Restart?

[siikm3]

Hello reefers,

I am fairly new to the hobby. I’ve been having bad luck with my fish as every fish I’ve bought has been dying one by one. At first I thought was do to having ammonia in tank but that wasn’t the case…long story short turns out that I have Brook in my tank! I am so devestated…I’ve been reading and most say that I need to qt and treat my one remaining fish and go fallow for 90 days(seems rough)…besides 1 fish I have cuc 2 rock flowers and bta…my question is should I restart all over again or go fallow?
If I restart can I used same rock and sand? Or same rock with new sand? Also will it be necessary to deep clean my AIO tank ? If so what will be the best cleaning solution?
Just speaking advice from you guys that have been in the hobby longer.
TIA
Sorry for such long post

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Hello reefers,

I am fairly new to the hobby. I’ve been having bad luck with my fish as every fish I’ve bought has been dying one by one. At first I thought was do to having ammonia in tank but that wasn’t the case…long story short turns out that I have Brook in my tank! I am so devestated…I’ve been reading and most say that I need to qt and treat my one remaining fish and go fallow for 90 days(seems rough)…besides 1 fish I have cuc 2 rock flowers and bta…my question is should I restart all over again or go fallow?
If I restart can I used same rock and sand? Or same rock with new sand? Also will it be necessary to deep clean my AIO tank ? If so what will be the best cleaning solution?
Just speaking advice from you guys that have been in the hobby longer.
TIA
Sorry for such long post

Don't start over, go with the 90 days. Your tank will continue to mature. You will run into issues though out your reefing career. There will always be something, each challenge will give you more knowledge. Over time you will be able to help others through their rough times.

Just my 2 pennies

 

[AetherealKnight]

Don’t start over it will take even longer, trust me. I did this before, using a myriad of cleaning solution and near boiling water in my 15 gallon 7 years ago to purge velvet and ich. All your live rock will be dead and you’ll have to cycle the tank again and probably a lot other problems.

You only need to go fallow for 45 days, keep the tank at 81 degrees for the duration. 76 days or 90 is an old rule from a study showing that ich could survive significantly longer in colder temperatures. (At least that’s what I’ve been told and started doing recently). As Cichlid Dad said your tank will mature during this period and you’ll have fish back in the tank in no time!

 

[siikm3]

Don't start over, go with the 90 days. Your tank will continue to mature. You will run into issues though out your reefing career. There will always be something, each challenge will give you more knowledge. Over time you will be able to help others through their rough times.

Just my 2 pennies

Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it.

 

[siikm3]

Don’t start over it will take even longer, trust me. I did this before, using a myriad of cleaning solution and near boiling water in my 15 gallon 7 years ago to purge velvet and ich. All your live rock will be dead and you’ll have to cycle the tank again and probably a lot other problems.

You only need to go fallow for 45 days, keep the tank at 81 degrees for the duration. 76 days or 90 is an old rule from a study showing that ich could survive significantly longer in colder temperatures. (At least that’s what I’ve been told and started doing recently). As Cichlid Dad said your tank will mature during this period and you’ll have fish back in the tank in no time!

Wow thank you!…you and Chichlid Dad really made me not wanna throw the towel.

Regarding the 45 day fallow, i did read something along does lines but wasn’t to sure…seeing the 45 and even up to the 90 made it more confusing…so going at 45 fallow and increasing temp to 81, will that effect the cuc, rock flower anemone and rainbow tip anemone ?

 

[Cali Reef Life]

No they can handle 81 degrees. I lost all my fish but 2 when i first started now i quarantine and treat all fish. I even quarantine coral now. We all have to learn multiple hard lessons in the hobby but makes you a better reefer.

 

[RedTheReefer]

I think you can go follow for 45 days if your temp stays above 81, if I'm not mistaken. If you want to keep your temperature at the normal 77-78, it has to be 90 days. I also believe that if the temperature ever drops below 81 degrees you have to restart? Someone can correct me if I am wrong. I'd just do the 90 days to be sure. We've all been there. You got this.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

It has not been 90 days it was 72 for ich. For brooklynella it has shorter life cycle. I did 2 months to be on safe side for ich and brooklynella when i qt at 81 never had either again.

Brooklynella

Brooklynella hostilis (updated 6-9-2023) What You Need To Know: * This is most often seen with clownfish, but it can afflict other fish (usually in the gills) as well. When a clownfish has Brook, the skin will appear to be peeling or sloughing off. Which is actually excess white mucous coming...

humble.fish

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Just in case you had ich.

Quarantine Strategies & Protocols

PART 1: How to Setup a Quarantine Tank Quarantine Strategies & Protocols (updated 4-14-2023) Preface: There is no "perfect" way to quarantine fish. Every method has pros & cons, and in the end it only matters that whatever you do works best for you + your fish. Something that is feasible to do...

humble.fish

 

[AetherealKnight]

Wow thank you!…you and Chichlid Dad really made me not wanna throw the towel.

Regarding the 45 day fallow, i did read something along does lines but wasn’t to sure…seeing the 45 and even up to the 90 made it more confusing…so going at 45 fallow and increasing temp to 81, will that effect the cuc, rock flower anemone and rainbow tip anemone ?

