Fluke treatment question.

[Australian_Reef]

The standard low salinity for flukes is 1.012. The issue is, if your hydrometer is off by a little, 1.013 might not then be low enough.

Flukes will drop off in a day or so and the scratching typically stops a few days after that. However, fluke eggs are not harmed by the hyposalinity, so you need to keep the fish in that for 30 days to ensure that the eggs die.

1.012 will not kill off all of the bacteria, you likely will not see an ammonia rise unless the tank had a lot of algae in it that died off.

Ok great. Will go to 1.010-11 unless this will cause any issues (angelfish, moreish idio, hawkish,clownfish). Will pick up some calibration solution for the refractometer too. I have a seachem alert in the tank and prime on hand just in case. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Duane family]

Ok great. Will go to 1.010-11 unless this will cause any issues (angelfish, moreish idio, hawkish,clownfish). Will pick up some calibration solution for the refractometer too. I have a seachem alert in the tank and prime on hand just in case. Thanks for the help guys.

Great, good luck and I believe you will be successful. All it take is 30 days and then you can slowly bring them back to your preferred reef salinity and celebrate.

Just a word of caution on two points.
Refractometer calibration fluid is notoriously inaccurate depending on which brand. I would suggest that you rather verify a current sample between your unit and someone nearby who you trust if this is possible.
Then in addition, those seachem ammonia allert badges underdetect so always be cognizant of that. I personally still use them but knowing this point.

Keep the forum upto date and enjoy conquering flukes in a somewhat unorthodox method in today's times.

 

[Australian_Reef]

Fish are all in and have been at 1.011 for about 20 hrs. All seem fine and are feeding. However the angelfish has some fin damage. Particularly his right pectoral fin. Could have been net damage, I’ve not seen any aggression in the tank. Also has a bit of a raggy tail fin but this isn’t as bad. I wonder if it’s actually damage from the flukes that have done this. There were a number of them visibility before treatment started and I can still see at least two still attached.

Seachem alert is already showing a measurable amount of ammonia so water change on way plus prime.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Fish are all in and have been at 1.011 for about 20 hrs. All seem fine and are feeding. However the angelfish has some fin damage. Particularly his right pectoral fin. Could have been net damage, I’ve not seen any aggression in the tank. Also has a bit of a raggy tail fin but this isn’t as bad. I wonder if it’s actually damage from the flukes that have done this. There were a number of them visibility before treatment started and I can still see at least two still attached.

Seachem alert is already showing a measurable amount of ammonia so water change on way plus prime.

Flukes can cause fish to have "ratty" fins, but this is worse than I usually see. If you are certain that it wasn't from aggression, then it may be infected with bacteria.

Is the angel eating well?

 

[Australian_Reef]

Yes eating ok. Not as well as usual but it did have a pretty heavy infestation. Other side is basically normal. I had a video that showed better but can’t upload.
Developed very quickly. From slightly raggy to this in 24 hrs. Can’t 100% say it wasn’t aggression the moorish has been pushy before in the display but I’ve not seen anything in the hospital tank. I’ve added some pipes etc today so give more hiding spaces. I can still see a few flukes attached to the tail fin.