Black Ich, I think?

[Jeremy Luke]

So my fish have been fine and healthy. I will say that I added 4 frags to my tank about a little over a week ago. Probably not the cause but thought I'd mention it.

A few days ago my powder blue Tang started rubbing on the same bed. Upon examination the only thing I could see was a very small patch of black dots near the fin on his belly. I want even sure if he had them all along.

The day before yesterday, I noticed two very small white bumps on him. I looked closely and he had several more black dots. The purple had a couple of small white dots and if he had black dots who could tell. The blond Naso was examined and found to have a heck of a lot of black dots. Everyone else in the tank looked fine. I started prepping my 55 gallon quarantine tank.

When I got home from work last night I went to feed and examine. No white dots to be found. Black dots for sure. My question is, would you treat the DT for black ich and observe? Would you put them all in qt, treat for black ich and then after that for ich? The couple of very small white bumps were there only for 1 day. Could that be some reaction to the black ich?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Jeremy Luke]

Also I'll add that everyone is very active and eating like crazy as always. Food is herbivore feast, frozen mysis, frozen brine, pe mysis pellets and Nori.

Water:
Sg: 1.025
Temp: 78
Ph: 8.1
Alk: 8.5
Calc: 460
No3: 5ppm
Po4: .045 (Hanna ULR)

 

[ngoodermuth]

Here's humble's write-up on black ich:
Black Ich (turbellarians)

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Black-Ich-(turbellarians).259912/

Since prazi-pro is OK to dose in the DT, I'd probably just go ahead and treat now and see if there is anything left to treat after.

That way you might be able to avoid moving/stressing all the fish.

 

[Jeremy Luke]

Thanks for the advice and link.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree. Prazi the display. Of course, if you want confirmation on black ich before you do that a freshwater dip will confirm/rule that out. The few white dots could have just been sand stuck to their slime coats from rubbing against it.

 

[4FordFamily]

It sounds like you may also have ich or velvet in addition if some spots are white. Monitor closely and don't wait too late to quarantine to treat all fish, if this happens.

Good luck!

 

[Jeremy Luke]

Tonight they still only have black dots for certain. I removed the skimmer, turned off the reactor and dosed Prazipro. My better half picked it up for me today from an LFS.

The quaruntine tank is ready to go in case they need further treatment.

 

[4FordFamily]

Tonight they still only have black dots for certain. I removed the skimmer, turned off the reactor and dosed Prazipro. My better half picked it up for me today from an LFS.

The quaruntine tank is ready to go in case they need further treatment.

That makes me worry about ich or velvet, probably ich. It means ich is completing its life cycle. Treat with praziquantel first though IMO. Keep a watchful eye!

 

[Jeremy Luke]

Watchful eye for sure.

 

[Jeremy Luke]

From what I've read and understand...I can do a water change after 24 hours. After the water change I can resume skimming? Wait for 48 hours to turn the dual reactor back on?

 

[ngoodermuth]

From what I've read and understand...I can do a water change after 24 hours. After the water change I can resume skimming? Wait for 48 hours to turn the dual reactor back on?

The prazipro only needs 24 hours in most cases to do its thing. You can let it go 36-48 hours for extra measure if you want, otherwise do your water change and resume business as usual.

Just remember, you need a second dose in 5-7 days.

 

[Humblefish]

The prazipro only needs 24 hours in most cases to do its thing. You can let it go 36-48 hours for extra measure if you want, otherwise do your water change and resume business as usual.

Just remember, you need a second dose in 5-7 days.

+1 Being turbellarians are usually more resistant to prazi than monogeneans (flukes), I would go the full 72 hrs before removing the medication.

 

[Jeremy Luke]

Thanks for the help folks. Just watching the poor PBT rub makes my skin crawl. Hopefully, relief had already begun.

 

[Jeremy Luke]

Well the rubbing has subsided. There are still some black spots though greatly reduced. I did go ahead tonight and do a 25% wc and got the reactors and skimmer back online. I will say I did have a coral casualty during the treatment. A blue tenuis literally lost it's skin. Anyway, I'll be starting the second round I figure on Thursday night.