Lost all fish in a week. Advice on running tank fallow, please

[AUSXMD]

Hello. I posted here a few days back. I have a Waterbox Infinia 230.6 FOWLR and only had 2 clowns, a powder blue tang and queen angel with inverts. The fish have all died over the past 5 days or so and it was determined on here, and a FB forum, that it was a parasite issue. Some said uronema, others brook. Anyway, I have no more fish in the tank. My Facebook forum that's been helping me thru this as well suggested I now go fallow. I am reading mixed things about how to do this, other than it needs to be 77 days minimum and I can keep my CUC during this period. Do I run the tank as if it had fish, since I'd like to keep my CUC? Do I add microbacter7, occasional food for the CUC, or anything else during this time, skimmer, light schedule? Any and all advice is welcome. I've been keeping FOWLR tanks for 25 years and never had a tank failure like this. Throughout this my parameters have been normal, but if anyone wants specifics: Salt 1.024, temp 78, alk 10, ph 8.2, nitrite 0, ammonia 0, nitrates 5-10. I did a 30% waterchange 3 days ago. Appreciate you guys and your feedback on this fallow process.

 

[Jekyl]

Here is the method from our resident expert.

45 Day Fallow periods

I've been doing some research into the "76 day fallow period". I never heard of that prior to coming to Reef2Reef this past summer. I had always used 32 days as the maximum time for a tomont to remain viable under tropical conditions, and then I would round up to 45 days to help ensure that...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dburr1014]

Uronema will always be in the tank if that is what is was.

Edit: unless you broke everything down and bleached everything.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Uronema will always be in the tank if that is what is was.

Edit: unless you broke everything down and bleached everything.

Uronema doesn’t really spread from fish to fish. It’s unlikely to wipe out a tank the way velvet would. I wouldn’t be too worried about eradication since potentially exists in just about every system.

That said, going at least 60 days will ensure all common issues (ich, brook, velvet) have been starved out.

 

[JayM]

Month and a half to 2 months should be sufficient. Run it as you would with fish, but obviously cut back on feeding.

Uronema can’t be removed by going fallow, but IIRC, it isn’t common for the fish you had to get it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello. I posted here a few days back. I have a Waterbox Infinia 230.6 FOWLR and only had 2 clowns, a powder blue tang and queen angel with inverts. The fish have all died over the past 5 days or so and it was determined on here, and a FB forum, that it was a parasite issue. Some said uronema, others brook. Anyway, I have no more fish in the tank. My Facebook forum that's been helping me thru this as well suggested I now go fallow. I am reading mixed things about how to do this, other than it needs to be 77 days minimum and I can keep my CUC during this period. Do I run the tank as if it had fish, since I'd like to keep my CUC? Do I add microbacter7, occasional food for the CUC, or anything else during this time, skimmer, light schedule? Any and all advice is welcome. I've been keeping FOWLR tanks for 25 years and never had a tank failure like this. Throughout this my parameters have been normal, but if anyone wants specifics: Salt 1.024, temp 78, alk 10, ph 8.2, nitrite 0, ammonia 0, nitrates 5-10. I did a 30% waterchange 3 days ago. Appreciate you guys and your feedback on this fallow process.

How are you testing water?
Fallow should be at least 6-8 weeks and a good opportunity to send out water for an icp test

 

[AUSXMD]

Here is the method from our resident expert.

45 Day Fallow periods

I've been doing some research into the "76 day fallow period". I never heard of that prior to coming to Reef2Reef this past summer. I had always used 32 days as the maximum time for a tomont to remain viable under tropical conditions, and then I would round up to 45 days to help ensure that...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you!

 

[MnFish1]

The reason you're hearing multiple answers as to the duration of a fallow period - is that it's a bit up for debate. The standard used to be 76 days - I won't go into the historical reasons for this - BUT - IMHO - @vetteguy53081 's recommendation for 6-8 weeks - is a great idea - and I would err to the 8 week level due to the fact that its velvet - which can be more virulent (yes, even though the fallow period for velvet is considered less than ich by many people)

 

[AUSXMD]

The reason you're hearing multiple answers as to the duration of a fallow period - is that it's a bit up for debate. The standard used to be 76 days - I won't go into the historical reasons for this - BUT - IMHO - @vetteguy53081 's recommendation for 6-8 weeks - is a great idea - and I would err to the 8 week level due to the fact that its velvet - which can be more virulent (yes, even though the fallow period for velvet is considered less than ich by many people)

Thanks so much! Appreciate the feedback.

 

[AUSXMD]

How are you testing water?
Fallow should be at least 6-8 weeks and a good opportunity to send out water for an icp test

Red Sea test kit. I called my lfs to take water there and their electronic machine is down so they're using Red Sea. Looking into icp now. Thank you!

 

[AUSXMD]

Uronema doesn’t really spread from fish to fish. It’s unlikely to wipe out a tank the way velvet would. I wouldn’t be too worried about eradication since potentially exists in just about every system.

That said, going at least 60 days will ensure all common issues (ich, brook, velvet) have been starved out.

Thanks so much. The FB group just about had me buying metroplex, but I guess I'll hold off on that.

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks so much. The FB group just about had me buying metroplex, but I guess I'll hold off on that.

Correct - Uronema is probably in many tanks. I'm also going to make an editorial comment - so please don't take this the wrong way - I personally feel its important to find a trusted source, and stick with their protocol (on Facebook - it may be a person or a couple people). The reason (and its not as much for you scotty - as it is for others reading) - is that if you ask 10 reefers their opinion about a certain issue, you're likely to get 20 answers. And - especially for new people - it can be quite difficult.

 

[AUSXMD]

Correct - Uronema is probably in many tanks. I'm also going to make an editorial comment - so please don't take this the wrong way - I personally feel its important to find a trusted source, and stick with their protocol (on Facebook - it may be a person or a couple people). The reason (and its not as much for you scotty - as it is for others reading) - is that if you ask 10 reefers their opinion about a certain issue, you're likely to get 20 answers. And - especially for new people - it can be quite difficult.

I have found that to be very true, especially on this FB group. I've been sort of a silent member here for a while, doing research and just browsing things of interest. I have to say I am very impressed with the feedback I've received here. In fact several of the FB members responses to me were "Well R2R says..." so what's that tell you.