Ich/Velvet ID

joro · Jul 24, 2017

We've had the bulk of our tank up and running for over a month and just recently added a Australian Harlequin Tusk this past Thursday (7/20) which was WYSIWYG from a reputable online supplier (who's name I'll intentionally not mention because it's not important). In any case, the new addition has potentially created a big problem and I need R2R's guidance / expertise on this matter.

Short background, we're running a ~400 gallon total water volume system which is a mixed reef with fish, inverts, and corals (SPS/LPS/Softies) and have known there to be some level of ich in the system including in our previous DTs which we consolidated into this one. We've had success with "ich management" for years and so I wasn't too concerned when we saw a few dots here and there which then went away and become progressively less noticeable/impacting. Fast forward to the Tusk's addition last week and now - given the large volume of dots - I'm concerned he may have come in with velvet. Our Achilles Tang has taken the brunt of the outbreak as you can see in the pic but still continues to swim and eat - we've started soaking the seaweed in Selcon daily and feed a high quality diet of various LRS foods (also soaked in Selcon).

I have a small 29G hospital setup where I can pull some of the fish to but obviously not going to be big enough for everyone, so trying to figure out what may be possible in the short window I have if it's truly velvet.

Help please

flfireman1 · Jul 24, 2017

Definitely velvet. Use the protocol here for treatment

Barrett · Jul 24, 2017

+ 1 on velvet

ebushrow · Jul 24, 2017

That is Velvet and a very bad case.....get him out and start treating with copper or CP IMMEDIATLY....you may be able to save him....all the fish have to be removed.....fallow for 76 days....that's the only way to eradicate it....Follow proper QT procedures.(look at stickies in fish diseasee threads as well as Meridiths chart on what can and cant handle each med).

Barrett · Jul 24, 2017

You will need to move fast.

joro · Jul 24, 2017

ebushrow said:
That is Velvet and a very bad case.....get him out and start treating with copper or CP IMMEDIATLY....you may be able to save him....all the fish have to be removed.....fallow for 76 days....that's the only way to eradicate it....Follow proper QT procedures.(look at stickies in fish diseasee threads as well as Meridiths chart on what can and cant handle each med).

Thank you all for the quick responses and just a quick question - when I've run Cooper in the past, you had to raise it over a period of days vs all at once. Is that still advised in this type of case of do I just go full bore on the concentration before I put the achilles in?

Barrett · Jul 24, 2017

I think the protocol is to reach therapeutic level within 24 hrs.

joro · Jul 24, 2017

So here's the current stocking list which obviously isn't going to fit in a 29G tank. Any suggestions on how to house all these fish (within reason financially) if I wanted to leave the display fallow?

Cooperband Butterfly
2x Blood Orange Clowns
One Spot Fox Face
Blonde Naso Tang
Purple Tang
Achilles Tang
Harlequin Tusk
Diamond Watchman Goby
Cleaner Wrasses
Red-Tail Trigger

SoreninKL · Jul 24, 2017

please follow Humblefish write up, the link below:

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/217570/

since your 29 gallon quarantine tank might be not enough space you may buy some rubbermaid, rectangular, bins and even sort your fish in order of severity of velevet or how they get along.

hope it turns out well [emoji4]

BoneXriffic · Jul 24, 2017

How difficult will catching all these fish be? Big system

joro · Jul 24, 2017

BoneXriffic said:
How difficult will catching all these fish be? Big system

That's my concern, it was hard enough catching some of these guys in the 90G to move them over not to mention the lack of places to put them.

Barrett · Jul 24, 2017

Can you get a 100 Rubbermaid around you?

joro · Jul 24, 2017

Barrett said:
Can you get a 100 Rubbermaid around you?

Not sure, where would I look for it - like a tractor supply company?

Barrett · Jul 24, 2017

They should have them, they do around me.

joro · Jul 24, 2017

Barrett said:
They should have them, they do around me.

Thanks and did find one - just ordered and will pickup shortly. What about filtration? I have 1-2 extra powerbeads (including one that was used for the hospital tank) which I can pull over for now plus a heater.

ebushrow · Jul 24, 2017

That should be good....just remember to vacuum any detritus out of the tank/vat and watch Ammonia and Nitrite

Humblefish · Jul 24, 2017

Follow this protocol for each & every fish: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/#post-2499437

It will give them the best chance for survival. If you can't get formalin or acriflavine, at least perform a 5 min FW dip before placing them in QT.

Once in QT, you can dose CP instantly, or take 48 hrs to get the copper level up to full therapeutic.

joro · Jul 24, 2017

Rubbermaid has been obtained and remaining items are coming later today via Amazon. Most of the chemicals I had were expired (it’s been a year or two since I last dealt with a big outbreak). Next question is in relation to aerosol transmission and the dips. The only place logistically I can place the new QT setup is about 5 feet away from the main DT’s sump. Is there anything I should do to minimize potential transmission during treatment?

Also, on the dips, should I dip every fish or just the ones most impacted visibily? I think it’s going to be very stressful for Fish that have maybe 1 spot or 2 on them, especially since they will be in Cooper in the next 48 hours.

Humblefish · Jul 24, 2017

joro said:
Next question is in relation to aerosol transmission and the dips. The only place logistically I can place the new QT setup is about 5 feet away from the main DT’s sump. Is there anything I should do to minimize potential transmission during treatment?

Use visqueen/plastic sheeting to build a wall in between them (think hospital patient with an airborne disease), or at least blow a fan from QT to DT. However, I cannot guarantee either strategy will be 100% effective.

joro said:
Also, on the dips, should I dip every fish or just the ones most impacted visibily? I think it’s going to be very stressful for Fish that have maybe 1 spot or 2 on them, especially since they will be in Cooper in the next 48 hours.

Just the ones with visible symptoms (white spots) or behavioral symptoms (heavy breathing, scratching, twitching, swimming into the flow of a powerhead). Obviously, that Achilles needs treatment ASAP so he should be first in line.

joro · Jul 24, 2017

What would you all recommend for filtration on the 100G setup? I've got everything in transit for this evening or already here with the exception of filtration. I'm fine running it a few days or so without any (I have a gravel vacuum which is separated for QT use only) but know that's not a longer term solution.