Mycobacterial Infection     3/26/20 Over the last month this wrasse started to get a really big belly. I thought it was just to being overfed a pellet diet as I was trying to gotten up a skinny Kole tang. Its looks a little hump backed though right? Obviously with my past experience Fish TB is always on my mind. <Mmm; well... don't know re Myco- or other bacteria here... could be some sort of retention (fluids?), an internal growth (tumor?)... I would (myself) not move or "treat" this fish in any way; but continue to maintain it as you're doing. Bob Fenner>

Re: Mycobacterial Infection     3/26/20 Did you mean not remove the fish? <Ah yes. Correct. B> Re: Mycobacterial Infection      3/27/20 Thanks. I am going to try and fast the fish or limit the feeding of the tank for a few days. May also try feeding some peas and using some Epsom salt in case its bloated from eating. Otherwise it's still acting 100% normal and is the most aggressive eater in the tank. <Sounds good Eric. BobF>

Swim bladder disease?      11/18/19
Hi Guys and good evening from Thailand. Another mastery (mystery?) to me. One of our clients called me and mentioned that his Picasso Trigger was doing weird about a week ago. When we went for a look we thought he was doing ok as when come around we mostly feed the fish frozen seafood mix and all looked fine him eating and all but we decided to put a Wifi cam on his aquarium
<Neat!>
so we could monitor the fish while we were not there. Now in 2 days time we saw the fish go real bad with what we seem to think is Swim Bladder disease with the fish not being able to swim upright anymore and seem to have lost all control of his swimming....we attached a clip of the fish in the actual
aquarium with him being flung around due to the flow in the aquarium made by the owner yesterday.
The aquarium is 1m x 1m and 1.6m high with water parameters all optimal only Nitrate being slightly elevated at 40 but this has always been an issue in that aquarium.
Now today we took the fish out and put him in our QT system at our place for us to be able to monitor and treat him.....We also added a clip of the fish in our system just added scooting on his side over the bottom...Now the question is ....1st is it swim bladder disease you guys think looking at the clips and 2nd how can swim bladder just show up in a healthy fish (being in that aquarium for 4+ years? so quickly?
<No "clips" attached. Please do send just links to these, after you upload them elsewhere (maybe YouTube)>
Nothing was added in that aquarium for at least 3+ years now so nothing external could have effected the fish.
3rd if it is swim bladder how best to treat....I hear only time might or might not heal but are their any tricks or things we can do to try and fix this fish....Thanks Dirk
<Well, a brief review. Like the "human cold", "swim bladder" is really not a disease per se (i.e., not caused by specific pathogens, nutrient issues, environment...) but a condition, a symptom... In this case what sort of causes might be responsible? As you state, the fish has been here and the system going for years. You don't mention other livestock, but/so I'll assume there's nothing awry with them. My best guess is that there is something either long term nutritionally deficient, a neuronal genetic expression coming to fore, or a biological agent in the brain of this fish.
I don't know of any direct treatment that would definitely cure the trigger, but administering Epsom (see WWM re) and Selcon to the water might ease this fish's symptoms.
Please see Mark Evans piece on swim bladders of fishes:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i3/swim_bladders/swim_bladders.htm
Bob Fenner>
Re: swim bladder disease?      11/18/19
Mister Bob,
sorry for that something must have gone wrong uploading them. Please see
LINK to posted on YouTube...Dirk
https://youtu.be/0knN-RxY4J4  https://youtu.be/7hmiIlsBtqA
<Mmm; this disoriented swimming... reminds me of Myxosoma... "Whirling disease"... again (unfortunately) I don't know what the root cause might be here; nor what might effect a change. BobF>
Re: swim bladder disease?        11/20/19
Hi Mister Bob,
Is Whirling disease not a more fresh water parasitic disease?
<Yes>
What I can find online about it is it seems to effect salmon and trout?
how did that get into a saltwater trigger?
<Not likely the same causative mechanism; no. Just making/made comment re symptomology>
You exclude swim bladder looking at the clips?
