Continued death in QT. Everyone at risk.

[Beau_B]

I have another thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-affirmation-and-support-requested.762166/

In short; added 3 tangs, and during subsequent 2 weeks... some sort of outbreak in the DT; moved all my livestock into a QT. Now inside 60 hours all three tangs have died. One yellow was expected (weak/not eating) one kole must have been bacterial, third (yellow) was actually ok in DT and was “normal & eating” in QT last night.

Jawfish this morning looks very rough, sloughing skin, had been great in DT.

I am faced with losing everyone now and very upset. The remaining fish have been with me for awhile, one from the very beginning.

Copper is between 1.6 and 2.0 (will check again this morning)
Metroplex dosed last night.
Seachem ammonia badge is “safe”
Temp 80
Haven’t checked other parameters, but all tanks historically run 7.9 ph.
1L seeded matrix, two wave makers, hob filter.

I am very seriously considering putting everyone back in DT and hoping the better environment, water conditions, and diversity of bacteria stop this train wreck.

This has been a complete QT failure thus far and need help. If it was velvet, why would it be ok for 2weeks, and if it’s ich, then why are they now only dying in qt?

 

[Beau_B]

The black is silicone

Wrasse did not have symptoms before entering QT

 

[Beau_B]

Also, there is another yellow tang, still at the shop who came in with these guys (and jawfish) and he is still alive and well. Owner doesn’t run copper or anything.

 

[Beau_B]

9/13

9/20

9/22

9/28

And now everyone dying...

Jawfish had just found his place to burrow before moving to QT. Looked fine in FW dip.

I can almost wrap my head around the tangs dying, but if moving the rest of them to QT ends up killing them I don’t know how I will handle it.

 

[AcanthurusRex]

I did a seven week fallow period and it didn’t work for that strain of velvet.
Ended up doing a four month fallow period. I did leave the lights on since there was coral in the tank.
It looks like you are doing the correct procedure. Probably was too late to save them. Their gills will be severely compromised so you should make sure to aerate the water. I was very quick to move the fish into QT and I’m pretty sure the one fish I lost was due to lack of oxygen. Tank temp might be a little high for oxygen levels.
My fish were in QT from the end of April to the beginning of November.

 

[SMSREEF]

I’m so sorry for your loss. That’s just heartbreaking I’m sure.

Which test kit are you using for copper? Hanna is the best to make sure you stay at correct level.

I would get the copper level up to 2 and make sure it stays there for the full treatment period.

 

[Bpfor3]

Something you may try is furan2. its an gram + and - antibacterial. I had a PB in QT one time, and he started going downhill. The furan2 kicked the infection and he did fine. Really, the second day of treatment he was back to normal.
Agree on the copper level. Are they all still eating? that's a big indicator for me. Chances of success really go down if not eating. But copper can cause them to not feel well, and, thus, not eat. its a balancing act. Good luck to you. Its painful to loose fish like that.

 

[Beau_B]

It is a Hanna. I didn’t have time to run it again but last night I was at 1.9

Most are eating. The yellow was ferocious last night and had eaten a bunch of nori. I am especially concerned because of that... going from good to dead over night.

I don’t know if I can get Furan-2 in any reasonable time.

I have Fish-mox I think somewhere which is an amoxicillin... would that work? Do a bath? Worried it will nuke the bio-media and then I’ll be in a hell storm of ammonia.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like a bacterial issue going on in that tank and also possibly low oxygen.
Do a water change for starters and test ammonia before you do .
Ruby rally pro or melafix may be a start to clearing this up.
Add oxygen or airstone also

 

[Beau_B]

I do have two wavemakers aimed at the surface plus the waterfall from the HOB, but I will see what else I can add. 55g w/8 small fish...

I can get some Ruby or Mela locally I think.

How do I test ammonia? I thought the copper power messed up the tests.

 

[artieg1]

"good to dead overnight" = velvet. Either that, or ammonia and oxygen issues in your QT.

Having been precisely in your shoes two years ago, and being in a much much better place now, I would urge you to (a) stop focusing on these fish and (b) think more broadly about QT protocol going forward. Certainly, yes, try to save these fish. But they are almost certainly doomed. Just facts. Don't let your exhaustion and exasperation take your focus away from the long term plan, which is ensuring no fish ever again touches your DT unless you are 100% confident it has been cleared of all parasites.

You are correct, an emergency QT is almost certainly going to be a riskier environment (particularly from an ammonia and oxygen standpoint) that your DT. But I would resist putting them in your DT. That is just consigning everyone to death and delaying the fallow period that you know, in your gut, is going to have to happen.

It's no fun. Use this time to steel your nerves for a rigorous QT protocol going forward.

 

[Debramb]

Hardest part of this hobby, loving you’re pets and losing them. I’m sorry you’re going through this, you’re not alone in feeling this way. We understand.
Best of Luck, Debra

 

[Beau_B]

Ok, so those playing along. The only fish left in the DT is the mandarin. He has some weird behavior right now, like bedding down and just generally being less active. He has some sign of perhaps the same funk on skin.

So, I don’t think I can just drop him into 2.0 copper power... what can I do for him? ABx dip?

 

[Beau_B]

An update:

Still don’t really know what it was. Ich/velvet combined with some bacterial infection.

All three tangs and the jawfish are gone.

I had left the mandarin in the DT for fear of starvation and reputation of being resistant. Well he got a nasty infection and became covered in white gelatinous tufts. Pulled him and tried to go FW dip, but he went still and floaty sideways in an alarming manner. So... straight into 10g QT with NFG. That was Wednesday and he is stable but I don’t know what will happen.

The original 7: 3x wrasses, goby, blenny, cardinal, and CBB are chilling in the 55 w/2.0 copper power and daily Metroplex. Definitely a bit “off” but eating and I anticipate they will all survive if I can keep the ammonia under control. The 1L of matrix has either been compromised by the metro or... ? I’m getting about 48hrs before the badge gets to alert.

Anyway. I guess it’s heavy QT going forward. I still don’t understand how it wrecked my tank and yet the tang‘s mates are ok still at the LFS. Two yellow’s that came in with “mine” are healthy and happy. He doesn’t run copper or anything. Mystery of the world.