Large angelfish trouble

[majestic987]

Hi I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice with large angelfish. About a year ago I had a juvi emperor that lived for about 7 mos, he was just starting to change, and I had to move the tank and he did not make the move. However since then I have not been able to keep any angelfish. I tried 3 majestics, and 2 emperors, none at the same time of course, and all different sizes. However the longest success I have had was a little over a month. They always seem to get common ich or Cryptocaryon. 2 of them didn't even make it out of the QT. None of the other fish show signs of the parasite, but I do know they can still be carrying the parasites. all my levels are perfect, and I mix fresh garlic in their food once a day. I am thinking of buying a UV sterilizer, can anyone tell me if this would help. Or maybe tell me their success rates with the larger angels.
140 gallon oceanic, 30 gallon sump, 10 gallon fuge, Fission Recirculating Skimmer for up to 225 gal, 180 lbs of LR, 120 lbs of LS, and about 8 tangs. Can anyone think of any reasons Im having such issues with these fish? Do you think a sterilizer will help, Im looking at corallifes twisted uv 36 watt for up to 500 gallons. Thank You for reading

 

[rcreations]

Well, if they've all died of ich, then that's your problem. Did you buy all of them from the same store? Maybe try a new store? Could be the fish are coming to you with ich or a lower immune system, could be they're sick before you bring them home.

 

[hefner413]

a couple Q's: regarding other fish - you said that you have about 8 tangs? Are they large? That might be a bit much for a 140. Is there a blue tang among the mix? if so, has it shown signs of ich? If not, are you sure that it's not some sort of other parasite?
And if you've had ich in DT - have you done hypo or other treatment? And did you leave the QT fallow for 6 wks in-between fish to let the ich die?
I doubt that the UV would be a cure all for you though.

 

[majestic987]

I did exaggerate the # of tangs, for some reason I thought I had 8 i actually have 5 i have 2 blue tangs, a powder brown, a yellow, and a naso, none show any signs of parasites. ALso have a neon goby, and a cleaner wrasse. Qt sat for 9 weeks w/o fish. this has been going on for about a year

 

[-tara33-]

did you notice the tangs-yellow and powder brown in particular, being aggresive to the new comers allso is there alot of rock to hide in because if the angel went to hide a tang might be living there and kick the angel out and then it would be stressed and get whitespot

 

[hefner413]

Originally Posted by majestic987
http:///forum/post/2821289
I did exaggerate the # of tangs, for some reason I thought I had 8 i actually have 5 i have 2 blue tangs, a powder brown, a yellow, and a naso, none show any signs of parasites. ALso have a neon goby, and a cleaner wrasse. Qt sat for 9 weeks w/o fish. this has been going on for about a year
are you certain that it was ich? b/c I would be really surprised that the 2 blues and powder brown could be exposed to ich and not get it. My guess would be that it's some other parasite or bacterial/viral infection. My queen angel had an infection recently in my QT and prazipro cleared it right up - have you tried that?
But if you're certain that it was ich, have you done anything to rid the DT of it? If not, it's likely still in there and somehow the tangs' immune systems are built up enough to not get it, but the new fish would be more susceptable.

 

[kjr_trig]

I would rate large Angels as one of the most difficult family of fish to keep. I currently have 2 (Asfur and Emperor) doing well.
I will say one thing I have learned from research and experience is to always treat large Angels for flukes. This is a very common cause of death with large angels, so treat them in qt with Prazipro. Also do you use Copper in your QT?
I do have a large UV Sterilizer on my 240. It's a Emperor Aquatics Smart UV with a 40 watt bulb. I'm not going to say it is the cure all product on the market and its controversial as to the benefits, but I will say this much, I have had tanks for 6+ years now, I don't ever QT, have always had a UV, and have never had ick, or any other desease.....Knock on wood of course.

 

[majestic987]

Originally Posted by kjr_trig
http:///forum/post/2821655
I would rate large Angels as one of the most difficult family of fish to keep. I currently have 2 (Asfur and Emperor) doing well.
I will say one thing I have learned from research and experience is to always treat large Angels for flukes. This is a very common cause of death with large angels, so treat them in qt with Prazipro. Also do you use Copper in your QT?
I do have a large UV Sterilizer on my 240. It's a Emperor Aquatics Smart UV with a 40 watt bulb. I'm not going to say it is the cure all product on the market and its controversial as to the benefits, but I will say this much, I have had tanks for 6+ years now, I don't ever QT, have always had a UV, and have never had ick, or any other desease.....Knock on wood of course.
At first I was using the refugium as a QT, but since I could not treat any parasites or infections in there b/c of the LR, Inverts, and coral in the display above. I set up a 20 gallon QT completely sep. from the main display, however Ive only used Rid Ich, and RXP, but I have never had good results (seems to kill them faster). What is Prazipro, and does copper work well? I found a 36 watt corallife UV sterilizer for 100 dollars used, so i am picking that up with a new bulb on monday. I was told to run the tank with that for at least 2 mos to get rid of any remaining parasites, before I try again

 

[hefner413]

Only 2 ways verified to kill ich on fish - hypo and copper. I prefer hypo, but copper does work well also. Copper can be used in a QT, but I would never use it in a DT (leaches out and kills inverts, etc). See Beth's thread in disease and treatment for details on treatment for ich.
If you are sure it was ich and you have never treated your DT, but it still has LR, inverts and coral... then I would set up some rubbermaids and put the LR in them and then a small tank with light for the corals and inverts. Then hypo the DT. Yeah.. I know that it's MUCH more difficult than that simple statement, but if you want to KILL the ich - you got to be thorough.
Prazipro has praziquantel in it, an anthelmintic - kills parasites such as flatworms. Works great. If I got another angel at some point in time, I would treat with prazipro prophylactically.