Lee need your help with ID and treatment course.

[DolphinLVR]

Lee,

Let me first start off by apologizing of not reading through the sticky's! My job has had me out of town quite a bit and I have to leave again early in the AM.

About 3 weeks ago I introduced a healthy (thats what I thought) Blue Tang from an existing tank. After being put into my system that had been up for almost a year, he started showing signs of Ick. I then noticed my Black Clown was looking bad (pitcures attached) and then poof she was gone. I have been gone most of these 3 weeks, but have been doing weekly water changes still and upon advice I removed the sand from my refugium.

To make a long story short, I have lost the following:
Pink Anthias
2 - Clowns
Naso Tang
Pink Tail
Lawnmower Blenny
Midas Blenny

Whats Left:
Blue Tang
Red Sea Sailfin (looks great)
Xmas Wrasse (Looks Great)
Orange spot Goby (Looks Great)

Any Ideas and what would the treatment plan be? I am getting some help to remove the remainder of the fish on Thursday!

 

[thatguy559]

first off sorry about your losses...what are your water parameters? did you remove all the sand in the refugium all at once? how did you remove it? this could have released some chemicals into the tank causing a spike

 

[DolphinLVR]

In the process of doing some testing now Justin.

When I removed the sand, I did so with the return pumps off and I Had a HOB filter with carbon scrubbing the water for awhile.

 

[DolphinLVR]

Just so I am clear, the sand in the refugium was removed after the clownfish had perished.

 

[DolphinLVR]

Test results I am bad with reading these things

Elos NO3 = 1

Salifert Phosphate = .003 ppm

Salifert Alk = 10.2 (Milwakee reads 8.0)

I am not sure about these results

 

[thatguy559]

do you have ph, ammonia? salinity?

 

[NC2WA]

Jeff,

ammonia, nitrite, salinity, pH would be the critical ones to have.

does the fish look like it has a sheen/shine to it?? if so, then you may have marine velvet..according to Lee's sticky the only thing that cures it, is copper..also, it is very fast moving and can kill a fish in days.

from someone that experienced massive fish loss over the Xmas holiday, I feel your pain and know what u are going thru..It is not fun to deal with..

anything I can do to help, let me know.
Kirk

 

[DolphinLVR]

Thanks Kirk!

I will have to test the rest when I get home Thursday, By then I am hoping to have the last 4 fish out of the tank and in a hospital tank. I will let my tank go fishless at that point.

 

[NC2WA]

sweet..as if you do decide to dose copper, follow the instructions to a tee and make sure you are in the recommended range..as some fish dont do well in copper..

 

[tat2z_21]

That is horrible, sorry to hear about your loss. I will have a few fish hanging out in the sump when the tank is ready. Again, sorry to hear about all of this. I wish I had some sort of cure all answer for you.

 

[NWDiver]

If anyone has Thursday afternoon free, DJ and I are headed his way to catch the remaining fish and try to fix them up while he is out of town, any assistance is welcome!

Lee, since the remaining fish are looking healthy what is the correct course of action? I can setup a hospital tank for him, but I don't have a sponge filter ready to go and the largest tank I have that I can use for a hospital tank is a 55gal. It might be a bit tight for the tangs (5 or 6 inches each)
I can do daily water changes to keep ammonia down, but not sure on the filtration otherwise.
I will read through your stickys (again) if you will point me in the right direction.
Thanks much,

-Todd

 

[thatguy559]

Hey Todd I have an extra 100g tank you can borrow as a hospital tank. Let me know and I have a fluval fx5 you can use too just load it up with carbon

Or a 100g stock tank as well

 

[NWDiver]

Thanks Justin! I forgot that I have a 100 gal stock tank, that would work well.
If I have to do copper, I would hate to run that through your fx5. I don't know if you could use it in a tank with inverts afterwards.
If someone knows for sure that it would be safe, I will take you up on the offer!

-Todd

 

[thatguy559]

Well I don't use it on salt water it an extra one or my fresh water turtles! Unless copper will harm them? I don't mind loaning it out

 

[NWDiver]

Very cool Justin, thanks again!
I have no idea if it is safe for turtles or even how much copper would stay in the filter.
Lee, as long as you will be giving advice, any help with this question?

 

[thatguy559]

Sweet you can come and get it when ever I go to the gym at 12 and work from 230pm to 1130pm on Thursday but I can leave it out if plan on getting it after 12pm

 

[NWDiver]

Damn, I can't leave Bellingham until about 1. I will check with Jeff to see if he can get there before you head out. I hope Lee has a look at this soon...

 

[leebca]

I too am sorry to hear of the losses. I was holding off responding, hoping to see more chemistries and data, as others had requested.

In generally, the Marine Ich (MI) parasite in the tank means that all fishes will require treatment and the system to go fishless. Just follow the guidelines and start reading, beginning here: http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f15/curing-fish-marine-ich-50933/

With such a daunting task, I'd turn to chemistry. Obtain chemical filters that are advertised to absorb or neutralize ammonia (and nitrites) until the biological filter is running. Together with the chemical filters and water changes, you'll control the ammonia and nitrites. Do lots of water chemistry tests during all of this.

Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[NWDiver]

Thanks Lee, do the (limited I know) pictures suggest MI to you? It seems rather faster than other cases I've heard others talk about.
Thanks for the advice on the filtration. Do you know if I used the cannister filter with a Cu treatment would it be harmful to use with turtles after?
I will post the water parms after I visit the tank.

-Todd

 

[tat2z_21]

Hey I have an extra filter as well and could be over there at 3pm. If there is anything else that I need to bring let me know.