First Fish Loss

[quagmire]

Well I know it's all part of the hobby but it sucks when it happens. Thanks to a faulty heater, some questionable husbandry, and a TERRIBLE LFS my six-line died today. I know they're not the most expensive fish in the store but I liked this little guy. He had some personality and was the first addition to my tank. I hate to admit that most of this is probably my fault.
I didn't have a QT set up and added a couple of ocelleris clowns a week or so ago. After a few days or so I noticed that one of the clowns had a white mass on one of his pectoral fins. It appeared to0 small to be ich and resembled a freshwater fungal infection, albeit a minor one. The same night my brand new "fully submersible" heater failed and the temp dropped down to about 68. The next morning the clowns were covered in the tell tale salt like specks of ich. The 6-line seemed unfazed but had one tiny white spec. So off to my not so local fish store as my local fish store here SUCKS! https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/353080/coral-i-think-id-please
BTW I bought the tank and all the fish from this store BEFORE this incident. The owner dotes about his 26 years of experience and I took him to be a subject matter expert. Boy was I wrong.
I set up a 10 gallon hospital tank and began treatment. I tossed the wrasse in just to be safe and to wait out the six month time frame it takes to get the ich out of the DT. There's a specialty salt water store about an hour from here that recommended a product called rid ich. I was really leaning more towards hyposalinity but I haven't been able to lay my hands on a refractometer yet. I suppose I'll have to order one on line. Does anyone recommend the one for sale on this site?
The HT is a 10 gal tank with a hang on filter, heater, and minimal sand substrate. The owner recommended setting the temp to 82 but I opted to leave it the same temp as my DT to try and minimize stress. I put some construction paper on the sides of the tank and tossed in some clean coffee mugs for a place to hide (all I had at the time) I used water and a small amount of sand from the DT tank and waited a day to move the fish. All test results were in normal ranges:
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 (thought this was a little odd. DT is at 0. Lack of live rock I guess)
All the fish did fine the first day and through most of the second. When I came home from work on day 2 the wrasse was belly up. Clowns appear fine and no longer have the salt spots. Whether or not this is due to the medication or the normal life cycle of ich is unclear. My guess is just the usual life cycle. The one clown does still have the large white spot on one fin though. I'm still not sure what it is but haven't been able to get a clear picture yet. I intend to continue the rid ich treatment for the recommended 3 days after the last sign of infection and then keep the clowns in the DT for 6 weeks. If I can obtain a refractometer soon I'll slowly drop the salinity as well. Hopefully this will take care of the white spot.
I suppose this really should have been in the Fish disease and treatment forum but I'm still quite new to the hobby and consider myself a newbie. I'm open to any and all advice, constructive criticism etc. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[quagmire]

 

[quagmire]

So I went to turn off the actinics (sp?) and there are dozens, if not hundreds, of tiny peppermint shrimp floating around. I thought I noticed eggs on one of the adults but ignored it figuring they would all become fish food. Since the fish are all in the HT do some of these shrimp have any chance of survival? I'm doubtful but who knows. I do have a ton of pods skittering around . . . not sure what the baby shrimp eat. The poor six line would have been in hog heaven.

 

[quagmire]

any advice?

 

[gypsana]

Watch your levels in the HT. I just had a loss of two fish because my QT had an ammonia spike. The amount of sand you put in there my not have enough bacteria to hold your levels. The nitrate spike may have to do with moving the sand. I would check your levels again ASAP. Get some PVC and get the coffee mugs out. You have the set up I would hypo the HT. I would not rely on ich meds. A refractometer is a must get if you are going to hypo. I have a different one so I can not tell you for sure but the one they sell here should be really good. Good luck!

 

[gypsana]

BTW I hope someone else has some advice for you. Sometimes these boards are a little slow. But keep asking questions and I do a lot of research. Sometimes I find my answers quicker that way.

 

[girlina4x4]

Get a refractometer. Hypo is NOT 6 months. Look more into that, on the "disease" section of this site. Don't assume the ich is gone just because you cant see it.

 

[quagmire]

Gypsana thanks so much for the reply / pointers. I've rechecked the nitrates several times and they are holding around 10 even with daily 25 to 50 percent water changes. I've stopped using the ich meds and intend to begin hypo. I got a tip about a good LFS that I've never visited and am on my way as soon as I finish this post. Hopefully they'll have a refractometer.
Just curious why you suggest replacing the coffee mugs with PVC. I know they look silly but they do provide a place for them to hide.
Again, thanks for the reply and encouragement!

 

[quagmire]

Get a refractometer. Hypo is NOT 6 months. Look more into that, on the "disease" section of this site. Don't assume the ich is gone just because you cant see it.
Girlina thanks for the reply!
I mistyped in my original post. I understand that hypo is not 6 months. I meant to say that my fish would need to stay out of the DT for 6 weeks. I've read and reread the posts in the disease section several times. I think I have a feel for it . . .but I am certainly no expert.
I see your in Tallahassee, Fl. A fellow Seminole? I went to FSU about 8 years ago and I truly miss that place. Potbellys nearly put an end to my freshman year and I have fond memories of Doak Campbell stadium and the waltz down Tennessee Street.

 

[girlina4x4]

Haha yeah Id leave your tank fish free for 2 solid months, dont leave any chances!
FSU all the way! Im actually about to head up to the Irish Pub block party!

 

[jayking232003]

How do u know what your saltinity level is? *****, Petsmart, whatever, maybe even walmart will have a refractometer that will get you by. The one by Marineland works great for me.

 

[gypsana]

I would get pvc because it is safer than items that hold food contamination, but it is a little late to worry about that now. Also the fish will have less stress with pvc because it offers more hiding places. I would do a few small pieces. You may even find scrap for free at a local hardware/pluming store. BTW have you checked for ammonia?

 

[quagmire]

Ahh food contamination.

Well I've never been much of a coffee drinker so I think those mugs have been sitting in my cabinet since I moved here. I doubt they've been used more then a few times and I rinsed them thoroughly before I put them in. I shared your concerns when I first grabbed them but I was in a hurry and didn't have anything else handy. I'll have to go to the hardware store and grab some PVC.
I test the tank daily for ammonia, pH, nitrite and nitrate. Today there was a tiny hint of ammonia so I did another 25 % water change.
On the bright side I did find an absolutely amazing new LFS!!!! They occupy 2 wharehouses and have a HUGE selection of fish, corals and tanks. They also manufacture custom designed tanks and cabinetry. I almost felt like I should have paid admission to get in. However, no one in town seems to have a refractometer for sale.

I did pick up a glass floating hydrometer though. I know there not as good as the refractometer but it has to be better then that crappy hydrometer I've been using. I think it is accurate enough that I can safely start hypo. I'll have to do some more reading before I start though. Thanks again for all the replies and advice. I tried discussing this with some of my friends and family but I lost them when I told them I spent $100 on a rock . . .

 

[gypsana]

If you plan on hypo you need a refractometer. The hydrometer could cause disaster. You can order on from a fish/pet supply and have it expedited to you. In my opinion it is well worth it. You do not want to loose any more fish and the hypo has to be exact to work properly. Let us know how it is coming along for you.