<... There IS NO SUCH thing as swim bladder disease, but the mal-function of such either results in the fish sunk to the bottom (most frequent) or floating (upside down often) at the surface... not spinning about. B>
Dirk

Yellow Eyed tang... Adventures in SW Fish Disease, Learning        2/17/19
This fish was gorgeous when I bought it along with a Powder Brown Tang.
<This last species is often very touchy... susceptible to disease, loss>
Both were drip acclimated over time to my 125 that has A Fox face about 4'' long, and three fish about 2.5" Mocha clown, Huma, niger and 8 line wrasse.
I run two canisters FX6 and middle line Forza with UV. Use an Orbit light system on a timer, water PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Phosphates look good, Salinity is 1.026 temp stays about 72. My Brown died after some white spots.
<Umm; your system is infested; still; likely w/ Cryptocaryon; possibly other pathogen/s>
I had A Mocha clown that got white spots and died.
<... "got">
My Yellow eye has white spots, splotches and large lips. It swims fine and appears to eat but it is looking thin. The other fish are clear of any issue.
I am at a loss.
Please respond using XXXX
Ben
<Where to start... Did you quarantine this livestock, do any sort of preventative, dip/bath... protocol to exclude pathogens?
Mmm; how to "ramp up" your understanding quickly, easily?
Please start by reading here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisease.htm
Then on to this: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ichartmar.htm
Next, ScottF's pc: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ichart2mar.htm
Do write back after, and make known if you are not at a loss.
Bob Fenner>

Skin issue ID       1/18/19 Good morning all (here in Thailand) Our tank is a 1800 Lt L shape with currently only fish and life rock. The system is about 9 months old now and had cycled around 4 months before we added any fish (cycle only took 2 weeks as we used treated fresh ocean water and added bacteria from the start). All fish went through a 3 weeks Cupramine treatment in a QT tank before being added to the system. Since fish were added all fish eating well and seem very healthy eating both dry food regular Nori sheets added and every other day we add a freshly made frozen mix with garlic added to it. Since a day or 2 now we have start seeing a condition on the Goldflake skin. It does not look like Ich or Velvet to me but rather a loss of slime coat and scales look burned or getting loose or something not really sure what to make of it....maybe you guys can help ID with the pictures attached (bad camera though) The fish itself is showing no effects at all still being super active not shy at all (eats out of our hand) eating well (being one of the more aggressive eaters in the tank even) <Not protozoan, I agree...> Water parameters look as good as possible to us with the following readings API test water shows 0 Nitrates 0 <How are NO3 rendered thus?> Phosphates 0 Ammonia Salt levels 1.025 temp 26C Ph 8.0-8.2 So not sure what is going on with the Goldflake here hope you guys can help ID this condition.....Other fish in the tank are Black Tang, Purple Tang, Achilles Tang, 3 Yellow Tang, Powder blue tang, Blue Tang, Foxface, Flame Angel, several Blue Green Chromis, quit a large cleanup crew with a mix of crabs, Hermits, snails and 4 cleaner shrimp. <IF this fish was new; added a few days back, I'd say it had been dropped (on the floor) while being handled, moved. I would do nothing medicine wise; just leave the fish in place. As you state it is feeding, it will likely heal on its own. Bob Fenner>

Are you able to tell me what this is?      9/6/18
I quarantine my fish and have had pretty good luck in keeping my fish healthy and happy. Unfortunately, last Feb I had something show up in the tank. It started with my male trigger, then moved onto my female trigger and the other big fish in my tank (a few tangs and a Foxface). It didn't seem to affect my smaller fish (dwarf angels, baby tangs, clownfish etc.)
<Mmm>
I pulled everything out and into a quarantine system, where they have remained since. I did lose a few of my bigger fish, but luckily that's where the losses ended. I decided to keep my main display fallow until mid November in hopes that whatever this is, it will have a cycle that is host-reliant.
I've never seen any evidence of Ich or velvet. The exit wounds were rather large, and ultimately the fish that died had secondary bacterial infections which may have been the cause of their demise.
