well I really screwed up!!

grtmmt · 06/14/2018, 05:57 AM

Stupid just stupid!!! My story is I have a 155 gallon bow front with a 110 gallon sump mix reef that has been running for about 10 years. 3 healthy beautiful tangs a butterfly, some clowns and a few other fish. I have not added a new fish in years and most of them I have had for over 5 years.

I have been the market for a bigger tank and about 2 weeks ago I went and looked at one of someone leaving the hobby. I didn't like the tank but he basically gave me all his corals--two very nice anemones, two nice rocks with corals I haven't been able to identify, was told they were milliboro? a huge montipora and another neat large tan hard branch coral I haven't been able to identify. anyway you know what happen! a week later, fish started dying, I have lost all the large fish but the lavender tang who has mouth fungus. For some reason my clowns, marine betta and a bi-color chromis are fine.

I am assuming that I brought in something to the tank and started a mini cycle. I have done numerous water changes in hopes of attacking this. AHHHHH.

Testing the water know the nitrates are DOWN to 40, it was at one point running 80 for a week as I desperately worked on lowering it. All the other testing numbers are now fine.

So lesson learned, the very hard way.

mcgyvr · 06/14/2018, 06:19 AM

Assumptions...

Sorry about the loss though..
Nitrate levels of 40 or 80 will not cause fish any problems... Corals yes over time typically don't tolerate nitrate levels that high but fish.. not a single problem..

Its unlikely that the addition of what you have stated caused a "cycle" of any sorts.. Your tank should have a more than sufficient bacterial population and has plenty of water volume to handle the additions..

There must have been "something" else..
May have just been a coincidence..
Mouth fungus?

oh yea.. Millepora maybe?
https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2303/?pcatid=2303

grtmmt · 06/14/2018, 06:36 AM

ah man, now you have me worried! I was hoping this is over. Is it possible that this guy had something in his tank that I brought to mine?

grtmmt · 06/14/2018, 06:37 AM

by the way my corals all seem fine

NO3 · 06/14/2018, 06:52 AM

Its all about oxygenating the water. Thsts why my Apex pumps air thru an Sistine attached to a Powerhead for 5mins each hour.

mcgyvr · 06/14/2018, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NO3

Its all about oxygenating the water. Thsts why my Apex pumps air thru an Sistine attached to a Powerhead for 5mins each hour.

Thats a rather cryptic answer..

Are you somehow implying/assuming a low oxygen event caused by something?

mcgyvr · 06/14/2018, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grtmmt

Is it possible that this guy had something in his tank that I brought to mine?

yes... absolutely..
ich,etc... can be transferred in on live rock,etc...
Typically a fallow period of 72 days I believe its required to ensure ich (without a host fish to survive on) is killed

grtmmt · 06/14/2018, 07:20 AM

I have lots of flow in the tank, turnover is about 30X or more

JoeTSI · 06/14/2018, 10:08 AM

How was your ammonia? I lost several fish due to ammonia bloom from old sand transferred to the new tank.

grtmmt · 06/14/2018, 12:24 PM

ammonia was zero

grtmmt · 06/15/2018, 06:13 AM

Looks like the fish die off is complete lost a bunch of fish but three clown fish survived and doing well and a marine beta survived and is doing well. I now believe that I brought in some fish disease from the rock or coral. So what do I do now? It was suggested to me to buy a UV sterilizer to attempt to kill whatever is in the tank, wait 6 weeks and slower add fish. Thoughts?

06/14/2018, 05:57 AM	#1
grtmmt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Va Posts: 115	well I really screwed up!! Stupid just stupid!!! My story is I have a 155 gallon bow front with a 110 gallon sump mix reef that has been running for about 10 years. 3 healthy beautiful tangs a butterfly, some clowns and a few other fish. I have not added a new fish in years and most of them I have had for over 5 years. I have been the market for a bigger tank and about 2 weeks ago I went and looked at one of someone leaving the hobby. I didn't like the tank but he basically gave me all his corals--two very nice anemones, two nice rocks with corals I haven't been able to identify, was told they were milliboro? a huge montipora and another neat large tan hard branch coral I haven't been able to identify. anyway you know what happen! a week later, fish started dying, I have lost all the large fish but the lavender tang who has mouth fungus. For some reason my clowns, marine betta and a bi-color chromis are fine. I am assuming that I brought in something to the tank and started a mini cycle. I have done numerous water changes in hopes of attacking this. AHHHHH. Testing the water know the nitrates are DOWN to 40, it was at one point running 80 for a week as I desperately worked on lowering it. All the other testing numbers are now fine. So lesson learned, the very hard way. __________________ tank: 155 gallon bowfront mixed reef Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bowfront

06/14/2018, 06:19 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Assumptions... Sorry about the loss though.. Nitrate levels of 40 or 80 will not cause fish any problems... Corals yes over time typically don't tolerate nitrate levels that high but fish.. not a single problem.. Its unlikely that the addition of what you have stated caused a "cycle" of any sorts.. Your tank should have a more than sufficient bacterial population and has plenty of water volume to handle the additions.. There must have been "something" else.. May have just been a coincidence.. Mouth fungus? oh yea.. Millepora maybe? https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/2303/?pcatid=2303 __________________ Who me?

06/14/2018, 06:36 AM	#3
grtmmt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Va Posts: 115	ah man, now you have me worried! I was hoping this is over. Is it possible that this guy had something in his tank that I brought to mine? __________________ tank: 155 gallon bowfront mixed reef Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bowfront

06/14/2018, 06:37 AM	#4
grtmmt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Va Posts: 115	by the way my corals all seem fine __________________ tank: 155 gallon bowfront mixed reef Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bowfront

06/14/2018, 07:20 AM	#8
grtmmt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Va Posts: 115	I have lots of flow in the tank, turnover is about 30X or more __________________ tank: 155 gallon bowfront mixed reef Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bowfront

06/14/2018, 06:52 AM	#5
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	Its all about oxygenating the water. Thsts why my Apex pumps air thru an Sistine attached to a Powerhead for 5mins each hour.

06/14/2018, 10:08 AM	#9
JoeTSI Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 257	How was your ammonia? I lost several fish due to ammonia bloom from old sand transferred to the new tank. __________________ Joe 210 Gallon; Vortech MP40x2; Maxspect Gyre 280; 2xKessil AP700; Tunze ATO with custom 15 gallon acrylic top off tank; BRS Dual Media Reactor

06/14/2018, 12:24 PM	#10
grtmmt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Va Posts: 115	ammonia was zero __________________ tank: 155 gallon bowfront mixed reef Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bowfront

06/15/2018, 06:13 AM	#11
grtmmt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Va Posts: 115	Update Looks like the fish die off is complete lost a bunch of fish but three clown fish survived and doing well and a marine beta survived and is doing well. I now believe that I brought in some fish disease from the rock or coral. So what do I do now? It was suggested to me to buy a UV sterilizer to attempt to kill whatever is in the tank, wait 6 weeks and slower add fish. Thoughts? __________________ tank: 155 gallon bowfront mixed reef Current Tank Info: 155 gallon bowfront