Failed QT now what?

RyansReef · Feb 21, 2022

Ok I failed to properly QT a pair of new fish less the QT process failed. I acquired a Bangii Cardinal and a Royal Gramma and observed them in QT for 3 weeks while debating on prophylactic treatment or not. Short story I did not treat and moved them to my 29 gallon office display tank yesterday morning (and ran out an got a Coral Beauty to add to 10 gallon QT for my 75 gallon main display later). There were no signs of anything and they were eating like pigs so... I took a short cut. As of this morning Royal Gramma has white dots all over him. How was this not evident in the QT? Cheap white only light vs AI Prime 16 on DT with blues and UV? Didn't see any of these dots yesterday when observing him in the new home. SMH.

So what to do now? I assume I need to set up a larger QT for ALL the fish (2 clowns, 1 purple fire fish, the new Cardinal, Gramma, and of course the Coral Beauty in current QT). Too many for a 10 gallon QT. I have a spare 29 so making up water for it now. I think TTM would be difficult with large batch of fish to deal with.

Confirmation of disease:
Not 100% sure but seems to be Ich vs velvet. No visible iching, rubbing, or heavy breathing. Can count the spots at least as on this am. Is there anything else I should be doing to validate this instn velvet just seen early before fully covering the fish?

Questions for the group:
1) Should I assume my original crew is infected and treat same with the 2 new fish or since this fish is only in tank 24 hours and cysts cant have fallen off, turned into swimmers and found my original crew so quickly. If so can/should I move them into a now treated QT while running fallow on DT?
2) Do i need full 76 day fallow period or can I assume nothing has fallen off the Gramma yet or if it has then I just need to wait out one life cycle of that batch of pests?

Thanks for any help. I will modify QT process to not make this mistake again.

flyfisher2 · Feb 21, 2022

Quarantine and Copper. Been there and done that. You can still save them
Keep in mind you have to remove ALL the fish and let your display stay that way over a month.

RyansReef · Feb 21, 2022

flyfisher2 said:
Quarantine and Copper. Been there and done that. You can still save them
Keep in mind you have to remove ALL the fish and let your display stay that way over a month.

Thanks. I do understand the DT has to be fallow with no fish to host the larval swimmers. I guess my question is do I need to also treat the original tank crew or can they be in separate holding tank from the new infected crew in hospital tank with meds?

I think I could keep the Gramma, Cardinal, and Coral Beauty in the 10 gallon I am already running as QT and start treating immediately. I could then get a separate holding tank going by tonight and move the original clowns and firefish to that and hold them without medicating until DT is ready to have fish again.

Sharkbait19 · Feb 21, 2022

Definitely best to have all fish treated to be on the safe side.
As said, copper treatment is best. Use coppersafe or cupramine. Get a good copper test kit.
45 days is sufficient for fallow, especially at higher temp, but I would personally go for the 76 to be on the safe side.

RyansReef · Feb 21, 2022

Sharkbait19 said:
Definitely best to have all fish treated to be on the safe side.
As said, copper treatment is best. Use coppersafe or cupramine. Get a good copper test kit.
45 days is sufficient for fallow, especially at higher temp, but I would personally go for the 76 to be on the safe side.

Ok. 29 gallon it is then. Making more RODI water to fill it now. I need to get one of those fancy water mixing stations setup that I have seen other run.

I have Cupramine on hand and the Seachem test kit. May go for the Hanna test kit after trying this one since I have it already.

flyfisher2 · Feb 21, 2022

flyfisher2 said:
Quarantine and Copper. Been there and done that. You can still save them
Keep in mind you have to remove ALL the fish and let your display stay that way over a month.

An accurate Copper test kit is crucial. You can end up over dosing or under. Neither is good. Plenty of Advice on how to do it right from Jay Hemdel and Humblefish.

RyansReef said:
Ok. 29 gallon it is then. Making more RODI water to fill it now. I need to get one of those fancy water mixing stations setup that I have seen other run.

I have Cupramine on hand and the Seachem test kit. May go for the Hanna test kit after trying this one since I have it already.

Better safe than sorry. Treat them and leave the tank fallow. I just went through this a couple months ago with my 150. Treated them in a 40 breeder and so far so good. Just one loss to Prazipro.