My first crisis...

[falcondob]

In the last four days I have lost 1-powder blue tang and 1-chevron tang (same night, found chevron, never found blue). Today, 1-ocellirus clown (also not found), and 1 emerald crab. Other clown, appears to have ich, as did the other fish. However, it is more fuzzy than ich. Pics below. I have done 2 water changes, started charcoal and phosban.

The leather corals are withdrawn (see pic). Otherwise, all corals, fish, anemones, etc. appear ok (see pic of Torch).

All fish appear edgy, maybe indicating stress?

WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHAT DO I DO ABOUT IT! ****, I hate things dying.

Here are water params:



Date 09/05/2005 11:30 AM
Temp 80 F
Salinity 1.022-1.023
Ca ppm 460
dkH 9.2
pH 8.20
Mg ppm 1290

I assume ammonia is due to unfound rotting fish.
Ammonia ppm .35

Nitrates ppm 0
Nitrites ppm 0

[alexwolf]

Sounds like velvet rather than ich to me. Nasty stuff.

[MikeyBoy]

I lost about 4 fish to the same thing about a month ago.............all seems better now.......sorry for your loss.
I loss a Chevron too..............dang it!!!

[falcondob]

What do I do about it?

[NaCl_H2O]

I would PM or call Richard (CB Pets), he seems to have the most experience dealing with fish diseases.

Are you runing UV or Ozone? That could help keep the infections down if it has a free swimming stage (Maybe Richard can advise)? I have a spare 80w UV I'm not using if you are interested in it - needs some cleaning but should work fine.

[falcondob]

I would PM or call Richard (CB Pets), he seems to have the most experience dealing with fish diseases.

Are you runing UV or Ozone? That could help keep the infections down if it has a free swimming stage (Maybe Richard can advise)? I have a spare 80w UV I'm not using if you are interested in it - needs some cleaning but should work fine.

Thanks Steve. I hope I can get in touch with him. They are probably closed. If I need the UV I will give you a call.
John

[JimD]

Possibly O2 defficiancy? Hows your skimmer acting?

[falcondob]

Possibly O2 defficiancy? Hows your skimmer acting?
Normal, as far as I can tell.
John

[Tim Marvin]

I'd do a 30%-40% water change, run carbon, borrow the U.V., double check the skimmer to assure there is enough air moving through it to oxygenate the water, and feed with some garlic. Removing and dipping fish is a really bad idea IME, the fish are usually so stressed by this point the dipping will kill them. If you are not running a refugium, you may want to consider one in the future. I don't know why, but once I started running refugiums all my fish problems went away except for the occassional suicide jumper. I wish I could give you more advice, but I am more into natural cures than drugs.

[TexasTodd]

Specs seem fine for fish.

When is the last time you added a new fish? Was it quaranteened first?

I almost NEVER loose one fish. If one goes down, it's going to take some others in the next week.

Don't go crazy adding a bunch of PhosBan!

80 degrees isn't too bad. Don't let it get higher especially with sick fish.

Water changes and get dead/almost dead fish OUT FAST.

I WOULD TAKE STEVE UP ON THE UV UNIT if your system won't get too hot. I can't remember if you have a chiller. UV's add a fair amount of heat.

Todd

[TexasTodd]

Also, what have you done differently ANYTHING in the last week?

Todd

[NaCl_H2O]

John, UV is cleanued up & ready to go - I soaked it good with Muraitic acid & rinsed. Also have a MAG7 to drive it if you need one. This is a BIG UV - 80W, dual tube Rainbow Lifeguard. If it generates too much heat, you can easily cut it back to 40w by unplugging one of the ballasts

Just call when you are close!

[JimD]

Actually, if its an Ich type infection, a temperature of 85° to 86° has been known to aid in stopping its progress, colder water seems to promote spreading, Ive done this successfully in the past when I had FO systems and didnt quarentine. Just be carefull not to raise or drop the temp too fast. Just FYI

[TexasTodd]

True Jim, however, his SPS corals would REALLY not like it. :)

TT

[thedude]

I have no idea if this stuff actually works but it's worth a try in my opinion, seems to jut be specialized antibiotics. http://www.nosickfish.com/

[JimD]

True Jim, however, his SPS corals would REALLY not like it. :)

TT

Thats for sure, at least not for the length of time it would take to be effective, I was just kinda tossing that out there for general information.

[falcondob]

Well, I will do my third water change tomorrow, charcoal is running, Phosban is running a few hours a day, the UV will be hooked up in the morning (Thanks a million, Steve). Can't remove missing fish because, well they are missing. Couldn't dip fish even if I wanted to. I come close to the tank with a net and "poof!" no more fish. Going to take Richard's advice and get a more stable temp. Just hope for the best.

Thanks to everybody. You are a great bunch of people!
John

[NaCl_H2O]

John you have a lot of water volume (300g+) so this may be no concern, but that UV plus the MAG7 will generate a good bit of heat so watch out if you set a heater and run the UV 24x7 - the UV may be all you need for a heater overnight ;) I hope it helps, call if you have any questions on it, and good luck!