Ich??

[rob safron]

As I mentioned, no new fish or inverts were added for at least 2-3 years. Had to be in there somewhere.

 

[Fishfinder]

Did you say that you recently added some corals?

 

[rob safron]

Yes corals and dry rock.

 

[melypr1985]

Ladies and gentlemen... please keep things civil and this thread on topic.

For what it's worth, I agree this is definitely velvet. Treatment will be needed for sure and quickly.

It's completely possible for some fish to develop a temporary immunity to velvet. It sounds like velvet made it's way into the tank on the corals added to the tank. Luckily this speaks volumes to the original health of the fish since they were able to withstand it this long. And no, fish do not always have ich... it's a parasite that can be eradicated.

@rob safron best of luck treating your fish. I know it's a huge pain to do, but they will need it to survive. Fair warning, that after a week of this you are likely to lose several of them pretty soon whether you decide to treat or not.

 

[Humblefish]

Think of it this way... Ich is often managed by keeping the number of free swimmers in check, while simultaneously boosting your fishes’ immune systems to deal with any parasites that survive & latch on. As the fish are exposed to a continual sublethal concentration of free swimmers, their immune system gets better & better at fighting them off. Eventually temporary (or in rare cases permanent) resistance or immunity develops.

Why can't the same happen with velvet, brook, uronema? Technically it can; however it is far more difficult to achieve because velvet usually wins the numbers game:

• Velvet tomonts release free swimmers every 4 days (on average). And they hang around for up to 15 days seeking fish to infect. Ich tomonts release theronts (free swimmers) every 2-4 weeks (on average), and these theronts are only infective for 48 hours max.
• Each velvet tomont contains around 200 dinospores, which are the free swimmers that infect fish. With ich, theront excystment is very asynchronous and not as numerous.

Velvet management is more possible in a very large aquarium (because the free swimmers are more diluted), and/or if a UV or diatom filter is being employed (both will siphon out free swimmers). And of course, bolstering a healthy immune system also plays a large part. However, the smaller the system the more likely the dinospores will overwhelm your fish before immunity can be achieved. Velvet management is not for the faint of heart.

 

[Fishfinder]

I imagine the number of fish available to the disease (in the aquarium) would affect the difficulty of management as well

 

[4FordFamily]

I imagine the number of fish available to the disease (in the aquarium) would affect the difficulty of management as well

It gets the upper hand very quickly, literally growing exponentially (much faster than a fish’s immune response).

 

[code4]

I used to lose fish in quarantine alot. I have realized that it was mostly due to not having good oxygen exchange. Please nobody beat me up if I do a poor job with wording. Turn a powerhead towards the surface of the water. And of course watch the ammonia and salinity. I know your pain. My 140 only has a black Molly in it. My other fish are in CP and 3 quarantine tanks. They have been there since November. Not in a hurry. One is a Yellow Belly Regal Angel. I did have some losses, due to poor oxygen exchange. Good luck.

Shelley

 

[JoshKReef]

I used to lose fish in quarantine alot. I have realized that it was mostly due to not having good oxygen exchange. Please nobody beat me up if I do a poor job with wording. Turn a powerhead towards the surface of the water. And of course watch the ammonia and salinity. I know your pain. My 140 only has a black Molly in it. My other fish are in CP and 3 quarantine tanks. They have been there since November. Not in a hurry. One is a Yellow Belly Regal Angel. I did have some losses, due to poor oxygen exchange. Good luck.

Shelley

I recently started running a HOB filter with just an airstone in it.

 

[code4]

I had a HOB filter. It was not enough apparently. So I would hazard to say fish size, activity levels, and flow of said HOB would all factor in. They made it 2 days and then suddenly died. .There were no other symptoms. Just doing TTM as a precaution. And not the only time it has happened. I have done a lot of learning since I first started keeping these wonderful creatures.

 

[PookieGV]

Rob,
Were you able to save your fish?

 

[rob safron]

So I was able to catch the large fish fairly easy. The powder blue died overnight in copper as I would have expected. The rabbit and sailfin are not hungry but hanging in. My two Montana clowns died overnight Sunday, neither were showing any signs of illness. I still need to capture 2 yellow tangs, 1 flame angel and hawk fish, all don’t show much signs of anything yet. Once I get them I will leave the tank empty for the 100 days.

 

[flfireman1]

Once I get them I will leave the tank empty for the 100 days.

I believe the correct number is 76 days.

 

[PookieGV]

Sorry to hear, good luck with the remaining.

 

[HotRocks]

I believe the correct number is 76 days.

Velvet requires 6 weeks of the tank being fallow, there are strains of ich that can last longer, hence the 76 day fallow period.

 

[rob safron]

So just the latest update. All fish I was able to get out and put in copper died shortly after except the rabbit. He looks like death warmed over. I have not had luck yet getting the remaining 2 yellow tangs and blue chromis. Weird, after all this time and massive outbreak of velvet, the 2 yellow tangs still have not shown any symptoms and are eating like normal. Some strong **** little yellow tangs I guess. They also do not trust the trap much .

 

[Humblefish]

Sorry for your losses

 

[rob safron]

Well, I was thinking i was just going to put the rabbit fish out of misery today. Look horrible yesterday, sometime floating sideways. This morning his color looked more normal. Still pretty much just hanging in a corner not moving much. For the hell of it, threw a bunch of flake food in the tank and he starting eating what he could come across. I then added a vegi clip in front of where he was hanging and he downed 1/3 of alge sheet. Still somewhat blind but he is some tough fish I guess.