First serious problem - very mysterious

[reeffreak]

This is just a wild guess,maybe it is a disease of some kind.Perhaps brooklynella-the symtoms kinda resemble that disease.

Try this website,see if anything sounds like what's going on in your system.

http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/disease.html

[kevinsimons]

So - even though the disaster isn't over (still have 2 live fish, although they're covered with the grey coating) - I'm planning on what to do going forward. Should I get a UV sterilizer? Seems that might have helped - any recommendations out there?

[cumminz]

I hear that uv sterilizers help ALOT! i have one that i am gonna put in my tanks then it is up

[dustin_P74]

the only problem with UV sterilizers is it kills all the good stuff that you want in your tank also

[cumminz]

true true

[kevinsimons]

So - all fish have perished... and after a fairly exhaustive research, I've determined the disease was Marine Velvet - and I believe it was introduced when I added the fresh substrate. I don't believe this was electrical - all inverts are fine and thriving (voltage is not a problem, current is what creates electrical problems - and I never once had any indication I had current running through the tank).

Lesson learned? If possible, have a hospital tank ready to go when disease strikes (in my case, there is no place to put one). Going forward I'll add non-live substrate when I need to... tough lesson.

I'll leave the tank fish-free until first week in June and will then start repopulating. Am seriously considering repopulating with the same mix (mandarin goby, 2 engineer gobies, yellow tang, flame angel, royal gramma, but this time will get a pair of ocelaris clowns (instead of a single maroon)... I'm up for suggestions, though... if somebody would like to start a new thread with "my perfect reef-safe community tank mix" - I'll consider it!

[cumminz]

Im sorry to hear this man. GO ahead and start a thread. Ill be happy to learn about Your new setup. The flame angel is probably my favorite fish.

[dustin_P74]

i would seriously not consider three gobies in the same tank. they will likely fight for food and some might die from that and then eventually they will all probably starve to death if they arent huge fans of prepared food

[fatman]

I am still interested in your ammonia readings. What is up with that? A bad test kit or some thing dead hiding some where? Is that being dealt with before you do any thing else is done with the tank? Ammonia comes from something or some where. Are you assuming that was also from the new sand? If so never mind.

[sen5241b]

One highly useful tool for tank maintenance is a big magnifying glass. I take a really good look at my fish on a regular basis for anything weird on their skin or in their gills.