I have attached a video of what it looked like in hopes that you can shed light on it so I know how best to ensure that it doesn't come back and kill anymore livestock.
https://youtu.be/kmv89eQkxYE
<I see the white growths on your Trigger. These look like monogenetic Trematodes. Do you have a low power scope that hooks up to a USB port? I'd like to see a sample closer. Alternatively this could be some sort of Microsporidean infestation. The worms are easy to treat (see WWM), the Protozoans, not>
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Cheers,
Angela
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Help Needed for Ick and Water Leak    7/17/18
I inherited a 65 gallon tank from my autistic brother after he passed, my mother maintained it for several years with him and then on her own upon his passing, she moved and is upgrading etc. so I have some knowledge and advice from my Mom who has been at it awhile but am new to the hobby.
<Ok>
I started with dry live rock and cured it for 6 weeks. Added it to the tank with sand and a scoop of my Mom's live sand and one of her live rocks algae and cycled the tank. I then began slowly introducing fish over the next 2 months, I added an ocellaris clown fish, royal Gramma, and a yellow tang. I did not quarantine...lesson learned so please go easy on me.
<Sure. Commonality>
After a month of introducing the tang he developed sandpaper like bumps all over his body (literally looked like a sheet of sand paper under his skin), though none were white, he was still eating but swimming jittery like he was itchy, that night he scratched himself pretty badly on the rocks. The royal Gramma had two white dots on her head and was observed scratching her head in the sand.
<Likely trematodes... maybe Paravortex>
I sought treatment for what I was told was Ick.
<Nah>
Using Focus and Metroplex as instructed I fed it to the fish. I also added 6 scoops to the tank as the package instructed and removed the carbon from my filter. The snails and crabs I moved to a 10 gallon quarantine tanks while I treated the fish (should have set it up sooner to introduce fish I know). The tang started looking less bumpy in a couple of days, his scrapes from the rocks started healing and he was swimming better but many of the dots turned white. The Gramma continued having white dots and scratching in the sand. After a week of treatment the clown (who had no spots or symptoms) suddenly started acting off, swimming erratically in odd places and swimming into the jet (not like her) and then by the next morning was hiding under a rock (not like her) and died within hours.
<Effects of the medication>
The royal Gramma did not eat that day and was found dead that evening. The tang ate that day but the next day stopped eating and his fins had started to look very frayed. Within a day he died as well.
65 Gallon tank Parameters=salinity 1.024, Temp 80, phosphates 0, Nitrates 5, and ammonia 0Have a penguin 350 filter and a prism skimmer. To top that off, my husband left a towel on the back of the tank after removing the dead tang for me and it wicked water all over the carpet and there was a half inch of standing water in the base of the stand.
<Ah, no bueno; though a nifty physics lesson.>
So we have now torn down the tank, to dry the carpet and stand. The rock is in a 30 gallon bin with a heater and the jet to try to keep it "live", the sand is still in the tank with some water. What next? Was this Ick?
<Doubtful>
How should I handle the sand and rocks if so, to rid the tank of Ick and get started again?
<Mmm; you could "nuke" (bleach) all. See WWM re>
I've read lower salinity to 1.01 and raise the heat to 90. I honestly am so depressed about all that's happened this week I can't do anymore research.
<Just leave it all dry for now; or refill with just freshwater. We can talk in a few weeks>
I just need to know how to proceed from here as I don't want my live rock to die off etc. I know it will be awhile before I can add fish. Will in need to recycle the tank?
<Yes; to a degree>
( I will be quarantining fish for at least 6 weeks for sure in the future, but what about dips etc. first I have always drip acclimated them.)
<Yay!>
Any advice you have is welcome, but again it has been an emotional week and I am looking for advice and have learned to quarantine fish first so go easy on me. (Sorry for the length.)
