Tank Nightmare- need input!

[GrayBunny]

I had a FOWLER going and things were going very well until... I introduced a fuzzy lion fish that I suspect brought something into the tank. When I realized this fish was sick- lethargy and cloudy eyes, I quarantined it and spoke to LFS and medicated with Prazipro. the fish sadly died 2 hours after I added the medication. LFS said that it was not something that the lion fish would have spread to the tank as it was likely an internal parasite and because the fish died in less than a week they exchanged the fish for a kole tang. Now everything in my tank has died except for my toby puffer and my snowflake eel, thought I suspect he may not make it as he is not eating.

Ive gone to a couple of places to get opinions. Toby puffer seems normal, good appetite, healthy appearance, swimming normally, nothing abnormal to the eye. The snowflake eel- not eating, lethargic but I can't see anything abnormal. The water (which I have been changing just in case) has been getting tested regularly-

pH 8.2
NO3- 0
NO2-0
Ammonia-0

right after the fish second fish died the ammonia did go up to 0.25, and nitrate went to maybe .40, this has been corrected.

Different LFS thinks tank has a bacteria that is harming fish- so I have started treating the water with Maracyn. He also suggested taking the live rock out of the tank for a week. He said the tank would ultimately have to cycle again but since I only have 1 fish & eel...

I'm totally willing to do this. Should I get rid of the live sand and start over with the sand too?

Thank you for any input!

I can move the toby puffer into my nano cube (8g) which I know is way too small for him, but could it potentially save him or spread disease to my nano reef?

 

[KathyC]

I wouldn't move the puffer to the nano if there are other fish in there as you don't know what type of illness you are dealing with. He should be moved to a QT tank along with your eel.

I suspect the LFS store in incorrect that whatever the lion brought into the tank obviously did spread to your other fish since they have died as well.

Did all of the fish that died have the same symptoms? How quickly did they die after showing signs of a problem?

How long has your tank been set up and what size is it?

If the issue is truly a bacterial issue, then the entire tank needs to be treated, including the rock & sand.

 

[GrayBunny]

The tank is 37g and has been going for 7 or 8 months. Tank has a protein skimmer.

The lionfish (which I believe brought something to the tank) showed cloudy eyes, lethargy and finally mucus near mouth after his eyes seemed to have popped? After I noticed his eyes become cloudy, I moved him to quarantine. He died within 3 days.

The kole tang and niger trigger showed no symptoms for a few weeks, I noticed the tang looking pale and it died the next day. Trigger died unexpectedly a few days after the kole tang, he maybe looked pale the night before, but both fish still continued to eat.

We treated the tank with Melafix at first until LFS said to use Prazipro. 8 Gallon water changes were done every other day. After being so confused about the conflicting meds advice and fish not surviving.

*Since I posted my first post a few hours ago, I pulled out the live rock and for the past 2 days I've treated tank with Maracyn.

I have also been testing water like crazy- see first post.

Thank you so much for the help!!

 

[KathyC]

What did you do with the rock? Is it out of water? Do you plan to cycle it again before adding it back in?

Make sure you are treating for the correct number of gallons in your system and do follow the package directions. Best to add an air bubbler to have enough oxygen in the tank too (assuming the fish are still in there?)

Did you remove any carbon from the tank?

also - sorry for your losses

 

[GrayBunny]

The directions on the maracyn said to leave the carbon in, so I did. I could add a bubbler for the 2 that are in there.

I took the live rock out a few hours ago. I was hoping to get some consensus about whether or not leaving it out for a week to dry would 'cure' it. I've definitely been following the directions on the packages.

Thanks, we are so upset about losing these fish!

Should the tank be cycled with or without the rock in it?

 

[skene]

This is one of those situations where you may want to establish a quarantine tank for future fish that you want to add into your system. That way you run less risk of introducing some of the nasties that come with newly purchased fish.