Feeling defeated

[ReeferReefer]

I had disease wipe out my 90g a few months ago. I considered throwing in the towel. I am downsizing instead and focusing on a small simple tank instead. It was that or quit.

From now on I will always QT.

 

[sghera64]

You have 2 good options as set out above:

1 - hemdog’s suggestion of leaving fish in and just focusing on nutrition. Surviving fish will build immunity

2 - the brute container route to drain the tank and catch the fish.

I’ve been there. Twice. But w smaller tanks, no corals, and rocks not glued. both came at bad times, and both ended in disaster, but I made it through. I’ve got my DT running fallow as we speak. Instead of tearing it down, I decided to upgrade. Point I’m making is this: not all is lost. You have options.

It seems to me that you get much too much enjoyment from your tank to give up now. Hang in there.

+1 (For option 1)

Feeding fresh live food has made the difference for me. And it is the simplest for you. No catching fish. Just start with some fresh fish from the seafood counter (raw shrimp, throw in some raw scallops and an oyster- - all the icky smelly bacteria riddled stiff). I also use salmon (oily but raises Omega 3,6 FA’s in the tank) tilapia, and frozen squid, clams etc. then locate a source of, and consider ordering, some LRS frozen Reef Frenzy.

I can’t remember trying to rapidly heal sick fish, but others have made some claims that might appeal to your condition. It’s worth a shot.

How are the fish doing today?

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

I can tell you love your tank and your fish from what you've said in this thread alone, Only you know for sure wether or not this would be the case but I feel that you will regret not seeing this through. Remember that how amazing and relieved you felt when you bested the dino? This is another battle you'll have to fight and id you do it could be the next epic chapter of your hobby, the time you and your tank went to hell and back together and one day it will become a story that you'll tell you friends, your local club and other hobbyist who are feeling exactly the way you do at this moment, looking for the same motivation that I'm hopefully bestowing on to you right now. If you throw in the towel than you'll just be haunted by what could have been if you had pushed through it.

I know this couldn't be further from how your feeling right now but one day you'll laugh about this. You'll think back to the countless 5 gallon buckets sprawled across the floor, lugging water logged rocks into the next room, the burn of the saltwater in every cut, scrape and bruise that you'll give yourself and you will laugh to the verge of tears when you think about how ridiculous the whole situation was, how silly you looked and how you never thought you could get it back. All of that will just put a massive smile on your face while future you looks into the beautiful tank that you're still enjoying because the you in this very moment decided to tough it out.

I'm not saying it will be fun or easy but I think you'll be better off weathering the storm. However I agree with @KrisReef that you should prioritize looking after yourself. When its all said and done only you know the limits of how much you can take and only you can make that decision. I myself know I'd never be happy with however things turned if I didn't give it my all but thats just me and my medically significant levels of stubbornness, Only you know how you'll feel about whatever decision you make. Everyone of us will be here to support you either way.

 

[dugthefish]

Thanks for all the support. Got home last night, no fish deaths yet, fewer spots on some, new spots on other. Currently my cleaner goby is the only fish absolutely covered, and he still seems driven to perform his duty as the other fish line up for his services. It's an interesting parallel to the doctors and nurses who continue to work on patients during an epidemic.

Planning on picking up some fresh seafood as has been mentioned, the next time I get back to town before the grocery closes. I'll keep this thread updated as I can, currently waiting out a thunderstorm.

 

[ctpeasy]

Hey buddy,

From a guy who has had a 70+ species of Acro tank get destroyed by AEFW and am essentially doing a full restart.....I get it.

I promise it gets better. The reward of having persevered is worth it.

Salute to you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Going slowly and planning along is not a patience but discipline. It is worth the wait. We have many member tanks posted with frags, and then postings a year later where they are colonies. Worth the wait.
There is nothing fast when it comes to marine aquaria as we are duplicating the ocean in a sense and maintain to the specs of nature.

 

[leorii2000]

A month ago some of my fish got covered with white dots and flowery coat. I was sure it was velvet. The hippo tang eyesvwhere coated blind.
The powder brown did not make it. Sine it’s a mixed reef I could not medicate. I fed the fish medicated pallets for a while and had no further casualties.
IRS very stressful to go trough this ....but when it’s over it feels so very good.
Hippo is well and all the rest as well.
Good luck. And don’t give up

 

[Seminoles76]

Get the UV sterilizer. It may not cure like mentioned above but I’d go that route......especially with the upcoming work load. If it were my tank I’d also cut the photo period a little or take the intensity of the lights down.....keeping the coral health in mind. If my fish ever seem stressed it seems the do a bit better when they are not getting blasted with light.

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya. Love your set up and hope it all turns out good.

 

[dugthefish]

Update: got my hands on some fresh mussels and shrimp. Added a sheet of nori, ran it all through the food processor, added some Selcon, and chopped into cubes. Am now feeding this daily, supplemented with brine/mysis shrimp, pellets, and flakes.

Lost the cleaner goby and flame angle last week. Tomini tang remains heavily infected but still eating. My prized Magnificent Rabbit had fewer spots, then more spots, then fewer spots. Dottyback and Mandarin both show some spots. Several other fish remain unaffected.

Thinking it is more likely ick rather than velvet.....

 

[ReeferReefer]

Sounds like ich to me. You probably wouldn't have any fish right now if it was velvet

 

[sghera64]

Update: got my hands on some fresh mussels and shrimp. Added a sheet of nori, ran it all through the food processor, added some Selcon, and chopped into cubes. Am now feeding this daily, supplemented with brine/mysis shrimp, pellets, and flakes.

