On freshwater fish, it depends on what you keep. I had a pair of Anglefish that were 8 inches top to bottom. They kept laying eggs, but since they were both females, and they killed every male I put in with them, I never was able to hatch a brood. Yes, freshwater fish are easy once you learn the basics. I have had freshwater tanks for over 30 years. I have lost more money this week in saltwater fish, than I have lost in 30 years of keeping freshwater fish. Of course, that isn't saying much, since freshwater fish are cheap compared to saltwater fish.
Saltwater, not so easy. My first clown died two days short of three weeks in the tank. The last one died this morning, 3 weeks and one day after I put him in the tank. The tang has been in the tank 2 days short of 4 weeks and, to my surprise, he is still alive. I didn't think he would make it through the day. Tomorrow may be another story.
Without a QT tank, how do you keep disease out of your display tank. Is a freshwater dip enough? How long can a yellow tang survive in a 10 gallon QT tank? He is a juvenile. About 2 1/2 inches.

Welp, in a QT, your fish are there for being medicated for a couple weeks, then they go into the DT. The Tang will be fine in there for that period. As for freshwater dips, yes, those are the best for killing parasites, but I'm not a fan, because your stressing the heck out of that fish. And just for info, I have never used a QT, still don't. I bought the fish and put them in the DT, if your fish are healthy they survive the issues brought with a new fish. The biggest issue with a new fish is getting them to eat, and then usually over the next few weeks you build up their health, and that alone stays off issues.

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As near as I can determine, it was Marine Velvet that killed off my fish. I know it must have come in with one of the fish I bought since it can't survive without fish for 4 weeks.
If I had been using a QT tank and kept each fish in isolation for 4 weeks before introducing it into the display tank, I would not have lost all the fish.
I won't repeat the mistake of buying so many fish, so quickly. Now that I have a source that is only 15 minutes away, buying a single fish at a time will be feasible. I don't know much about this place other than the online reviews from several years ago say that the owner is a jerk. He hasn't updated his website in several years.
I don't know if the Tang made it through the night. He is hiding in the rocks somewhere and the lights haven't come on yet. He was eating yesterday.
I have read that the way to rid a tank of Marine Velvet is to transfer the fish to a QT tank and crank the heater in the infected tank up to 96 degrees for two weeks. Or just let the tank sit empty for four weeks.
I still don't know at what point I should have seen the approaching problem. It all seemed to happen overnight. Happy fish one day, dying fish the next. Nothing, or very little, of what I know about keeping freshwater fish and fish behavior seems to apply to saltwater fish.

Yea, in the fish area aspect, its not all that easy, but in a sense it is. Fresh and salt don't compare at all. If you would have QT'd all the fish, then I'd say you would be ok, but, how would you know what to dose for in the QT? you would not have seen it in there either. Ich would at least show itself in a short time after getting the fish. Keep your tank at 96? Dose copper? Dose Formulin? Thats the hard part. You win some wars, and lose others.

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I noticed this morning that the Tang is developing tiny red spots around his eyes and gills, down his snout and at the base of his fins. I seem to remember reading somewhere that this is a sign of a bacterial infection, but I don't remember how to treat it. More research.

This is what I have found out on this.
"septisemia 100%. cleaner water is a must. vitamins in the food. maracyn-two in the water. in 5 days it'll be gone "
And
"soaking his food (formula 2) in (gel tek) penicillin"
This should help you out, but the Maracyn you might want to add to the QT and not the DT.
Good luck.

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Thanks. I'll keep you updated. I am about to go test the DT and the QT to see where I am at on both. Still waiting on delivery of the other testing stuff. It sucks not being able to drive and having to rely on a friend to take you to the store, or online purchases. Online isn't good for emergencies. But I only have transportation on Mondays and Fridays, if my friend is available.
I have a rare vision problem that causes unpredictable periods of temporary blindness. That is why I can't drive. Texas revoked my drivers license.

Updated readings for everything I can test for right now.

Display Tank
PH 8.0
Salinity 1.021
Temp 78
Ammonia 0PPM
Nitrite 0PPM
Nitrate 10PPM

QT tank
PH 7.8
Salinity 1.021
Temp 76
Ammonia 0PPM
Nitrite 5PPM + (higher than scale can go by a little)
Nitrate 160PPM ( I wouldn't believe this is even possible if I hadn't seen it)

In its current state the QT tank is certain and immediate death for a fish. I am debating on whether to try to fix the 10 gallon QT tank or abandon it and go buy a 29 gallon for my QT tank. Since I intend to QT every fish for at least 6 weeks, I think I need a 29 gallon to handle fish like a tang. I also need a large tank to QT the Tang in for the next 6 weeks while I treat his problems and give the display tank time to become useable again. I don't want to sterilize it because I am finally getting some coraline algae growth on my live rock, plus some interesting other things and about a dozen little featherdusters. I want to see what all this develops into.

