Maac's 180ish gallon Dream Reef Savvy Tank

[Maacc]

I bought these on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Saddle-Holder-Self-Locking-Thread-Screws/dp/B07J4H65DK
Screwed them into the pvc backer board and secured them with removable zip ties. It keeps them organized and helps dissapate heat.

 

[Maacc]

@evolved, @4FordFamily

Guys, can I pick your brain? I just came home to 3 high end wrasses out of nowhere. I lost a juvi female flame, an eightline flasher and a pintail. The only common thread is they all have their heads caved in/cracked open. (Photos below) I see no sign of disease on them or any of the remaining fish in the tank. I still have 3 remaining fairies, a moyeri leopard, a melanarus, a yellow and all the other fish. I also have tangs and none of them are exhibiting any signs of disease. I don't have mantis shrimp as I used dry rock, no pistol shrimp. I do have 3 decent sized emeralds but this seems excessive damage for any of them. No water quality issues I can think of 8.9 alk, 0.04 phosphate, 10 nitrate, 420 calcium, 1400 mag. I had a clean ICP test last month. All of the other fish and corals seem to have no discernible issues (getting good PE etc.)
There have been no additions in the last 6 months fish wise that didn't come from Bobby(humblefish) or Elliot over at Marine Collectors.
Please let me know If I can provide any further information.

 

[Maacc]

Higher quality photos with my TG 5

 

[Maacc]

I have done a fresh water dip, no flukes or anything else.

 

[4FordFamily]

I asked Humblefish, he thinks some kind of bacterial infection. Very virulent...

He said if a pistol shrimp or mantis shrimp didn’t get to it (or some kind of predator similar), likely a bad bacterial infection. That’s really rough, sorry

“Some internal flagellates attack the sensory pores near the head, but those wrasses would have to been loaded with them to eat from the inside out like that. Has he ever seen white stringy poo come out of any of the wrasses?”

 

[4FordFamily]

Does you collect NSW or use ASW? Florida is infamous for flesh eating bacteria in the water.

 

[Maacc]

No white stringy poo out of any of the fish. I feed a very varied diet of all the LRS frenzies, live blackworms, clams, krill, mysis, mahi mahi roe and calanus. I rarely change water maybe 2x a year 100 + gallons and top off occasionally to make up for the skimmer. I do use natural sea water collected from Hullover but I have used it for 5 + years with no issues.
I get it from my LFS and also use it in my 20 IM peninsula. Nothing in there is exhibiting any symptoms.

 

[4FordFamily]

From Bobby:
“I’d be running a UV to zap any free floating bacteria in the water. If other fish start dying, treat with Enrofloxacin in a QT.“

 

[Maacc]

I guess I am picking up a UV from amazon or BRS any recommendations? And thanks so much for all your help.

 

[Maacc]

@atoll
Question, totally not trying to say it's related, but have you ever heard of something like this happen from the addition of an oxydator? I just added a W with 2 catalyst and 12% peroxide last week. I don't think it is as none of the inverts are symptomatic and from what I read, they show things first.

 

[Maacc]

Best thing about Labs, no judgment even you suck at fishkeeping

 

[4FordFamily]

I’ve heard some pond UV are a better bang/buck!

 

[Gareth elliott]

Given the symmetrical nature of the location of head damage.

Would an antibiotic that could cross the blood–brain barrier be useful as well? metronidazole or doxycycline.

 

[Maacc]

Calling all fairy wrasse experts @evolved , @4FordFamily
Hunter, Jason,
Just lost my last 2 fairies tonight, a super male solarensis I have had for 4 ish years and a super male lineatus I have had for about 3 1/2 years respectively. Both were active and eating yesterday found them when I got home from work. No signs of disease, injury or predation other than some eaten fin material off the lineatus from the CuC. Nothing on the solarensis because he was picked clean and nothing but bones.

So in about 5 weeks for the first time in over 5 years I am without fairy wrasses. Every other fish in the tank is fine. I also have other wrasse genera including potters, possum and halichoeres and they are all fine. Running the UV from last time, so I am stumped.

 

[4FordFamily]

@eatbreakfast

Well, first of all I’m sorry for your loss. Any cleaning/painting/renovation in the house?

Parameters OK?

I think it internal parasites possibly still :/

 

[Maacc]

No, haven't done any renovation yet.
Water parameters are good:
8.6 alk
0.04 phosphate
10 nitrate
420 cal
1400 mag

You would think if I had raging bacterial infections going around, would it just target fairy wrassses?
I was emailing Bobby and he was still thinking something in the NSW. Trying to noodle it out, but what would be in southeast florida ocean water that would target fairy wrasse specific hosts?
I do very little in the way of water changes in this tank, but I go through 5-10 gallons per week in my 20 peninsula (I stocked it heavy with 5 fish) and have experienced no loses and it has a possum wrasse as well.

 

[Maacc]

I guess I am trying to find something which ignores other labridae, but targets cirrhilabrus?

 

[Matt Carden]

I'm sorry to hear of your losses. You have a beautiful tank!

 

[Maacc]

I'm sorry to hear of your losses. You have a beautiful tank!

Thanks man I really appreciate it.

 

[Maacc]

Well sorry to say, hadn't updated in a while but the tank had a catastrophic seam failure a couple of Sundays ago, around midnight, water everywhere electric popping.
Fortunately it stopped with about 10" of water left.
Big shout out to Cliff from Crystal Oceans in Pompano Florida who gave all my fish and coral a home in his farm tanks.
I kept 4 fish, 2 clowns, my favorite possum wrasse, and an aptasia eating filefish in my emergency set up IM 20 peninsula.
New tank is going through the uglies, but I'm getting ready to do a whole house renovation so I'm cleaning and packing away equipment to maybe start a new build in a year or two.