Help went on Vacation half of my fish died

[Boeingdog]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Went on vacation and left my mother in law with mytank and 5 fish died in 4 days. Tank checks out fine, all levels are normal. She said they had some white spots on them floated upside down and died. I have a coral beauty left and 2chromies left. What happened, I only use rodi water and I added a new fish that died about a week earlier. All of my coral, clams and other scavengers appear to be ok. What happened and do I dare add new fish?#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Oh no! sounds like the newest addition may be brought ich into your tank. Best thing to do now is remove all fish from the display tank to another tank for treatment. DO NOT put any other fish into your display tank for a minimum of 6 weeks from removing the existing ones. The ich parasites have a lifecycle that runs about 28 days give or take a few days or so, and will not bother your coral or inverts. So by leaving the tank fishless for 6 weeks (or more) the cysts that are now likely floating around your reef will hatch and not have any hosts in which to infect and will die off.

Here is a link to a page that details the natural remedy for ich
http://www.captivereefing.com/lexico...ty%20Treatment

Preferred over chemical treatments which generally contain copper.

[graphixx]

yep you got ich, the reason you did not see it on your fishis it takes a week or so to spread through the tank. dakar nailed it right on the head. put your fish in a hospital tank and treat them. and leave the display tank empty for at least 6 to 8 weeks. I would suggest quarantining the fish you buy from now on just to make sure. I am curious what was the fish you introduced into the tank that died???? Was it a type of tang?? Tangs are notorious for carrying ich. sorry to hear about the loss

[Boeingdog]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#YES it was a tang, aYellow Eye. Next problem I don't have a second tank, plus getting ready to move (when house sells) would rather not set up another system. What do people do that only have one tank the other three fish look good. When I move how do I con my wife into another Money Pit, I mean tank (rather stay with one). Can I get away with one tank, trying to plan next house with office and tank area would rather just have one very nice 70 gallon tank. While I am at it, Ineed anew tank when I move where should I look,glass on tank I have has lots of scratches from previous owner.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graphixx]

a hospital tank is not a money pit. you can turn a ten gallon into a hospital tank. all you need is a heater and a powerhead for current or even a basic sponge filter. and maybe a clay pot to put in there for hidiing or some people will use PVC. this is just a very very basic set up. but it is a good idea. your lucky it did not wipe out all of your fish. Ich is way way hard to control without a hospital tank. you can get additives that you can dose directly into the tank but most of them have harmfull affects on your corals and inverts and biological filtration. I think you will find most of the people on this forum will swing towards the hospital tank.

[carpenterwrasse]

I have heard that tangs are ich magnets.... I put one in my tank and it wiped it clean. I used a med called rid ich. Its safe for reef tanks and inverts plus I raised my temp to 80-82 this speeds up the hatch time and gets rid of the cysts...now i am leary of any tangs....

[carpenterwrasse]

I also waited about a month before adding anything fishy....all inverts were fine

[Boeingdog]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks for all the input.Went and got my rubbermaid tub and fish are now in it!!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Now there is someone using his head.... A rubbermaid Hosptial Tank.... great thinking! :thumbup: