I think something bad is happening

[Brice|F4llen]

I started a Reefer170 in the middle of August and I think I might have a parasitic issue that's now impacting most of my fish. I'm hoping that someone with more experience can help guide me down the right track.

Stock:

• 2 clowns
• 1 royal gramma
• 1 wheeler's goby
• 1 halloween hermit
• 1 candy cane pistol shrimp
• no coral

Symptoms:

• Periodically doing a quick scrape against the substrate of the tank. (both clowns and the RG)
• The female clown also seems to be randomly irritated by something. She'll just spaz out for a second like something bit her and then rush down to the clowns favorite little area of the tank. No physical signs of illness or damage
• The RG also appears to have a splotch on the side that is slightly less colorful. I am unsure if this is the result of the periodic rubbing or is a symptom of something else. It's pretty subtle
• There are no salt-like specs on the surface of any of the fish.

Parameters:

• Ammonia: Undetectable
• Nitrite: <0.1ppm
• Nitrate: 4.3ppm
• Phosphate: 0.00ppm
• Salinity: 34.1ppt
• 78.3F
• No skimmer
• I've run a little ROX 0.8 carbon and a filter sock

I think the female clown has it worst. This morning she turned down mysis with selcon and pellet seaweed extreme. Everybody else appears to be eating. The RG actually appears to be improving.

I first started noticing these problems a little more than a week ago with the female clown. At first I didn't think anything of it because it was just the one clown and clowns do weird stuff all the time. I added the RG a few days later that I picked up from my LFS and sure enough I started to see the RG doing the same behavior a few days later when the RG finally started exploring the tank.

My first thought is to do a FW dip in some RO/DI and see if I get any flukes. But I want to get a second opinion before I commit to that. Also, I can already tell that it's going to be hell and high water trying to catch this RG. I'm hoping there some magic in a bottle out there I'll be able to dose to the tank since I haven't started adding corals yet. I've been out of the game for a while and decided to get back in a few months ago.

This is my 3rd saltwater aquarium so I consider myself to be between a beginner and intermediate reefer. I'm trying to go mixed reef in my new tank. Currently I'm trying to raise nutrients so I can get a refugium dialed in before I light the display and begin adding some test corals.

I appreciate your advice.

 

[blaxsun]

If you can, try to post some clear photos (or a short video) so the experts can chime in with any thoughts. In terms of reef-safe medication you're going to be somewhat limited. I've had good results with Polyp Lab Medic - but this is most effective against marine ich and velvet.

 

[MnFish1]

I started a Reefer170 in the middle of August and I think I might have a parasitic issue that's now impacting most of my fish. I'm hoping that someone with more experience can help guide me down the right track.

Stock:

• 2 clowns
• 1 royal gramma
• 1 wheeler's goby
• 1 halloween hermit
• 1 candy cane pistol shrimp
• no coral

Symptoms:

• Periodically doing a quick scrape against the substrate of the tank. (both clowns and the RG)
• The female clown also seems to be randomly irritated by something. She'll just spaz out for a second like something bit her and then rush down to the clowns favorite little area of the tank. No physical signs of illness or damage
• The RG also appears to have a splotch on the side that is slightly less colorful. I am unsure if this is the result of the periodic rubbing or is a symptom of something else. It's pretty subtle
• There are no salt-like specs on the surface of any of the fish.

Parameters:

• Ammonia: Undetectable
• Nitrite: <0.1ppm
• Nitrate: 4.3ppm
• Phosphate: 0.00ppm
• Salinity: 34.1ppt
• 78.3F
• No skimmer
• I've run a little ROX 0.8 carbon and a filter sock

I think the female clown has it worst. This morning she turned down mysis with selcon and pellet seaweed extreme. Everybody else appears to be eating. The RG actually appears to be improving.