Kristyl
<No worries Kris. When, where in doubt, do nothing, or as little as possible/practical. All will become clearer in a short while. Bob Fenner>

Medicating a marine tank.     7/5/18 Happy 4th of July to your crew! Gotta a question for you. Can you treat a tank with Melafix, Pimafix and copper power...all at the same time? <Mmm; you could, but I wouldn't. Am decidedly NOT a fan of the "fix" products by API. They're usually worthless; sometimes interfere with nitrification; cause water quality issues> Been dealing with a big mess since just before Father's day. <See this on your Emperor Angel pic. Yikes> Tank info: 110g qt, ocean clear canister filter, no carbon, filled with ammonia and nitrate reducing pads, 2 airstones, 1 air wand, 2 foam in tank filters each rated for a 125g. Fish: 2 triggers, 1 ladder wrasse, 1 Kole tang, 1 HiFin snapper, 1 tusk, 1 Emperor angel, 1 toadfish, 1 Foxface, 1 random damsel, and 1 mono. All currently in the QT. <This is a lot of good sized fishes for a 110> I have lost 7 fish in the last few days . Rusty angel, vlamingii, sailfin and 4 yellow Hawaiians. <Good gosh; even more fishes?> We took everyone out of the DT to treat for what we assumed was flukes due to flashing and rapid breathing with no other signs of spots or symptoms. <Likely just crowding and water quality at work here> We intended to try hyposalinity, but couldn't drop the salinity fast enough safely to avoid the fish ripping gaping wounds..so we went with Prazi. <... did you freshwater dip; detect worms?> About a week after starting the Prazi we had some serious aggression in the tank. Then it looks like an infection broke out in the tangs. This is when we started treating with the Pimafix and the Melafix. <Please.... search both on WWM> We were unsure what kind of infection and found both medications were safe to use together so we did. One by one we lost the group of 7 fish. My angel looks really bad but is steadily improving as we continue dosing. However, the signs during the loss of the 7 fish and on the angel now..look a whole lot like velvet. <No; not likely. All would be dead. See Velvet on WWM...> I attached a pic of the angel..the bacterial infection is clearly the red..but it's the while spots that are not raised all over her that are the question. Upon closer inspection of all the fish their colors are like dull copies of the original fish. They almost look dirty. I told you all of that to get to this. Can I continue to treat with the medications I have been and add copper power or does it need to be one or the other? <I wouldn't use copper and wish the non-"fixes" would disappear off the planet. They are responsible for MANY livestock losses. At best placebos and mild bacteriostatics; of no real use whatsoever> Also if I have to switch to just copper, can I get away without doing a large water change and just start to copper? <Copper in all formats is too toxic for continuous use> We did a 30% water change on this passed Sunday. Any and all helpful suggestions are appreciated. <Really; the reading (on WWM) for now... IF this was the start of your troubles, getting a much larger system, splitting up the fish livestock into two plus tanks... Use of Quinine cpd....> Thanks! Kim <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Re: Medicating a marine tank.     7/5/18 The main DT is a 275G with 60g sump. <Ahh> We tried to take them out for treatment to avoid crashing my whole system. I always FW dip any and all fish before they go in any of my tanks. <Good> My 18yr old thought he would surprise me with a wrasse and a snapper..no treatment..just into the tank water and all from the lfs. This is where our troubles began. Prior to the addition of the two fish... I have had zero loss in almost 2 years. <Dang> The 110 was set up to be the hospital tank since I had so many fish and they are all decent sized.. they were in close quarters definitely. Water parameters have been good with the exception of a couple times where the ammonia was elevated slightly. A quick water change and by the next day everything was good and remained so (as far as parameters go). So I am gathering your advise is to halt the treatments, don't start the copper, and just maintain the water quality? <Definitely water quality is important; but I would also be sampling, trying to discern the presence of pathogens; treating for them if present> I am genuinely asking..not being a snot about it. Thanks, Kim <Certainly welcome. BobF>

White spot, failed quarantine, Butterflyfish, and new dragonets      11/26/17
After 3 wks quarantine we introduced a long-nose Butterflyfish...and the next morning he had 3 light white spots on his pectoral fin.
<Mmm; might be nothing (mucus from a bend...) or Trematodes, or...>
They were gone in a day so I just hoped it wasn't a big deal. After a week, he now suddenly has 6, including a granular-looking spot on his side and the Scopas tang has 2 white spots. I'm assuming I've introduced Cryptocaryon into my 220 gallon reef tank *crying*.
<Mmm; don't panic yet>
As part of our online shopping Thursday we ordered several more fish and they should be here 11/28/2017. I have (2) 29 gallon tanks and a 70 gallon I can use for treatment. Can this be eradicated in-tank without leaving it fallow?
