Garlic

[Thunderkat]

I heard people talking about using garlic as prophylactic against disease and helping boost immune systems for fish that are already infected.

The one I heard people talking about was garlic xtreme or something like that. I saw that brand selling for $12 for 30 mL.

I also saw Seachem Garlic Guard 500 mL for $8.00. I ordered the $8.00 bottle because it also has vitamin C in it.

Is the garlic Xtreme better? Did I make a mistake getting the larger cheaper bottle?

Any thoughts on this?

[GaryP]

Don't worry about it, its all good.

[don-n-sa]

Don't worry about it, its all good.

That has to be the shortest answer that Gary has ever made... :D

I agree...what you bought should be fine

[Thunderkat]

Ok, awesome, I bought it for my clown fish that seems to be losing the battle against brooklynosis. I have been doing freshwater dips and using formalin in the hospital tank. Now that I have corals in my main tank I took my UV sterlizer off the main tank and put it on my 5 gallon hospital tank.

It doesn't seem to be tolerating the fresh water dips like it used to at first. :(

[GaryP]

I can be concise when there is no need to be wordy. :)

[::pete::]

I can be concise when there is no need to be wordy. :)

Care to explain? :)

[GaryP]

That might take words.

[Reef69]

I would stop the FW baths, all that is doing is stressing the fish, the UV isnt going to do much with a fish thats already sick, all you can do is lower your salinity and get the fish to eat, the formalin might help.

[CD]

I bought it for my clown fish that seems to be losing the battle against brooklynosis.


IMO, I would stop the frequent FW dips altogether - I think this is just adding stress on top of stress. I've won this battle with a clownfish before, and here's the scoop: Using the formalin as recommended is fine, BUT lowering the salinity slowly (VERY slowly) is going to be the key here. I would say 1.021 will be the best level to shoot for. This is going to have to be an accurate reading, IOW the cheap plastic salinity meters just won't cut it. The following refractomer is a good example, and is in constant use for us...acclimating new fish and corals, testing salinity in our SW mixing barrels, etc...it was money well spent for us.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3212&item=43748097 19&rd=1

I think you will find, with a combo of using garlic soaked foods (mysis combined with others high in nutrition), formalin (as directed), and lowered salinity, you will be able to cure your clown of the brooklynella. Once there are no more signs of the brook on your fish, keep him in the hospital tank for about another two weeks...during this time-frame, stop dosing the formalin, and SLOWLY increase the salinity in the hospital tank to match your display. Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress.

Wendy

[Thunderkat]

I have a real refractometer (I bought it from Alex and its a nice one).

Right now its at 1.020. I will stop those freshwater dips and keep using the formalin.

Does anybody know if the brooklynosis would stay in my main tank or does lack of a host cause them to die off?

[don-n-sa]

Ok...If I read correctly you are doing freshwater dips and the putting him into a tank with formalin? This is not good for several reasons, one is that it deplaces the O2 in your tank and it is a carcinigin...you should be dipping with a formalin bath and ro/di water and the putting him/her in the hospital tank that is either normal or slightly lower salinity.

Here is what you should be doing as far as freshwater dips

1. Get your R/O water ready. 1/2 gallon will do.

2. Add baking soda gradually to bring the PH up to about 8.2 (or whatever your tank is). I find that 1/4 per gallon is just right. That would be 1/8 of a cup for 1/2 a gallon.

3. Warm up the freshwater to the temperature currently in the tank.

4. Throw in an air stone.

5. Drop the fish in and wait exactly 15 minutes, gently stirring the water to keep the fish moving somewhat.

6. If the first dip doesn't work, do the same procedure 24 hours later, but with formalin.

Since you already have done the freshwater dips you should start doing the formalin baths...here is a great artical for more detailed info
http://216.168.47.67/cis-fishnet/seascope/99SS1601.htm

the clown is probaly stressed out right now so I am not sure if you should wait 24hrs or not, that will have to be your call.

[Thunderkat]

Ok, I used a chemical to raise the pH to 8.2 to match the aquarium and had the distilled water the same temp as the hospital tank. I put in the formalin according to directions on the bottle. The first time the fish was in for 2 minutes and then floated on its side.

I immediately took it out and put it back in the hospital tank.

Yesterday I made up the solution again and put it in the the clownfish immediately floated on its side. I think I should stop the freshwater.

I can't wait until the garlic gets here. Hopefully the nutrition approach will work. I think the formalin has had its chance. I dont' want to put my fish in an oncology ward.

I can see the fish already tucked into the bed of a hospital with an IV hooked up to it :lol

[Reef69]

..that sounds like a torture, i wish i could do something.. :mellow

[don-n-sa]

the 2min freswater dips have not been effective because they have not been long enough , but you did the right thing since it started floating on its side...I guess. I never heard of that happening.

Again..I am unsure if you are using a formalin bath or is it in your hospital tank, please clarify

[Thunderkat]

Both

[don-n-sa]

ok...the preferred method is to do a bath..due to the nature of the chemical...I dont think you should be doing both.

Here is some quotes from the link that I posted above.

Formalin will remove oxygen from the water so it is very important to place an air stone or other device in the dip to provide a constant supply of oxygen.

It is best to strongly aerate the formalin for several hours prior to using it in a dip. This will remove as much of the methanol as possible, because the methanol is also toxic to fish.

[CD]

Yesterday I made up the solution again and put it in the the clownfish immediately floated on its side. I think I should stop the freshwater.


This poor fish is so stressed out, it's gonna croak if you continue with the dips.



Right now its at 1.020. I will stop those freshwater dips and keep using the formalin


That's what I would do. 1.020 salinity is great IMO. The recommended dosage on the brand I had (formalin) was 2 drops per gallon of water *every other day*. That's a pretty weak solution. We did small water changes once a week as usual. The formalin in the tank will not build up to toxic levels if dosed correctly...it evaporates. BTW, my clown had no adverse effects with this treatment...was cured, had no relapse, and is still alive and healthy. I do have a lot of surface agitation in our hospital tank, and I'm sure that helped. Anyway, if I ever purchased a clown that came down with brook, I would treat the same way...what is that saying? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"...?



Does anybody know if the brooklynosis would stay in my main tank or does lack of a host cause them to die off?


Brooklynella is also called (slang) the clownfish disease, as only CFs are affected. As long as there are no other CF in your tank, the other inhabitants should be fine. Since you will be keeping this fish in the hospital tank for at least a month (I would go a little more to be safe), any protozoans should've had plenty of time to die off by then.

I started out (with my sick clown) only dosing the formalin. After discussions with Diego (who is quite knowledgable about clowns), I did as he recommended and also lowered the salinity. This is where I noticed the most progress of ridding the clown of the brook.

I think you are on the right track, and as long as you don't make any quick changes to further stress out the fish, he/she will be in good health before you know it. Keep a close eye on it, and LMK your progress. ;)

Wendy

[Thunderkat]

I bought some frozen Mysis shrimp just waiting on the garlic now to see how better food will work.

I am not sure if that formalin is doing anyting, there is cyano in the tank and it seems unaffected, there are also tiny little worms living in the cyano that seem to be grazing on it and they also seem unaffected.