I first started noticing these problems a little more than a week ago with the female clown. At first I didn't think anything of it because it was just the one clown and clowns do weird stuff all the time. I added the RG a few days later that I picked up from my LFS and sure enough I started to see the RG doing the same behavior a few days later when the RG finally started exploring the tank.

My first thought is to do a FW dip in some RO/DI and see if I get any flukes. But I want to get a second opinion before I commit to that. Also, I can already tell that it's going to be hell and high water trying to catch this RG. I'm hoping there some magic in a bottle out there I'll be able to dose to the tank since I haven't started adding corals yet. I've been out of the game for a while and decided to get back in a few months ago.

This is my 3rd saltwater aquarium so I consider myself to be between a beginner and intermediate reefer. I'm trying to go mixed reef in my new tank. Currently I'm trying to raise nutrients so I can get a refugium dialed in before I light the display and begin adding some test corals.

I appreciate your advice.

Curious -
1. Did you add any new fish (or anything else)?
2. Were the fish you bought/put in quarantined/treated somehow?
3. Any other changes in the tank recently?
4. I would use a fish trap - which will take a couple days in all likelihood to catch the RG. you can buy one - or often times - LFS will lend the out.
5. Treating the whole tank comes with a whole set of problems as I'm sure you know.

Just asking some questions before the experts weigh in. Good Luck. @Jay Hemdal

 

[Brice|F4llen]

If you can, try to post some clear photos (or a short video) so the experts can chime in with any thoughts. In terms of reef-safe medication you're going to be somewhat limited. I've had good results with Polyp Lab Medic - but this is most effective against marine ich and velvet.

No corals yet. Just 2 inverts.


Uploaded an example

 

[blaxsun]

I'm not necessarily seeing anything on the clownfish. Your rock seems unusually... clean. After 3 months I would have expected to see a lot more algae growth and some coralline in spots (maybe you only added it recently?) I put some more marco shelf rock in my tank a few days ago and it's already got dark spots all over it.

 

[Brice|F4llen]

Curious -
1. Did you add any new fish (or anything else)?
2. Were the fish you bought/put in quarantined/treated somehow?
3. Any other changes in the tank recently?
4. I would use a fish trap - which will take a couple days in all likelihood to catch the RG. you can buy one - or often times - LFS will lend the out.
5. Treating the whole tank comes with a whole set of problems as I'm sure you know.

Just asking some questions before the experts weigh in. Good Luck. @Jay Hemdal

1. I haven't added anything since. The RG was the last thing added on the 23rd
2. No qt or treatment. All livestock came from someone I work with or from LFS. Drip acclimated then in the tank
3. No new changes but the tank is very new. Only 13 weeks
4. Just ordered one
5. That figures

 

[Brice|F4llen]

I'm not necessarily seeing anything on the clownfish. Your rock seems unusually... clean. After 3 months I would have expected to see a lot more algae growth and some coralline in spots (maybe you only added it recently?) I put some more marco shelf rock in my tank a few days ago and it's already got dark spots all over it.

The tank isn't lit yet, so I think that could be artificially delaying the inevitable algae to come. I feed mysis with Selcon most days. Then a little TDO and Seaweed Extreme in-between. I've been trying to raise nutrient and put in some chaeto next. I do a 5 gal water change weekly

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Maybe slow down a little, you say you started aquriam in August, your nitrates and nitrites should be 0.0 for a fully cycled aquriam, as yours is still reading quite high i would not add any more life until you sort out your parimaters and cycle the aquarium with a fish in cycle

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Maybe slow down a little, you say you started aquriam in August, your nitrates and nitrites should be 0.0 for a fully cycled aquriam, as yours is still reading quite high i would not add any more life until you sort out your parimaters and cycle the aquarium with a fish in cycle

I really hope you have basics mis calculated

 

[blaxsun]

4.3ppm isn't high for nitrates. 15 is elevated, 25 is high - 50 is definitely high. After 3 months the tank has definitely cycled or everything would be dead (4 "alive" fish and 0 ammonia would seem to back that up). What kind of filtration/flow do you have in the tank right now?