<IF this is Cryptocaryon, no. However, I want to state as usual that most all captive marine systems have resident parasitic, infectious agents...
That keeping them in check is a matter of balance twixt... Let's have you read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisease.htm
Can cleaner shrimp and neon goby fix this?
<May definitely help; but not fix if you mean totally eradicate from the system/ecology here>
I'm including my livestock list, including the ordered fish, for your consideration.
Current: *3" long-nose Butterflyfish*3" Scopas tang*4" dragon sleeper goby*(2) 2" ocellaris clowns* 3" Clarkii clown* (2) 1.5" azure damsels*1.5" pajama cardinal*1.5" Banggai cardinal*1" yellow watchman goby*1.5" peppermint shrimp*2" coral banded shrimp*Asst CUC, mostly snails
Ordered:* 2" Desjardin Sailfin tang*1.5" coral Beauty angelfish*1.5" flame angelfish*1" Ruby-red scooter dragonets*2" Rainford's Goby*Pistol Shrimp - Tiger *Mexican Turbo Snail
Help!
<So wish we could do some version of the "Vulcan Mind Meld". I would NOT treat the system, nor manipulate specific gravity... I might well add UV sterilization, raise RedOx... I urge patience at this point. IF I were
tempted to move the fish livestock elsewhere for treatment, educating myself re sampling, examination under a 'scope, and/or getting help re would be the route I advise. Please do keep me/us informed of your further
observations and actions. Bob Fenner>
Re: White spot, failed quarantine, Butterflyfish, and new dragonets     11/30/17
Update for Bob: I wish we could Mind Meld as well!...though I'm afraid your wealth of experience and knowledge would overwhelm me and put me into a reef-induced coma :-).
<Heeee! More like put you to sleep!>
I've read that article on Marine disease, but the re-read was helpful and reminded me that It has been a while since I checked my parameters. I went to get my kit, as well as my meds/treatments on-hand, and realized that my reagents are very outdated (2005) so I'm going to get a new kit.
<You are wise here>
I'll run tests anyway, but I'm not sure I'll have much confidence in them. Sit-rep: The long-nosed butterfly, Scopas tang, and an azure damsel are the only ones who have shown spots so far. None have kept those spots longer than a day or two and none have had more than 6 spots at any time.
<Mmm; am even more inclined to think/consider this as non-pathogenic in origin>
The tang and damsel have only had 1 or 2, for the most part, and the butterfly is presently free of spots. The fish don't appear to have increased their slime-coat (no waxy/whitish coating) and the granules are a little larger than what I regularly see at the local Petco (my only 'LFS' within 30 miles and which I do not patronize). I've ordered a 55w UVS for the 220 gal DT system and a 13w UVS for the quarantine, so that should help some.
<Yes they will>
I'm planning on running the 55W on an independent drain line out of the DT at approximately 180 gph, pending a probable upgrade of the system return pump. My DW decided she'd like to add some (2-3) cleaner shrimp and (2-3)
gobies (different species) to the QT-->DT as prophylaxis (she loves shrimp and gobies, so this was right up her alley).
<Sounds good>
The 'Ordered' fish arrived in apparent good health. I did a FW/Formalin dip (3-5 min or until respiratory distress), followed by a copper dip on all the fish and, assuming they all still appear healthy when I get home tonight, I will be placing the pistol shrimp, snails, and Ruby-red scooter into the DT. I've also ordered a controller to monitor pH and ORP, as well as improve the stability of my system. I'm guessing I'll need to separate the angelfish into different QTs because they came much larger than expected (closer to 2.5") and the 29gal QT isn't enough space/cover to
avoid issues. I will probably tear-out the rock/sand from the coral QT and use it for fish, since we likely won't be getting any more coral until this is clear/understood. My present plan of attack is to check/correct parameters (as needed), WC at night with vacuum to hopefully remove some cysts/parasites, install UVS, and observe. If the infection/affliction accelerates, I will remove and sample livestock and formulate a treatment regimen specific to the causative agent. Does this make sense?