Lost the cleaner goby and flame angle last week. Tomini tang remains heavily infected but still eating. My prized Magnificent Rabbit had fewer spots, then more spots, then fewer spots. Dottyback and Mandarin both show some spots. Several other fish remain unaffected.

Thinking it is more likely ick rather than velvet.....

Very good. Thanks for keeping updated. Do add more updates when it makes sense. I’m interest in the status/loss of any more fish and if you continue to feed fresh raw foods that likely introduce beneficial bacteria. The thinking is a continued innoc of these bacteria keep the fish immune systems strong enough to defend against some diseases. Since you started feeding after they got sick, it will take time for them to catch up. And this course of action is not a cure, but more like conditioning or at best a prophylactic.

Technically your tank is now (probably always was), infected with ich. So, your fish would otherwise go through a few cycles of ich over time. If this whole fresh raw fish food is a ‘thing’, then you should see no more cycles. This is what has happened in my case and I have two yellow tangs (ich magnets) and a Kole in a single 135 gal tank.

 

[dugthefish]

Lost a chromis yesterday, although I think it was more chromis on chromis aggression, as he was cowering in a corner the night before and had no spots. Infection seems to be waning, knock on wood. I will likely continue to feed fresh food indefinitely; it's cheap, easy to make, and the fish seem to enjoy it.

So now would be a good time to ask: what should I do with the two dartfish I currently have in quarantine? They've been in there since shortly before this outbreak. Ordered from LA, so I cantc take them back. Anyone have thoughts?

 

[ZoWhat]

whatda you need from us? you picked a bad hobby to float in and out off. if you say you lack discipline.....then sell your stuff on CL and move on.

no one here is going to give you the golden pill to turn your unenthusiasm around. we as hobbyist are dedicated to husbandry putting our reefs pretty high on our priority list. higher than any Honey-Do list or any other hobby.

harsh words but I can't say anything to change anyone.... if you wanna change and get back into the hobby...only you have the power to do so.

we have advice to give...but not our place to get tou to stay in the hobby

.

 

[jccaclimber]

whatda you need from us? you picked a bad hobby to float in and out off. if you say you lack discipline.....then sell your stuff on CL and move on.

no one here is going to give you the golden pill to turn your unenthusiasm around. we as hobbyist are dedicated to husbandry putting our reefs pretty high on our priority list. higher than any Honey-Do list or any other hobby.

harsh words but I can't say anything to change anyone.... if you wanna change and get back into the hobby...only you have the power to do so.

we have advice to give...but not our place to get tou to stay in the hobby

.

That seems a bit uncalled for. OP seems to be slowly recovering, seems to be improving the husbandry of his/her fish, and has now asked another legitimate question.

On topic, if you're willing to risk exposing your new fish to ich (really any fish you ever buy again unless you TT the livestock and fallow your system for a while) I would leave them in QT, assuming they are happy and behaving well there, and wait until things are clear in your tank. At that point either move a chromis to the QT, or simply move your new fish to the display and keep up the good food.

 

[sghera64]

Lost a chromis yesterday, although I think it was more chromis on chromis aggression, as he was cowering in a corner the night before and had no spots. Infection seems to be waning, knock on wood. I will likely continue to feed fresh food indefinitely; it's cheap, easy to make, and the fish seem to enjoy it.

So now would be a good time to ask: what should I do with the two dartfish I currently have in quarantine? They've been in there since shortly before this outbreak. Ordered from LA, so I cantc take them back. Anyone have thoughts?

Under ideal circumstances, what would you like to do with the two dartfish?

 

[NS Mike D]

In threads like this I am reminded of Teddy Roosevelt's Man in the Arena passage. While his target is the critics, his point about success rarely coming without failures along the way. Hope it helps you.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

 

[sghera64]

That seems a bit uncalled for. OP seems to be slowly recovering, seems to be improving the husbandry of his/her fish, and has now asked another legitimate question.

Agreed. Here at R2R, we accept all types of reefers: hardcore, committed, newbies, the uncertain and the occasional drop-outs (and lurkers).

R2R holds an ocean of information, and a community of supporters.

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

Brother.... don't give up! We are here to help talk you through it and guide you!

First thing... take a deep breathe
Formulate a plan! People on here are already giving you great advice.. if you have a 20Gal long for some fish and can even get a few 55 Gal Brute trash can(s) for the other fish (if you can't afford another tank / room for another tank), you can do this! Just buy some cheap Marineland Emporer 400 HOB filters and a heater which will be plenty for the QT tanks

Than you can get started on Copper right away (if you are sure its Velvet)

 

[dugthefish]

Under ideal circumstances, what would you like to do with the two dartfish?

Under ideal circumstances, I'd like to put the 2 dartfish in DT with the third already in there (started with 3, had 2 jumpers). I'm thinking if and when this outbreak subsides to go ahead with that plan, hope for the best, and remove them with the rest this fall if I fallow the tank. I feel bad for them, living in a peice of PVC in a bare tank.

 

[sghera64]

Under ideal circumstances, I'd like to put the 2 dartfish in DT with the third already in there (started with 3, had 2 jumpers). I'm thinking if and when this outbreak subsides to go ahead with that plan, hope for the best, and remove them with the rest this fall if I fallow the tank. I feel bad for them, living in a peice of PVC in a bare tank.

I presume you are already feeding the two QT’d dartfish the fresh sea food. This will (supposedly) boost their immune system for when the enter the DT.

Are you seeing the disease that was present amongst the DT fish subside? If so, then you might consider moving ONE of the dartfish to the DT once the QT period is over (or nearly over), and hold the other one in reserve. My guess is that after a few weeks of QT and eating fresh and raw (i.e. bacterial laden) food, the immune system may be ready for an encounter with what has/is in your DT.