Just posted this also to my original post in Fish N Disease forum but also interested in overall thoughts and advice. So yes as will happen when you don't follow your own hard learned rules i lost my whole tank over the Xmas holidays...due to 1 sick fish. Debrief/After action what occured is this...I think what this was that got in the tank was Brookynella in my tank in Dec over the holidays via a PetCO flame angel my daughter got on a Black Friday sale after Thanksgiving. Since my QT system was down/empty I let her introduce it as it looked good. Results wiped out my whole tank by Xmas. That's the after action report when we put it all together. Lack of some maintenance and feeding and mismatches in stocking didn't help as some parts of the system also were out of wack/stressed too. For example all of my cleaner shrimp were killed off by my Triggers and thus no one to help pick up ich that developed too. Anyway as I've now gone fallow and caught last 5 fish of which 3 made it thru QT since Jan I think am good to start adding fish now no?
So I think should be ok to restock. Tank has been fallow since 15 Jan 2026 when last two fish died. Due to size of tank 300+ gallons...bleach 1 cup was added and then rock removed and 1/2 sand also removed and cleaned out my sump (rubble cleaned), Skimmer cleaned w/bleach and replaced one of my DC pumps too (while I was there). Then another bleach dosing was run thru the system about 2 weeks later and 20% water changed and then fresh water added and has been run thru the system since then approx last week of Jan. Added Prime dosing and Chlorine remover (Brightwell Erase Cl) on a regular a basis to remove chlorine and ammonia and nitrate from water and also added approx 50 lbs of black hawaiian reef sand. Started to add coraline algae started and live bio media (Seed) and now getting Ph and Alk up with Brightwell 8.3 and Seachem 8.4 in Feb also. Tank is looking good. Also added Cora Vue In sump UV setup (largest size avail) and so I think tank DT is doing good and should be ready. Have started to add clean up crew and cleaner shrimp x2 went into the DT this week along with 2 sand sifting starfish and are cruising about with Nessarius snails and a tiger conch and red legg hermits. Have I missed anything I missed?
Last 3 fish (maroon clown and 2 Australian Stripies) pulled from my DT have NOW been in QT since Jan at 2.0-2.3 ppm copper using Copper Safe and I've tested it weekly and dose to keep it there. Have added a Purple tang and Desjardi Sailfin and Gold Rim to QT earlier about around 4 March and a Hippo tang about 2 weeks before that and all are eating Nori and Brine and chilling out in DQ. Have a juve Naso, a Biota Yellow tang arriving tomorrow for QT also. DT is a 55 gallon tank from Pet Smart and all new fish currently are juveniles <1-2 inches outside of the Gold Rim who is small at about 3-4" max. As said no fighting and all eating, swimming, okay and normally with latest additions 2/18 and 3/2 to my QT respectively.
So question beside adding my tangs together at same time (different sizes and temperament I found works...done it successfully in my last 4 tanks over last 8 yrs) do you guys/gals think the DT should be okay to restock now? Or should I go thru mid April for a total of 90+ days fallow? Thoughts?
So I think should be ok to restock. Tank has been fallow since 15 Jan 2026 when last two fish died. Due to size of tank 300+ gallons...bleach 1 cup was added and then rock removed and 1/2 sand also removed and cleaned out my sump (rubble cleaned), Skimmer cleaned w/bleach and replaced one of my DC pumps too (while I was there). Then another bleach dosing was run thru the system about 2 weeks later and 20% water changed and then fresh water added and has been run thru the system since then approx last week of Jan. Added Prime dosing and Chlorine remover (Brightwell Erase Cl) on a regular a basis to remove chlorine and ammonia and nitrate from water and also added approx 50 lbs of black hawaiian reef sand. Started to add coraline algae started and live bio media (Seed) and now getting Ph and Alk up with Brightwell 8.3 and Seachem 8.4 in Feb also. Tank is looking good. Also added Cora Vue In sump UV setup (largest size avail) and so I think tank DT is doing good and should be ready. Have started to add clean up crew and cleaner shrimp x2 went into the DT this week along with 2 sand sifting starfish and are cruising about with Nessarius snails and a tiger conch and red legg hermits. Have I missed anything I missed?
Last 3 fish (maroon clown and 2 Australian Stripies) pulled from my DT have NOW been in QT since Jan at 2.0-2.3 ppm copper using Copper Safe and I've tested it weekly and dose to keep it there. Have added a Purple tang and Desjardi Sailfin and Gold Rim to QT earlier about around 4 March and a Hippo tang about 2 weeks before that and all are eating Nori and Brine and chilling out in DQ. Have a juve Naso, a Biota Yellow tang arriving tomorrow for QT also. DT is a 55 gallon tank from Pet Smart and all new fish currently are juveniles <1-2 inches outside of the Gold Rim who is small at about 3-4" max. As said no fighting and all eating, swimming, okay and normally with latest additions 2/18 and 3/2 to my QT respectively.
So question beside adding my tangs together at same time (different sizes and temperament I found works...done it successfully in my last 4 tanks over last 8 yrs) do you guys/gals think the DT should be okay to restock now? Or should I go thru mid April for a total of 90+ days fallow? Thoughts?