Branon
<It does indeed. I do like your plan, actions. Bob Fenner>

Thalassoma sel., captive fish mortality      7/26/17
Thanks bob, i will shy away from that wrasse.
I did pick up a wrasse people don't encounter often in aquaria, but I've seen you talk about while diving in Hawaii, a Coris venusta. Subtly beautiful, and ate everything the lfs had to throw at it.
<Hardy, like most Coris spp.>
I wanted your opinion in fish mortality. I've been told a trip to a wholesaler during receiving can be an absolute living nightmare. Garbage cans full of dead fish.
<Ugh>
Without any real, honest empirical data out there, what percentage do you put on the number of fish living a week after they leave the ocean (capture, transport, acclimation at first facility), versus one year post capture (the hobbyist home aquarium)
<Losses likely exceed 10% for some shipments; perhaps more>
And lastly, how would you rank in order of most common first, reasons fish perish:
<Largest source of mortality: trauma/stress in collecting, handling, shipping>
1. Not suitable for captivity (ribbon eels, Moorish idols, mandarins)
<On a scale of 1-10, this is a 5>
2. Improper set up (seahorse in fish only set up, Achilles tang on too small of quarters, coral eating species kept in tanks absent of coral, Garibaldi damsels kept on tropical set ups)
<Again, about a five>
3. Disease (flukes, ich, velvet etc)
<Maybe a two>
4. Environmental ( bacterial, harsh water conditions)
<A six>
5. Incompatible tank mates (too many tangs, triggers with lion fish)
<A four or so>
And lastly 6, the mysterious fish just die whether it be stress, some type of genetic defect (heart issue, liver etc)
<A one>
Any others I didn't think of. (I'm sure chemical interaction, stray
voltage
and others play a part too)
Thanks bob
<B>

A curious case, but lots of mistakes. Please advise. SW hlth; env. likely      1/13/17
Hello, hoping you can advise me on the correct order to fix an infection.
>Let's see<
Setup: 45 gallon saltwater reef tank. Probably about 8 months old. Same fish since the start.
What changed? I purchased 3 Emerald Crabs
<Three? See my and others opinions re these... archived on WWM. Search by the genus; likely Mithraculus will be most productive. Like other crabs they become predaceous... and three?>
& 1 Sand Shifting Starfish from the local LFS. I didn't quarantine them, because I searched and couldn't find anything that said these invertebrates harbor fish diseases & such.
<Mmm; anything wet can serve as a vector for pathogenic, parasitic disease>
I also purchased 2 new pieces of coral. I took the items from the bags & put them in my tank. LFS water was, as always, discarded down the sink drain.
-ALSO- Tampa, Florida had it's annual 2 day winter. The weather dropped into the 30's and the house, along with the tank dipped dramatically in temperature. I put a heater into the sump tank to try and warm the water, but it was pretty useless.
<Yikes!>
2 days later after it had warmed up: My smaller clown fish was lying on it's side and showing difficulty to swim. It had a red streak above it's nose like a varicose vein under the skin. It's sides were a hazy white like it was losing it's color. It had a few tiny white spots on it's fins. I also happened to need to add some top off water, so I opened the door to the sump, and noticed another clown fish lying on the bio-balls. Yes, I had a clown fish in my sump from like 4 months earlier that I thought had died and the crabs ate. It was hiding in the sump under the bio-balls this whole time. Don't ask me how it got in the sump
<Overflow likely>
or survived, and yes, it is embarrassing and bizarre at the same time.
This escapee was showing the same exact same symptoms as the small clown in the tank. I also have another slightly larger clown (it's body is nearly all black though, so prob a different species) and it was babysitting the small clown but completely fine.
Attempted treatment: I have a 1 gallon small cube and put some pre-mixed saltwater in it with a small water recirculating filter. I put both sick clowns in it quickly.
<Mmm; the issue here is not likely "biological" so much as environmental. I would NOT treat>
I didn't have copper for formalin, but I did have some of that "reef safe" stuff. I have since read on your site that it is essentially snake oil & useless.
<Ah yes; most are>
I also had some ich remedy stuff on hand. Yes, I know now it was all useless - and both fish died in under an hour anyway.
