out with the system set up like it is. I think I know what to do. Coordinating everything is a different story, though. Let me know if my "plan" will work.....

Remove rock and put in rubbermaid tubs. Drain water from tank and sump/fuge into tubs with the rock. Remove more water from the display tank so that I don't stress the fish when I remove them. :wink_smile: Remove the fish/livestock. Drain all remaining water. Remove sand from display tank and fuge.

This should allow me to move the tank/stand in order to get the sumps/fuge out from underneath. (As it is now, I only have two feet on either side of the stand to get the four foot long sumps out. Unfortunately, I don't remember how I got the darn things in there!)

Is there anything I might be missing?

[Mr Cob]

Sorry to hear about your losses.

As already mentioned the normal process for parting out is:

-Coral First
-Live Rock Next
-Fish Next (It helps to list these for sale at the same time as the live rock. Sell the LR before the fish as to not stress the fish, but you need to sell the fish quickly once the LR is gone since the LR helps filter the water. For longer processes you can add PVC and other items for the fish to hide in).

-Then, Live Sand and Hardware.

Selling things in this order will prevent stress on the fish because you are slowly moving things out as they sell. Also, it helps to do frequent small water changes as you sell items to keep your water parameters in check.

Good luck with everything. Breaking down my fully stocked mixed reef 120 was no easy task and took over a month but I did not lose anything following the afore mentioned steps.

[ErikH]

SALINITY???? Does your tang have pop-eye? Parasitic infections are more prevalent in a tank with higher salinity.

[Mr_Cool]

Tank salinity is 1.021. He looks like he's getting better. That is, when he come out.

[Mr_Cool]

The big buy is almost back to normal looking. He sure does hide a lot more than he used to, though.

Strange.

[innate1]

good info Mr. Cob, thanks.