You can always overnight stuff, may cost a lil more, but at least you know you can get it when you need it.

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Just do a water change. The Trates are not going to kill the fish, I had 200 Trates in my tank for a bit and never lost a fish for that reason. At least your going about the issue in good manner.

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Okay. The tang died this morning. The redness I asked about was gone but after the lights came one, he just laid over on his side and quit breathing.
So I am going to start figuring out how to start over.
First, the water I use for mixing saltwater.
I have a swimming pool so I get it tested several times a year. Readings on my water pertinent to using in an aquarium
Calcium (CH) 80 ppm
Total Alkalinity (TA) 110 PPM
PH 7.4
copper 0PPM
Iron 0PPM
These are freshwater tests so I don't know how changing it to saltwater affects it.
The display tank readings taken immediately after I found the dead Tang.
Temp 78
Salinity 1.022
PH 8.0
Ammonia 0PPM
Nitrite 0PPM
Nitrate 5PPM


Questions about how to proceed with a FOWLR tank.
Quarantine tank. is a 20 gallon big enough or should I set up a 29 gallon
Sources for how to set up a QT? And maintain it?
Is a Reef Masters test kit comprehensive enough or are there other tests I need? Not doing reef but apparently the saltwater master test kits isn't enough. (PH, Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)
How critical is salinity. I have a hydrometer. Do I really need a refractometer?
What meds should I stock? I want to have on hand the meds to treat anything I will encounter. I don't want to watch any more fish die just because I can't get the meds quick enough.
Am I correct that clowns need to be introduced in pairs? Can I put in one pair, and then 6 weeks later, a second pair?
I am not going to put another fish in this tank for at least 6 weeks, and not before the Quarantine tank is ready for fish.
So depending on how a QT is started from scratch, I figure at least 8 to 12 weeks before I put another fish in the display tank.
Where can I go to find out what is growing on my live rock. I need pictures for reference.
What should I read, and where should I look, to find out how to identify any disease a saltwater fish is subject to, BEFORE it is too late.
Any books you recommend?? I have a book by Dr. Herbert R. Axlerod but I need more up to date info. His book is out of date.
I am going to drain and clean the 10 gallon. It is too small for a QT, and I might need it for my freshwater fish as a QT tank for them.

Just as a funny note,
I have had three goldfish in my horse tank since early summer. I do not feed them anything. I suspect they eat what the horses drop when they drink. The tank is a 80 gallon tank. The goldfish are now 3 inches long. They were one inch when I bought them. I bought them for mosquito control. They eat the larvae.

I really appreciate the help and am sorry I failed in my first attempt. I really want to succeed in this and know I am a long way away from setting up a reef tank. I know I am responsible for my fish dying and do not want to repeat the experience of a total die off of all fish.

WOW, ok. So lets start over. So here goes.
Live Rock Hitch Hikers
Water Changes in the Cycling Aquarium - The First Tank Guide - Don't Water Changes Keep the Biological Filter from Maturing?
Saltwater Fish Aquarium Setup
How To Set Up a Fish Quarantine Tank
Reef Master is a good water test kit. But, you do not need all that for just a fish only tank. You just need Ammoni, Nitrite, Nitrate, PH.
Fish only tank SG is not critical, being, that your range is much wider than in a reef. You fish will be ok in roughly 1.017-1.026, Hydrometer is ok to use for those points, but check them twice for good measure. I used one for a long time without issue.
20g is ok, but a 29 is better, but then again it all depends on the length. The longer the tank the better the QT.
As far as adding Clowns in, it all depends on what Clown you are adding. Occ Clowns and Black Occ Clowns are pretty calm fish. Clarki, Tomato, Skunk, and a few others are just freakin mean fish, I would not suggest adding another clown to the tank once those are introduced, unless the ones you are adding are much bigger. And no, clowns do not need to be introduced as pairs.
Medication: Few ways to go about this. Hypo will kill damn near all parasites, they can't stand the pressure difference between salt and fresh.
About Hyposalinity or Osmotic Shock Therapy - A Simple, Effective, Non-Chemical Treatment for Ich
This is some crazy stuff here:
Aquarium Fish Medication: Malachite Green
And the big Copper Treatment
Copper sulphate (sulfate) can be used to treat a range of parasites affecting marine aquarium fish
Did I miss anything?

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I don't think so. Thanks so much. I will start reading as see where I am then.