<Too likely the handling pushed them over the edge>
Both of them would no doubt feel themselves slipping away and would wrestle the strength to try and move in a frenzy, only to end up floating upside down and then settle on the bottom. Horrible to watch and I couldn't help them. :-( I watched the smaller clown fish take it's last breath like a final sigh. It was really sad.
For the past 3 days, I have been watching my tank closely. The Yellow Tang seems fine, The Snowflake Blenny seems fine, The Flame Angel seems fine, the (2) Blue Chromis are fine, but the 5 line wrasse is darting around the tank like he is losing his mind and can't sit still. His belly looks distended and a bit white. I read that clown fish disease can affect
Wrasses. That would mean that everyone is at risk if that is what made it into my tank.
So, what should I do?
<Maintain optimized water quality and good nutrition and be patient is what I'd do>
I don't want to kill my coral or my invertebrates. I have a large cooler, the small 1 gallon cube and the 45 gallon tank to work with. As I have read on your site, the main tank is the problem and infected with something. I need to isolate my coral and my invertebrates and treat the tank.
Proposal:
1) move the coral & macro-algae floss ball to the cooler, add a power head, air stone & stick the LED strip on top
2) put the snails, crabs, cleaner shrimp, narcissus snail & sand shifting star into the 1 gallon cube
3) leave the live rock and fish in the main tank and treat it with something. What? I don't know.
<I would NOT move the animals NOR treat>
Does this seem like the best course of action to you? What would you recommend to me other than to isolate EVERYTHING next time?
<All gone over and over on WWM... some animals, items are best expedited, MOST should be isolated for observation for a few weeks, GIVEN the means of adequately maintaining them>
Also, based on the obviously related symptoms of both clown fish, what chemical should I treat the tank with?
<None>
How do I treat the Invertebrates since this may have been where the infection came from... or could it have come on the coral? I'm not sure if the cold snap had something to do with it too, but I don't want to stray from the point.
Thanks for your help. I'll wait for your answer before I start doing anything else dumb.
Cindy
<What would Doug Adams likely write? "Don't Panic!". When, where in doubt, read, take deep breaths, walk the dog/s... All should resolve itself here in a few weeks. Bob Fenner>

Queen Angelfish growth        8/3/16 Hello. I just received a juvenile Queen Angelfish in the mail (ordered from live aquaria.com). I noticed it has a dark grayish growth at the top base of it's tail/end of dorsal fin. <I see this in your pix> It's dark colored, not pink. Could this by Lymph? <Possibly... is a tumorous growth of some sort> I've searched your website, but it mostly refers to pinkish or white growths. The fish is behaving fine, swimming around and eating. Should I be concerned? <Mmm; not really; no. In that "concern" will do nothing and that this growth is not likely "very debilitating"> Please advise.[image: Inline image 3][image: Inline image 2][image: Inline image 1] Thank you for your time and your wonderful website! The wealth of information has helped me immensely! <You might consider excising this material (with a sharp blade), w/ or w/o anesthetic... or placing a cleaner organisms (perhaps a Lysmata sp. shrimp) in w/ this fish, in the hope that it might remove the material or speed on an immune response> Also, I e-mailed several months ago about a porcupine puffer that had a cloudy eye with abrasions. I was concerned about bacterial infection, but you were right.... my 180 gallon tank had Ich! I put all of the fish in quarantine tanks and let my display tank run empty for 90 days. The puffer pulled through and is back in the display tank with it's pretty iridescent eyes! Thank you so much for your help. <Ahh!> Valarie <Do please keep us informed. Bob Fenner>

all fish died       7/18/16 Good evening gents, I have the weirdest thing happen to a tank of one of my clients. Saturday we service this mans tank and feed the fish as he is away on a holiday and his wife is home alone but does not like to feed the fish for some reason. Anyway we service the tank and test Nitrates and salt levels as we most of the time do with our service (twice a week in this case) and all norms seem ok (Nitrates seem to have always been hanging around 20) but only a few elegances in his tank and they all seem to be doing very well. <Catalaphyllia/s... very stinging... > The tank is L1m x W1m x H1.6m temperature set at 25.5C He houses 1 small blue face 7 yellow tangs 4 scopa tangs 1 yellow angel 1 key hole angel and 1 coral beauty. quite some Nassarius snails in his shallow sand bed and 3 urchins and some turbo snails. Sunday evening around 6pm I get a massage from him that his wife called him and all fish are death??? <Yeeikes!