High salanity or velvet

[underwaterdan]

I know this sounds weird but I am not sure what is wrong with my tank... At first I thought it was velvet, fish weren't eating as well, hiding a lot and a few perished. So I set up a hospital tank and during that I ruined my fancy refractometer so I used the old school one I had. Well when I was checking salinity I noticed my tank was at 1.035 or maybe higher! Could this be the reason my fish are acting the way they are?(sorry for the title typo)

 

[4FordFamily]

I know this sounds weird but I am not sure what is wrong with my tank... At first I thought it was velvet, fish weren't eating as well, hiding a lot and a few perished. So I set up a hospital tank and during that I ruined my fancy refractometer so I used the old school one I had. Well when I was checking salinity I noticed my tank was at 1.035 or maybe higher! Could this be the reason my fish are acting the way they are?(sorry for the title typo)

Not enough information here for us to help, but the salinity wasn’t good, it could kill fish.

If you don’t QT in this environment there’s a good chance that velvet is also a component.

Were fish hiding from light? Have spots or “dustings” on them? Any breathing heavily? Swimming in to powerheads face first? Twitching? Flashing? Scratching? “Skin” seemingly sloughing off?

Photos would help us immensely.

 

[underwaterdan]

Not enough information here for us to help, but the salinity wasn’t good, it could kill fish.

If you don’t QT in this environment there’s a good chance that velvet is also a component.

Were fish hiding from light? Have spots or “dustings” on them? Any breathing heavily? Swimming in to powerheads face first? Twitching? Flashing? Scratching? “Skin” seemingly sloughing off?

Photos would help us immensely.

The fish were flashing a bit but no other symptoms you listed, no dusting or skin issues that were visible. The ones that died looked fine. They just kind of stayed in their homes all day... It's a 150 so now I'm slowly lowering the salinity Because I'm having a hard time catching some of the bigger fish and I fear a sudden change will cause stress and death. I figure over the next few hours get it down to 025

 

[underwaterdan]

Here's some pictures. They're kinda hiding so it isn't too easy

 

[4FordFamily]

The fish were flashing a bit but no other symptoms you listed, no dusting or skin issues that were visible. The ones that died looked fine. They just kind of stayed in their homes all day... It's a 150 so now I'm slowly lowering the salinity Because I'm having a hard time catching some of the bigger fish and I fear a sudden change will cause stress and death. I figure over the next few hours get it down to 025

Flashing is often an indicator of parasites. Many attack the gills leaving no outward signs on the body of the fish. I’ve experienced this before and it took a while before a fish finally showed classic velvet symptoms and it all made sense.

Adjusting salinity down can be done pretty quickly without any shock. It’s increasing if drastixlly which creates osmotic shock and can harm/kill fish. I would fix the high salinity problem quickly.

 

[4FordFamily]

Here's some pictures. They're kinda hiding so it isn't too easy

The last picture appears to show some small spots on that angelfish toward the top. That looks like velvet to me, perhaps brook. I’m leaning towards velvet, however.

The hippo seems to have something on it as well where the light was hitting or the camera was focused — this looks more like brook.

You can treat both with Chloroquine Phosphate or Copper and Metroplex in conjunction.

 

[underwaterdan]

I have copper in my hospital tank now. I will lower the sailitiy but the clams and corals look fine so I assume it's the diseases you mentioned.

 

[Captain Quint]

The last picture appears to show some small spots on that angelfish toward the top. That looks like velvet to me, perhaps brook. I’m leaning towards velvet, however.

The hippo seems to have something on it as well where the light was hitting or the camera was focused — this looks more like brook.

You can treat both with Chloroquine Phosphate or Copper and Metroplex in conjunction.

+1 on the pics posted.

I see it as well and I'm glad you have a hospital tank as well underwaterdan

 

[underwaterdan]

I know I need to leave the display fallow for about 6 weeks but can I put some reef safe chemical in there as well to make sure it's really dead?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

I know I need to leave the display fallow for about 6 weeks but can I put some reef safe chemical in there as well to make sure it's really dead?

I think it’s 67 days that it needs to be fallow just to be sure you’ve outlived the life cycle of the parasite.

 

[Maritimer]

78 days for ich - six weeks for velvet and brooklynella. No chemistry required, beyond good water.

~Bruce

 

[underwaterdan]

Just an update . Fish have been in hospital tank with salinity of 1.015 and a dose of copper for almost two days. I have a power head a hang on back filter and a bubbler in there so I think it's getting good airation. Here are some pictures. Everyone but the big tang seems to be eating the seaweed. I am using this time to redo my sand bed and aquascape.