Fallow tank

[jdpeters]

I have a 4 month old reef that had 2 clowns from when I was cycling that did well from the get go. 3 weeks ago I added two fire fish that in all appearances were also doing well. A few days ago they were hiding, then both dropped dead the next day. Outside of the hiding, they didn’t appear to have any issues. No flashing or scratching and a had a normal appetite. I got them from a different source than the clowns.

This morning both clowns are dead. They were scratching in the glass yesterday but prior to that everything is normal.

My question is, how long do people suggest I let the tank go fallow before adding more fish. I have snails, hermits and a healthy pod population. Bit of a hair algae outbreak right now and it’s bottoming out my nitrates.

 

[mmorrison55]

If you suspect ich or velvet killed your fish, I think you have to go at least 6 weeks for velvet and a few weeks longer for ich, so I think at least 2 to 2 1/2 months is what I’ve read.

 

[BryanM]

#fishmedics

 

[jdpeters]

If you suspect ich or velvet killed your fish, I think you have to go at least 6 weeks for velvet and a few weeks longer for ich, so I think at least 2 to 2 1/2 months is what I’ve read.

I typically think of ick or velvet leaving white dots on the fish, there was none of that.

 

[UncommonSense]

The longest i’ve ever read is three months…

I researched this when my freshwater, and salt tanks went down for four months (power failure, long story)…

Though, in my case; it doesn’t appear that I ever lost cycle on the systems! I’m still keeping an eye on that…

 

[Sharkbait19]

60 days is long enough to eradicate ich - any of the other common diseases fit in that timeframe as well.

 

[jdpeters]

60 days is long enough to eradicate ich - any of the other common diseases fit in that timeframe as well.

Ok. This tank is a bare bottom dry rock that I’m just starting to have all sorts of problems with. I knew I would have some hurdles but not this bad. I got a hair algae on the rocks that is bottoming out my nitrates to undetectable levels, phosphate is .01. My montipora spongodes that was doing well has full polyp extension is losing color. Would you suggest dosing nitrates in that time period?

I was so enthusiastic about having a easy sps tank and put so much time and resources into it but I’m struggling a bit.

The longest i’ve ever read is three months…

I researched this when my freshwater, and salt tanks went down for four months (power failure, long story)…

Though, in my case; it doesn’t appear that I ever lost cycle on the systems! I’m still keeping an eye on that…

My kids didn’t handle the gobies kicking the bucket well, they were even more upset about the clownfish. I have 27 freshwater tanks with livebearers and rice fish but since the reef is in our living room and they have watched the whole build process this year, they are particularly invested.

I don’t want to lose any more live stock, especially to a disease that didn’t appear to have any visually noticeable signs.

I’m not so concerned about the cycle per se, my snails and hermits will keep it going. I’m mostly concerned about have nitrates for my fledgeling corals.

 

[Sharkbait19]

You can still feed and dose to keep corals and inverts healthy. Just feed a reduced amount as there aren’t any fish to eat it.

 

[jdpeters]

You can still feed and dose to keep corals and inverts healthy. Just feed a reduced amount as there aren’t any fish to eat it.

I thought it would be a good idea to leave a clown fish in and let the hermits get it. I left it in there for 2-3 days and the tank started to smell really bad . Apparently my system is too new and not robust enough. Some sps starting to kick the bucket. I tested the water and found that I had an ammonia spike.
I can’t recall the value but some things didn’t like it. My hologram hammer, which has been finicky has never looked better. Leptoseris, candy cane and hair algae like it too lol