> So we rush over and his tank looked like a battle field fish all over the floor of the tank non of them hide or nothing it seemed like they just fell out of the air? We had a timer installed on top of his tank and saw the amount of fish food of the tank that assembled about 2 feeding s they had missed so tells me they must have died around 9-11am as first feed of the day is set at 8am and is a bit larger in volume. When asked the wife when they died she said she didn't know as she left the house there at about 11pm (fish were still ok according to her at that time) and only came home just before I got there. So all fish must have died between 11pm and 9 am all snails and all corals are doing A ok full extended and snails had a feast on all death fish around them. we tested the water right away on Ammonia, Nitrates, Salt, temp, Ph and all norms were ok only Nitrates now elevated to 60 (should not be that deadly is it???) <No; this is/was an after affect... the cause different, the NO3 the result of death> and might just have been caused to all the death in the tank I presume. For some reason I think the wife had something to do with it as from past we know she is not into those fish and would rather have them out of the house......The death fish did not display any kind of parasite or anything in the past and even when death no marking on them at all. see pictures attached. What did strike me was though is that Saturday we cleaned out all skimmer cups and when we got there Sunday they looked like Picture 1 shows you. We cleaned them out again and today same thing skimmer had been serious overworking/ see picture 2Could fish have been poisoned by something not affecting the snails and corals or what else could have caused this. <Mmm; yes> I experienced Velvet and Ich outbreaks previous but does not kill this instant in my idea <No; agreed. This is/was either a sudden poisoning effect or a dire environmental one. My bet is on the former> (velvet sure fast but not this fast and is still a bit visible after death) and in my experience sick fish die in the rocks most of the time as they get lethargic before the pass away? Anything you can add? I am baffled and would like to solve this mystery or at ;east know what I have on this guys wife if ..... but I can not imagine anyone would??Dirk <This reads like a classical cascade event... the maintenance of the skimmers et al., triggering an overt reaction by the Elegance Corals; they chemically (allelopathically) reacting, causing other corals to do so in return.... Please read here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/toxictkendof.htm and here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/elegcorcompfaqs.htm and here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/CnidComp6.htm and the linked files above. A few things that can be done now and going forward... as you'll see in your reading. Bob Fenner> Fw: all fish died       7/18/16 sorry guys forgot the picture <Mmm; my analysis of possibilities, likelihood is reinforced. BobF>

Sunday                                                                                   Monday

Re: Advice please... READING, re system health really        3/9/16
Greetings,
<Salud Dai>
I was about to remove the tangs as planned but they have stopped fighting completely.
<Ah, good>
Now they all shoal together and the PT mostly ignores them. However 6 tangs came down with bad ich but they have been very active and eating.
<The former; very common; good that they're eating>
I would like to know if it possible that they can recover from the disease or it is just a wishful thinking?
<They can.... I would have you read, understand a few core ideas. Please review here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/parasittkfaq2.htm
and here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisease.htm
You will find that Cryptocaryon is almost always present... that keeping "the balance" tipped in your (host) fishes favor is critical; that there are several ways/categories involved in this balance. READ now>
In other words, they will die if nothing is done. I have a 265 gallon and water chemistry is excellent (nitrate=5). Second issue is that my refugium is full of cyanobacteria, hair algae and the Chaeto has stopping growing.
<? Please do learn to use the search tool (on every page) and/or indices. Good and PLENTY is supplied on WWM Re BGA>
I have a clip on 6500K LED light and in the past, the Chaeto was growing very rapidly.
<... then something is "missing", deficient; favouring the Cyano... READ>
There is none of the hair, Cyano in the DT and the coralline algae spots are appearing everywhere. Should I do anything to the refugium or let it be. My sincere thanks for you reply. Dai
<You should do something... Bob Fenner>