White spots in a matured tank

[Aliasger]

Hi guys,

I have been involved in marine tanks since last 4 years. Recently i set up a 3000 Gallon of marine fish only tank. The tank was cycled for almost 60 days with TMC filtration. In October 2018 i started introducing fish. The fish i buy is from a local supplier in Tanzania and quarantined before it goes into the tank. 2 weeks back i lost about 15 fish in my tank. Everyday i use to find 2-3 fish. I checked my parameters.

pH- 8.1
KH-7dkh
Salinity- 1.022
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0.1ppm Tested by salifert kit.
Phosphate- 0.1ppm
Calcium- 410ppm
Magnesium- 1300ppm
Temp of the water is 27.5 deg C.

I am just unable to figure it out how white spots got into my tank. Do you guys have any suggestions on this?

 

[Tamberav]

What was the quarantine procedure? Sounds like something got through.

 

[Aliasger]

What was the quarantine procedure? Sounds like something got through.

I have got a separate tank with marine water and i kept the fish for 2 weeks to check if there is any infection. After matching the parameters with the display tank and the quarantine tank. I put the fish in the main tank.

 

[Jason mack]

If you've been adding fish too your system there's a chance of stress too the new fish or existing fish ...if some are sensitive this can bring out ich ...I think nearly all tanks have it , in a healthy system also ...healthy happy fish build up their immune systems and the ich is suppressed...stress can bring this back out ...have you added new fish ....seen any aggression anything like that ..?

 

[Tamberav]

I have got a separate tank with marine water and i kept the fish for 2 weeks to check if there is any infection. After matching the parameters with the display tank and the quarantine tank. I put the fish in the main tank.

Do you treat with anything in those two weeks?

If not then the fish can be carrying ich in the gills or other areas not visible. Fish with thick slime coats may never show symptoms on their body but be carriers.

I had an angel in QT that didn't show any visible signs until week 4.

 

[Aliasger]

If you've been adding fish too your system there's a chance of stress too the new fish or existing fish ...if some are sensitive this can bring out ich ...I think nearly all tanks have it , in a healthy system also ...healthy happy fish build up their immune systems and the ich is suppressed...stress can bring this back out ...have you added new fish ....seen any aggression anything like that ..?

Well i have been adding fish to the system but like 4 - 5 at a time. I added keeping in mind the aggression, like i just added 1 sohal tang. The tank size is 8m length, 1m width and 1.2m high. So in this goes 1 sohal tang, 2 orange naso, 5 hippo tangs (sm size), 1 juvenile emperor, 4 redsea butterfly, 10 green chromis, 12 bangai cardinal, 5 gobies, 3 clownfish. 3 anemones. That's all. Also can alkalinity induce any kind of stress?

 

[Aliasger]

Well i have been adding fish to the system but like 4 - 5 at a time. I added keeping in mind the aggression, like i just added 1 sohal tang. The tank size is 8m length, 1m width and 1.2m high. So in this goes 1 sohal tang, 2 orange naso, 5 hippo tangs (sm size), 1 juvenile emperor, 4 redsea butterfly, 10 green chromis, 12 bangai cardinal, 5 gobies, 3 clownfish. 3 anemones. That's all. Also can alkalinity induce any kind of stress?[/QUO

The reason why i asked about alkalinity was i tested my KH with 3 different kits,
I tested 2 times with red sea kit (both were different , one with 5ml and another 10ml ) and third with hanna.
The hanna showed me 8.5 dkh but the red sea showed first at 6dkh then 7dkh. So i kind of assume that may be fluctuation of alkalinity could have induced stress in the water. Any of you guys came across this?

 

[Jason mack]

So long as your params are all within the norm it shouldn't be a problem ...things like calc alk and mag are not so important for fish as for corals in a reef tank ..and with the fish you have and the size of your tank I doubt there will be much agression or territory problems ....that is some tank you have there ...jealous.....!!!
Do you have any photos ..?

 

[Aliasger]

So long as your params are all within the norm it shouldn't be a problem ...things like calc alk and mag are not so important for fish as for corals in a reef tank ..and with the fish you have and the size of your tank I doubt there will be much agression or territory problems ....that is some tank you have there ...jealous.....!!!
Do you have any photos ..?

I will surely upload. But coming to the topic, don't we have anything that can reduce the infection of white spots? I mean after all the research going in the whole world. Didn't we find any thing to cure this? Small tanks it is easy for the fish to quarantine or if sick to remove and medicate, but for this big tank what to do?? I had set up a 4000 Gallons of fish only marine tank for a friend and i never put any fish with quarantine, infact he use to get fish directly from the ocean. It has been over 2 years now and all the fish are healthy and eating. But here, inspite of going through all the protocols. I just don't get it where i went wrong.

How about ozone?? Isn't that effective as well?

 

[Jason mack]

Are you running a uv light on your system ...I would definitely look into that ..
#reefsquad any help..??

 

[Aliasger]

Are you running a uv light on your system ...I would definitely look into that ..

Yes UV is on.

 

[Aliasger]

Has chloroquine shown any positive signs against this infection?

 

[EmdeReef]

I have got a separate tank with marine water and i kept the fish for 2 weeks to check if there is any infection. After matching the parameters with the display tank and the quarantine tank. I put the fish in the main tank.

Observation may not be enough to catch pathogens. It’s likely some fish were infected and perhaps not showing very visible symptoms.

Judging by the size of the tank and how quickly your fish died I would suspect velvet.

 

[Aliasger]

Observation may not be enough to catch pathogens. It’s likely some fish were infected and perhaps not showing very visible symptoms.

Judging by the size of the tank and how quickly your fish died I would suspect velvet.

Marine velvet!! okay, how do i get rid of it in this big tank ? Apart from water changes and catching each fish and putting in the medical tank suggest me please? As, inspite of going step by step still how these things get into the tank? When i see youtube channels from some famous aquarist, i don't think they must haven't encountered this!

 

[jsker]

Here is a link that explains Marine Velvet

Copper is not good for a reef tank. Fish only I will not say.

I would start the ban-aid treatment of kanoplex and metroplex along with focus when feeding, I would also add a Vitamin C supplement to help with the stress. The ban-aid treatment is also good for Ick. Ick is usually brought on by stress, especially in a newer system where one is trying to establish the boil load.

Do you have a Clean up crew? This would also help with establishing a bio-load

As you stated, you friends system had no issue, every system is different;)

 

[BedrockIOMC]

Are the white spots on the fish? are they small? like powder sugar? how long after putting the fish in did this start happening?

 

[Aliasger]

Here is a link that explains Marine Velvet

Copper is not good for a reef tank. Fish only I will not say.

I would start the ban-aid treatment of kanoplex and metroplex along with focus when feeding, I would also add a Vitamin C supplement to help with the stress. The ban-aid treatment is also good for Ick. Ick is usually brought on by stress, especially in a newer system where one is trying to establish the boil load.

Do you have a Clean up crew? This would also help with establishing a bio-load

As you stated, you friends system had no issue, every system is different;)

Yes i have clean up crew, and i will start with the treatment you mentioned. I don’t overfeed the tank and also don’t usually have uneaten food.

 

[Aliasger]

Are the white spots on the fish? are they small? like powder sugar? how long after putting the fish in did this start happening?

Yes sugar kind, about 3 weeks back. The thing is fish are feeding.. and they are feeding quite well.

 

[jsker]

By the way, that is a super looking tank!!:)

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Beautiful tank! I wouldn't say its mature though. I hope its not velvet. I would NEVER trust anyone to qt my own fish if I am filling a tank that big, especially a vendor or store.