Mystery illness

[drosen]

I am looking for some help please. I have a 180G new set up (2 months old). Started with Live sand, 100+ pounds of live rock and bacter vital.

I have an issue where I keep losing fish. The symptoms are rapid respiration and seem to lose their ability to properly swim. I have tested Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, pH, condictivity, Calium, Alkalinity and phosphates. All are normal. I have done water changes, using RO/DI water. Thre are no external signs of illness on any of my fish.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Brian5280]

You might have flukes in your aquarium.

[sundancer]

What kind and how many fish have you lost? How long does it take them to show what symptoms? Is this live sand you bought in a wet bag from LFS?

[drosen]

The live sand was carribsea brand I believe. I have lost two flame angels, 3 banggai cardinals, 1 male sebae clown and 2 yellow head gobies. These did not all die at the same time, but the angels and the cardinals all did the same thing. None of my fish show any signs of external parasites.

Remaining in the tank is: 1 sebae female clown, 1 yellow tang, 4 green chromis, 1 lawnmower blenny, 2 four-spot wrasse, 2 purple anthias, 5 purple firefish, 1 royal gramma, 1 longnose hawk and 3 sally lightfoot crabs.

Ideas?

[drosen]

Oh, and sand was purchased when I set up the tank - tank is 2 months old - some of the fish were fine for a couple of weeks before they declined and with one of the flame angels, it died after 3 days of introduction.

[sundancer]

I can't say what is going on with your tank but what I would not do at this point is add more fish. Sounds like a case of New Tank Syndrome as pointed out, fluke. Let your remaining fish season the tank some more before adding more livestock.

[sundancer]

FYI, New Tank Syndrome is when you add too many fish too soon to a new tank,even for a 180.

[drosen]

Thanks for the feedback