New tangs, fish dying

[masonf94]

Hi Everyone, new reefer here. We have a 75gal tank, currently waiting on our 125gal DT getting made. We recently purchased a Sail Tang, Dori, and Powder Blue, same day. Over the past 48 hours they all died at different times. I’ve been doing a lot of research and still confused. We acclimated them to the water temp, (not the parameters). After reading more about QT tanks, and a more in depth acclimation, maybe that would have saved them. HOWEVER, I’m assuming there might be a sickness in the tank as well. I have no idea. I’ve read about ICK, HLLE, and Velvet. I’m not sure if it was ammonia, nitrite, or just shock. But each fish had their fins looking like they deteriorated. I’ve attached a pic of my PD Tang before he died…

Is this a sickness?
Is this a parameter issue?

I have other fish in the tank that look fine, but I contacted a friend and now all my remaining fish have been removed, treated, and in a QT tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#fishmedics

 

[Sharkbait19]

Are those spots on the fish or the glass? And what is the full tank stocking? Are any other fish acting/looking off?
How were the fish breathing? Were they acting weird at all (lethargic, swimming into flow, refusing food)?

 

[masonf94]

Spots are off the glass, tried to get a good picture. But below his top yellow fin, his blue skin was coming off on both sides.

2 clowns
1 bi color angel
1 flame angel
1 dottyback
1 blue/yellow damsel
1 6 line wrasse
1 Spanish lobster
1 sail tang (new)
1 blue hippo tang (new)
1 powder blue tang (new)

All fish are small/medium size

Tangs acted normal when I put them in the DT, but shortly after started to swim side ways, I assumed stressed. They continued to eat, both flakes and macro algae. Within 48, all three tangs died.

After starting up the QT, as I was treating each fish I now noticed the two angel fish have signs on their fins as well. But nothing like the tangs.

I have not tested my ammonia/nitrite levels yet, but everything else looks fine.

Just don’t understand what would cause those issues physically on the fish in a very short period of time and die…

 

[W31Olds]

Test your ammonia and how long when did you add your angels? Try and add some pics or a video of them also.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Spots are off the glass, tried to get a good picture. But below his top yellow fin, his blue skin was coming off on both sides.

2 clowns
1 bi color angel
1 flame angel
1 dottyback
1 blue/yellow damsel
1 6 line wrasse
1 Spanish lobster
1 sail tang (new)
1 blue hippo tang (new)
1 powder blue tang (new)

All fish are small/medium size

Tangs acted normal when I put them in the DT, but shortly after started to swim side ways, I assumed stressed. They continued to eat, both flakes and macro algae. Within 48, all three tangs died.

After starting up the QT, as I was treating each fish I now noticed the two angel fish have signs on their fins as well. But nothing like the tangs.

I have not tested my ammonia/nitrite levels yet, but everything else looks fine.

Just don’t understand what would cause those issues physically on the fish in a very short period of time and die…

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Have you been getting advice from your local dealer? Do they know you are new to the hobby? If so, I would find a different dealer! You need one that will better support a new aquarist and pump the brakes on loading a new tank with fish.

The powder blue has ich (very common with this species) and also has fin damage from tankmate aggression or other injury.

Fish dying within 24 to 48 hours after arrival were either sick when you got them, or suffered from acclimation shock.


Jay

 

[Uncle99]

As Jay sees ick, you’ll have to treat all remaining fish in QT and the DT should remain fishless for say 70 ish days to ensure, that parasites cycle has been broken.

Temp and salinity are the keys for acclimating.
Also, if the fish is shipped, as soon as the bag is opened to the air, they got to come out of that toilet.

When fish experience higher salinities it takes a lot of time, sometimes a day or two for them to adjust.

It’s best to measure the bag salinity and provide the same, or even a bit lower salinity and then while keeping temp constant, bring up salinity by say .001 per day until DT target is reached.

You can also use that period to begin feeding as this is usually slow at first and may take several days. The value of this is they will be eating before the transfer where other fish compete for the same foods.

Ever since we introduced this “longer” acclimation period and got fish eating before transfer, zero losses.

When the fish goes in, they act vibrant and alert, feed with others and behave 100% normal, no hiding, no lethargic.