Anthias died. Sailfin breathing heavy

[Nstocks]

I'm not are how helpful/clear the vide is, but to others does this seem like rapid breathing?

Should I wait for something else to come up, some other sign of velvet before removing all the fish again? Or would such a time be too late, if it's true that based on the above photograph it was velvet not ich.

 

[Humblefish]

@Nstocks The breathing is labored. Something (disease, ammonia, contaminant, lack of oxygen) is negatively affecting that tang's gills.

 

[Nstocks]

Copper it is. I'm ordering a fish trap too because catching the fish, especially Anthias is incredible stressful.

If the Anthias stop eating, how would I treat them since CP is likely going to end badly. Unless I use cheated copper rather than ionic (Cupramine) which may be safer. Also is it worth adding vitamins or garlic to the mysis to try and keep them eating?

I also have a better QT tank, around 4ft long and glass as opposed to my 3ft plastic tote.

I'm still reading up but for filtration to work, it requires either seeded rock (from the DT which then needs throwing away) or water changes with a pre-medicated dose of copper. Any other options? There's always chemicals to remove ammonia but I'd rather not add more chemicals.

 

[Humblefish]

Also is it worth adding vitamins or garlic to the mysis to try and keep them eating?

Vitamins are best for keeping his immune system elevated whilst treating with copper (which suppresses the immune system); whereas garlic is mainly useful for making the food more palatable.

I'm still reading up but for filtration to work, it requires either seeded rock (from the DT which then needs throwing away) or water changes with a pre-medicated dose of copper. Any other options? There's always chemicals to remove ammonia but I'd rather not add more chemicals.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-control-in-a-hospital-tank.296119/

 

[Nstocks]

I have a tiny bottle of Fritz turbostart, but what I've read says not to use it with copper as the copper will kill the bacteria anyway? Or is it better to add it regardless and continue to monitor ammonia etc. incase it shoots up in which case water change (with more copper to maintain the correct level).

If using floss that would be replaced after x days, most of the bacteria would go with it, so perhaps remove half add new and replace the other half of the dirty wool a few days later?

I've been observing the aquarium all day and noticed how hungry every single fish is. It's like they haven't been fed in days (I feed 2-3 times a day).

 

[Humblefish]

@Nstocks Take your filter's bio-media, and place it in a 5 gal bucket (no copper) and dose Turbostart in there. After a few days you can move it back to your QT's biofilter and enough bacteria should be established by then to provide some benefit.

 

[Brew12]

@Nstocks Take your filter's bio-media, and place it in a 5 gal bucket (no copper) and dose Turbostart in there. After a few days you can move it back to your QT's biofilter and enough bacteria should be established by then to provide some benefit.

+1 on this.

Just put a gallon of water in the bucket with a small powerhead or even just swirl it around a few times throughout the day. Doesn't need a heater if inside. I would also put some food in there to provide an ammonia source to start feeding the bacteria.

 

[Nstocks]

So fill a QT with new saltwater, heater, air stone possibly a powerhead and a filter of some sort (like those below).

Take some filter floss and water from QT in a bucket, add bacteria and pinch of food.

Add copper to QT.

Wait a day?

Add floss to QT then add fish?

Or is it that when I add new filter floss I use new saltwater, add bacteria and food, leave it for a day and then replace the dirty media in the QT with the new 'seeded' floss?

 

[Brew12]

So fill a QT with new saltwater, heater, air stone possibly a powerhead and a filter of some sort (like those below).

Take some filter floss and water from QT in a bucket, add bacteria and pinch of food.

Add copper to QT.

Wait a day?

Add floss to QT then add fish?

Or is it that when I add new filter floss I use new saltwater, add bacteria and food, leave it for a day and then replace the dirty media in the QT with the new 'seeded' floss?

Sorry, I didn't read back far enough. I assumed you already had copper in the system. I would set up the QT and add 1/2 the bacteria product to it to seed it. Take the last 1/2 along with water and more floss and put it in the bucket with the food and water. This way you have some ammonia processing capacity in the QT ready for you since you need to get copper treatment started. The floss in the backup will have a chance to mature more and provide a backup if the bacteria in the original floss breaks down.

FYI, I use sponges instead of floss, but I never replace the dirty media. I take it to the sink under warm water and rinse it well. You aren't going to rinse away the bacteria and as long as you don't have high chlorine in your tap water you should be fine. If you aren't sure of your tap water, take some RODI or salt water in a small container and ring your filter floss out in it to clean it.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Get your self an amonia badge if you haven’t already

 

[Nstocks]

For vitamins I have found the following options:

http://www.seachem.com/vitality.php

http://vitalisaquatic.uk/blog/products/platinum-marine-frozen-food-enrichment/

We can't get Selcon in the UK but it looks like Seachem Vitality is a close match.

Every LFS I've seen feeding, they all feed from a bottle of defrosted foods which may have vitamins added. If I wanted to thaw and rinse mysis for 2-3 days feeds and add the vitamins, would this be a good idea? That is, defrosting food days before it's going to be used in an effort to rinse away things like phosphates.

 

[Nstocks]

I'm going to be adding a refigure at some point (was going to do ATS but I'd prefer refugium).

Would it be advisable to wait for 3 months before adding macro algae, even if it's from a fish free system?

 

[Humblefish]

I'm going to be adding a refigure at some point (was going to do ATS but I'd prefer refugium).

Would it be advisable to wait for 3 months before adding macro algae, even if it's from a fish free system?

Read this: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coral-invert-quarantine-time-frames.334584/

 

[Nstocks]

Read this: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/coral-invert-quarantine-time-frames.334584/

Thank you, from that I take away that I should dip the algae in Coral RX and keep it in a fishes environment for 76 days. Since the entire system will be going fallow for 12 weeks (starting this week), adding the algae won't make any difference because the systems is already infected/diseased.

 

[Nstocks]

For the shrimp and crab I have, could those also be added back to the display once the fish are removed? Marine velvet isfisoh only, so is ick...

 

[Brew12]

For the shrimp and crab I have, could those also be added back to the display once the fish are removed? Marine velvet isfisoh only, so is ick...

Yup, its the perfect time to have inverts/coral/algae added to the tank.

 

[Nstocks]

I've managed to catch the Tang using the Aqua Medic trap (very well built!) and in the QT I noticed this on the tang, like a white cyst?

Also, is it better to have a larger volume of water in the QT versus doing more water changes, both with copper and general QT, as long as I'm 100% certain the copper is correct.

 

[Humblefish]

@Nstocks I'm not 100% sure that's an ich trophont, but would still treat with copper nevertheless.

IMO; it's always better to have a larger volume of water in QT because it allows more leeway for ammonia to rise. Ammonia is probably the #1 killer in QT.

 

[Nstocks]

The fish have been in 0.5mg Cupramine for 7 days now and they haven't died!

All fish except the tang are eating as normal, so I need to figure out what else to feed tang. I feed 2 cubes mysis per day and also add a little nori and pellets, all foods soaked in Seachem Vitality but tang is not interested.

 

[Brew12]

The fish have been in 0.5mg Cupramine for 7 days now and they haven't died!

All fish except the tang are eating as normal, so I need to figure out what else to feed tang. I feed 2 cubes mysis per day and also add a little nori and pellets, all foods soaked in Seachem Vitality but tang is not interested.

Have you tried doing this?