Garlic

[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.