I’m quite certain that increasing the temp to 81 degrees is safe, my tank goes to that temp during the summer. 45 days fallow should be sufficient. @vetteguy53081. It’s 45 days right for ich and brook, right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m quite certain that increasing the temp to 81 degrees is safe, my tank goes to that temp during the summer. 45 days fallow should be sufficient. @vetteguy53081. It’s 45 days right for ich and brook, right?

81 degrees more applies to velvet however it will lightly shorten the lifecycle of parasite but also when temperature increases, oxygen decreases a little and minimum 45 days up to 60 days.

 

[siikm3]

No they can handle 81 degrees. I lost all my fish but 2 when i first started now i quarantine and treat all fish. I even quarantine coral now. We all have to learn multiple hard lessons in the hobby but makes you a better reefer.

Awesome!…I’ll have to go get me a adjustable heater…I’m most definitely gonna start qt all fish I purchase…is there such thing of ordering online qt fish?

 

[siikm3]

I think you can go follow for 45 days if your temp stays above 81, if I'm not mistaken. If you want to keep your temperature at the normal 77-78, it has to be 90 days. I also believe that if the temperature ever drops below 81 degrees you have to restart? Someone can correct me if I am wrong. I'd just do the 90 days to be sure. We've all been there. You got this.

Thank you, I will be trying the 45 at temps of 81 and try an maintain it. But mostly keep it till 55 /60 days just in case.
Thank you all for advice!

 

[siikm3]

81 degrees more applies to velvet however it will lightly shorten the lifecycle of parasite but also when temperature increases, oxygen decreases a little and minimum 45 days up to 60 days.

Thank you!

 

[GARRIGA]

Nice part about going FOLLOW being you can keep adding corals and CUC assuming QT procedures upgraded for future fish additions or fish purchased from reliable sour5ces that perform the QT before hand. Expensive but so is setting up equipment, time involved and space to perform it correctly along with understanding the identification and treatment.

 

[siikm3]

Nice part about going FOLLOW being you can keep adding corals and CUC assuming QT procedures upgraded for future fish additions or fish purchased from reliable sour5ces that perform the QT before hand. Expensive but so is setting up equipment, time involved and space to perform it correctly along with understanding the identification and treatment.

Yes I’ve been looking into purchasing fish that are qt before shipped.

Regarding the cuc and coral/nems did you mean I will have to qt them as well?

 

[AetherealKnight]

Yes I’ve been looking into purchasing fish that are qt before shipped.

Regarding the cuc and coral/nems did you mean I will have to qt them as well?

Technically yes, but check out Reef Cleaners, they keep their Cuc in fishless systems. I just acclimate them and drop them in the tank.

You will have to qt coral and nems though. Some sell it already qt online like dr reef. But it’s cheaper to do it yourself.

 

[jk1knight]

I would pull the remaining fish and put it in a quarantine tank. I would wait the 2-3 months with your display tank. Let you live rock, sand, and tank biology mature. Do your water changes. Learn. Figure out basic reef chemistry. Always quarantine your fish in the future. There are some good YouTube videos on BRS TV with Elliott from Marine Collectors if you want to DIY. To answer your 2nd question, Marine Collectors quarantines and pre-treats their fish. It is their specialty. You can save some money by replicating their methods, but it is more work…I think that they charge about $150

 

[siikm3]

I would pull the remaining fish and put it in a quarantine tank. I would wait the 2-3 months with your display tank. Let you live rock, sand, and tank biology mature. Do your water changes. Learn. Figure out basic reef chemistry. Always quarantine your fish in the future. There are some good YouTube videos on BRS TV with Elliott from Marine Collectors if you want to DIY. To answer your 2nd question, Marine Collectors quarantines and pre-treats their fish. It is their specialty. You can save some money by replicating their methods, but it is more work…I think that they charge about $150

Yea that’s what I will be doing pulling out my last fish and qt it and go fallow for 45-60 days with temp at 81 like other members have mentioned. I appreciate all of you that have taken the time and give input!

Yes I will watch them videos!…I need to learn how to qt/treat my on…seen how much price is for a qt pair of clowns and ‍$$$

 

[GARRIGA]

Yes I’ve been looking into purchasing fish that are qt before shipped.

Regarding the cuc and coral/nems did you mean I will have to qt them as well?

Considering buying QT fish as I’m limited in space but I’m also about to run some tests that might solve that. Same for separate system for inverts.

Point on adding corals and CUC that those can be added while one waits. Obviously depending on source. For example, frags obtained from coral only systems where resident fish have been there for an extended period more reliable then those coming from shops that are getting pieces from others.

CUC can be a concern because direct sources I know come from the wild and even if kept in Fishless systems might harbor that not wanted but if you can find a source that hold them for several months then those likely safe to drop in day one or after a short observation period. Because I don’t trust that being the case. Plan on having a small QT where I can keep mine 90 days before replenishment. Luckily that won’t take up much space and don’t expect to ever be replenishing more often then every six months.