 

[Brice|F4llen]

4.3ppm isn't high for nitrates. 15 is elevated, 25 is high - 50 is definitely high. After 3 months the tank has definitely cycled or everything would be dead (4 "alive" fish and 0 ammonia would seem to back that up). What kind of filtration/flow do you have in the tank right now?

For filtration I'm only running a filter sock that I change 2x weekly and 10 grams of ROX 0.8 in a reactor that run for 24h once weekly. No skimmer. 5 gallon water change weekly

For flow I'm running a single MP-10. It's in lagoon mode and I have it run a nutrient export cycle in the middle of the night. Was planning on adding a second MP-10 before adding coral.

 

[Miami Reef]

I didn’t see the video, but I think flukes is very likely what’s happening

You can do a FW dip to diagnose it.

If you are sure it’s flukes (from the freshwater dip) praziquantel based medications can be used inside reef tank. It will kill feather dusters and worms. Use extra aeration when medicating.

I believe you should rule out ich/velvet before dosing.

 

[blaxsun]

Agree with @Miami Reef's assessment. Best of luck!

 

[Brice|F4llen]

I didn’t see the video, but I think flukes is very likely what’s happening

You can do a FW dip to diagnose it.

If you are sure it’s flukes (from the freshwater dip) praziquantel based medications can be used inside reef tank. It will kill feather dusters and worms. Use extra aeration when medicating.

I believe you should rule out ich/velvet before dosing.

Preparing some RO now

 

[MnFish1]

1. I haven't added anything since. The RG was the last thing added on the 23rd
2. No qt or treatment. All livestock came from someone I work with or from LFS. Drip acclimated then in the tank
3. No new changes but the tank is very new. Only 13 weeks
4. Just ordered one
5. That figures

Given these answers - and waiting for the experts to 'answer' - my comment would be to catch the fish you can - and Put in hospital/QT tank - treatment can be decided from the experts. I have ideas - but - they are the experts. Take out all the fish. To me it seems like flukes - but - frankly - anything is possible.

 

[MnFish1]

Preparing some RO now

Great. - but just FWIW - you do not need to use RODI water for a freshwater dip - merely dechlorinate it. If you want to adjust the pH - go ahead - but IMHO - not necessary - the freshwater is enough of a stress

 

[Garf]

Great. - but just FWIW - you do not need to use RODI water for a freshwater dip - merely dechlorinate it. If you want to adjust the pH - go ahead - but IMHO - not necessary - the freshwater is enough of a stress

Also, adjusting ph in RO is tough, thy tiniest adjustment has big implications due to having basically no buffering capacity. I’d go tap.

 

[Brice|F4llen]

I dipped the female clown I believe to me the most affected. I don't believe that I see anything at all on the bottom of the container. I'll give her some time to rest from the dip and see if I notice any changes in behavior. I will report back here.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I dipped the female clown I believe to me the most affected. I don't believe that I see anything at all on the bottom of the container. I'll give her some time to rest from the dip and see if I notice any changes in behavior. I will report back here.

My take on this is that it is probably gill flukes. The FW dip will buy you some time, but won’t be diagnostic because gill flukes are too small to see in the dip water without a microscope.
As @Miami Reef said, Prazipro would be the treatment of choice and will be safe for your tank as long as you aerate well. I would dose twice, 7 to 10 days apart.
Jay

 

[davidcalgary29]

My take on this is that it is probably gill flukes. The FW dip will buy you some time, but won’t be diagnostic because gill flukes are too small to see in the dip water without a microscope.
As @Miami Reef said, Prazipro would be the treatment of choice and will be safe for your tank as long as you aerate well. I would dose twice, 7 to 10 days apart.
Jay

Are there any alternative effective treatments that don't require medication? They simply aren't available in Canada. It'd be helpful to know if I ever run into this problem.