Sooo....despite my precautions I think I have a disaster starting in my new system. I'm leaning Velvet but could be Ich.
System is about 5 months old
-Started with Marco Rock, Tropic Eden Sand, and about 10 pounds of KP Aquatics live rock from Florida. I further seeded with a mixture of Pods from AlgaeBarn and mixed pods from Florida Pets that I get on a monthly basis and add to the system.
-Lights out and cycled with Dr. Tim's, Microbacter 7, and Fritz Turbo.
-Maintained lights out and Fallow for 2.5 months
-Added first test corals around 2.5- months...they took off
-Added first fish around 3 months and continued further additions every week or so as they completed their Quarantine.
All Fish were Quarantined in Copperpower for 14 days with addition of General Cure x 2 rounds and Metroplex x 3 rounds. Then observed for a week ( I probably should have waited longer).
The final fish additions were two fish that I have had for over 5 years in my old system that is coming down. I had moved all my coral over and all that remained were these two; a Tomini and a Black Cap Basslet. They stayed in the old system while I was finishing with the other fish additions, etc.
I did not treat these two with Copper or Meds (I think this was my BIG Mistake). I have had them healthy for 5 years!
The new system has really taken off, Coralline coverage is excellent, SPS are thriving and it was hitting that good time of increasing growth and maturation. The fish were all doing well, active feeding, etc.
The Fish:
-paired antennae Goby
-paired Firefish
-Tail spot blenny
-3 Juvenile clowns
-red fin fairy wrasse
-banana wrasse
-melanurus wrasse
-Tomini Tang
-Black Cap Basslet
No aggression in the tank to speak of other than one of the clowns is starting to exert dominance and get larger.
Sooooo all was well and earlier this week I noticed one of the fire fish making a dive on occasion and striking its abdomen on the sand....hmmm concern but they are know to do this.
Two days ago, several fish scratching on rocks- mainly the malanurus and tail spot blenny. The red fin fairy was not scratching but looked to have a few tiny white specs on the top of his head.
Yesterday I noticed a few more fish scratching on rocks very intermittently. The banana wrasse, tail spot blenny, malanurus, and firefish. Of note, the Black Cap Basslet was not coming out to feed and a couple times when I did see him he seemed a touch erratic.
Last night with lights out when I got home from work- The black cap basslet was in a corner of the tank. With a flashlight I thought he looked very "frosted" and maybe an area with scales sloughing off. He was breathing fast. I turned on only the red lights and tried to get him out but he went for the rocks and has not come back out.
This morning all the fish are still very active, feeding and acting normal with the exception of the occasional scratch. The spots on the red fin fairy are gone. I can see the Black Cap in a crack of the rocks and he moves so I know he is alive but I can't get a good look.
I'm seriously concerned and my initial thought was velvet or Brook given how the Black Cap looked last night (albeit- it was in the dark so I did not have a good view). However, I would have imagined more fish seriously ill by now if it were one of these two. Further the Clowns are just fine with no signs of anything. I tried catching a few this morning. Got the Clowns but everyone else has hidden and the wrasses are in the sand or rocks. No way I am going to get anyone out at the moment, Hoping I can get some more tonight under red light.
I fear I am on the precipice and it all going to unravel at any moment. I was careful but I guess not careful enough.
One word- SUCKS!
System is about 5 months old
-Started with Marco Rock, Tropic Eden Sand, and about 10 pounds of KP Aquatics live rock from Florida. I further seeded with a mixture of Pods from AlgaeBarn and mixed pods from Florida Pets that I get on a monthly basis and add to the system.
-Lights out and cycled with Dr. Tim's, Microbacter 7, and Fritz Turbo.
-Maintained lights out and Fallow for 2.5 months
-Added first test corals around 2.5- months...they took off
-Added first fish around 3 months and continued further additions every week or so as they completed their Quarantine.
All Fish were Quarantined in Copperpower for 14 days with addition of General Cure x 2 rounds and Metroplex x 3 rounds. Then observed for a week ( I probably should have waited longer).
The final fish additions were two fish that I have had for over 5 years in my old system that is coming down. I had moved all my coral over and all that remained were these two; a Tomini and a Black Cap Basslet. They stayed in the old system while I was finishing with the other fish additions, etc.
I did not treat these two with Copper or Meds (I think this was my BIG Mistake). I have had them healthy for 5 years!
The new system has really taken off, Coralline coverage is excellent, SPS are thriving and it was hitting that good time of increasing growth and maturation. The fish were all doing well, active feeding, etc.
The Fish:
-paired antennae Goby
-paired Firefish
-Tail spot blenny
-3 Juvenile clowns
-red fin fairy wrasse
-banana wrasse
-melanurus wrasse
-Tomini Tang
-Black Cap Basslet
No aggression in the tank to speak of other than one of the clowns is starting to exert dominance and get larger.
Sooooo all was well and earlier this week I noticed one of the fire fish making a dive on occasion and striking its abdomen on the sand....hmmm concern but they are know to do this.
Two days ago, several fish scratching on rocks- mainly the malanurus and tail spot blenny. The red fin fairy was not scratching but looked to have a few tiny white specs on the top of his head.
Yesterday I noticed a few more fish scratching on rocks very intermittently. The banana wrasse, tail spot blenny, malanurus, and firefish. Of note, the Black Cap Basslet was not coming out to feed and a couple times when I did see him he seemed a touch erratic.
Last night with lights out when I got home from work- The black cap basslet was in a corner of the tank. With a flashlight I thought he looked very "frosted" and maybe an area with scales sloughing off. He was breathing fast. I turned on only the red lights and tried to get him out but he went for the rocks and has not come back out.
This morning all the fish are still very active, feeding and acting normal with the exception of the occasional scratch. The spots on the red fin fairy are gone. I can see the Black Cap in a crack of the rocks and he moves so I know he is alive but I can't get a good look.
I'm seriously concerned and my initial thought was velvet or Brook given how the Black Cap looked last night (albeit- it was in the dark so I did not have a good view). However, I would have imagined more fish seriously ill by now if it were one of these two. Further the Clowns are just fine with no signs of anything. I tried catching a few this morning. Got the Clowns but everyone else has hidden and the wrasses are in the sand or rocks. No way I am going to get anyone out at the moment, Hoping I can get some more tonight under red light.
I fear I am on the precipice and it all going to unravel at any moment. I was careful but I guess not careful enough.
One word- SUCKS!