Breeder setup with Brooklynella

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

I had 5 pairs of clowns that I am just starting up a breeding program to see if I can be successful. Just doing this as a hobby and I'm learning as I go.

I recently introduced a few new pairs. One adult breeding pair and a few smaller juvie pairs that need to grow out. I recently lost the new adult breeding pair. The male first then the female 8 days later. I was treating the system with API General cure and soaking the food in focus and Metroplex. Going on my 3rd dose of General Cure and 1 week of feeding with the Metro and Focus. Treating the whole system about 64 gallons total with the sump and live rock.

I now see what looks like Brook on another adult pair. They are still eating and swimming fine but I really can't lose this pair. They have been with me almost 3 years now. Grew them from a small fry. The other younger pairs all look good but I'm no expert. They all share the same water and sump.

My question is what other methods can I do. I stopped at my LFS looking for Formalin but they would have to order it. I have Furan 2, General Cure, and Metro on hand.

Having never dealt with this before I was wondering if I should do a fresh water dip and then treat the water with Metro instead of the food? If so how much Metro? The directions say 1 scoop for every 10 gallons. Is that enough? Any ideas? Or skip the dip and straight to the Metroplex? Can the Metro and General Cure be added together? Run the skimmer and carbon or turn them off?

Thanks for any help.

Big G · Dec 30, 2017

Do you have access to Ruby Reef Rally? It contains acriflavine and is highly recommended for surface diseases like Brook. Here's a link to a thread that may help:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brooklynella.247938/#post-2913287

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

Thank you Big G! Just called the LFS and they do have Ruby Reef Rally. Off to purchase some. I will research the link when I get back.

Big G · Dec 30, 2017

check the expiration date on the bottle/package

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

All good. Now the directions say 1 ounce per gallon. Is this ok to treat the whole brood system? I have 4 pairs remaining and some live rock in the sump. I assume turn off the skimmer and carbon reactor. Increase oxygen with more air stones? I only have one 10 gallon QT. So I'm not sure how I would move them all thru that?

Big G · Dec 30, 2017

Here's another link of another thread Humblefish and others discuss using acriflavine: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acriflavine.282887/#post-3441660

Big G · Dec 30, 2017

Well the rough part is that your DT has to go fallow for 6 weeks to starve out the Brook. The consensus is that acriflavine (Ruby Reef Rally, etc.) works best as a bath. Then place fish into a clean QT while the DT goes fallow. Just be aware that if you do use it in your DT it will tint the water, you need to add aeration.

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

Thanks for the links again Big G. I appreciate all the help. I'll be adding them to a bath and just rotate them thru.

Big G · Dec 30, 2017

It's just fantastic that you are doing all this work with your clowns.

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

Hell yes! These pairs are my babies! I have Bali Onyx Picasso, Black Snowflakes, Wyoming Whites, Onyx and Black Ocellaris. They are treated like Kings! The eat better then me

But I will NEVER, NEVER put another fish in my system without QT! Lesson learned...

I even took a quick video of the pair in the bath. Weird right lol. Wish I knew how to upload videos.

Maritimer · Dec 30, 2017

Videos should be uploaded to Youtube or a similar service - you can link to them from here.

~Bruce

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

Heres the link. Sorry for the drain noise. Might want to lower your volume.

Sharkz · Dec 30, 2017

I used 1 ounce in 8 gallons and the Clowns were in for a total of 105 minutes. Lost track of time so I went over the 90 minutes that I intended. I will follow up with updates as they happen. Thanks for all the help and advice!

Big G · Dec 31, 2017

Hey that's the sound of fish getting healthy!

Sharkz · Dec 31, 2017

Woke this morning and both of these clowns look and act 100% better. The "white skin peeling look" is completely gone. The black coloration on the clowns looks black again with no white film. I didn't think I would see results so quickly as its only been about 10 hours.

The plan this morning is to give the remaining 3 pairs a bath. Hold them all in a temporary QT. Drain the entire 65 gallons including the sump. Scrub everything down and try to disinfect the best I can and refill everything with new salt water treated with General Cure and Metro. I'll post the results in a few days.

Maritimer · Dec 31, 2017

Keep in mind that General Cure is simply a combination of Praziquantel (active ingredient in Prazi-Pro) and Metronidazole - which is the active ingredient in Metroplex. One or the other (GC or Metro) should be sufficient.

~Bruce

Big G · Dec 31, 2017

Sharkz said:
Woke this morning and both of these clowns look and act 100% better. The "white skin peeling look" is completely gone. The black coloration on the clowns looks black again with no white film. I didn't think I would see results so quickly as its only been about 10 hours.

The plan this morning is to give the remaining 3 pairs a bath. Hold them all in a temporary QT. Drain the entire 65 gallons including the sump. Scrub everything down and try to disinfect the best I can and refill everything with new salt water treated with General Cure and Metro. I'll post the results in a few days.

Great news! Remember you can give the fish multiple baths. Just wait a day or so between baths. Big fan of General Cure. I believe the lower dose of Praziquantel in GC is much easier on the fish but still gets the job done. Cheers!