Is this velvet on my Gem???

[gobble]

I'm using copper power at 2.0 with the hanna checker.

 

[gobble]

?
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/emperor-aquatics-smart-uv-40-watt.html

 

[ngoodermuth]

?
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/emperor-aquatics-smart-uv-40-watt.html

I know you want to install a gate valve with it so you can slow down the flow even more. I think around 150-250 gph is best. The more contact with the bulb, the better.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Just a word of warning though, there is a chance that even with the UV... the parasites could continue to be problematic. I'm more in the camp of "QT - Treat Everything", so if you truly want to go full on management, especially with tangs present, might be helpful to track down some of the other threads and folks that practice this, for more tips and advice. I personally have not had much luck with ich-management.

@Brew12 recently posted a thread that discusses some of the things that could factor in for successful disease management without QT meds... if you haven't seen that one yet.

 

[Brew12]

You could always try the theoretical “reverse QT”. Treat him, get him fat and healthy again... feed a variety of algae and live, quality frozen foods enriched with vitamins/ selcon, etc.

Once you feel like he is completely recovered from the treatment... spike the QT. Add a piece of sacrificial live rock from your main tank, sump, etc. a clump of chaeto... whatever you have that might bring a hitchhiker over.

See what happens. If you see a spot or two, vacuum the tank bottom and do a water change every few days to keep the populations under control while continuing to feed heavily. Wait some more and just see if he can overcome it on his own.

I think this is excellent advice. This is very similar to how scientists build immunity to fish to be used in studies. They expose the fish to a parasite and then use medicines to eradicate the parasite before it can do lasting harm to the fish. Typically it takes 2 exposures and treatments and the fish fights off the 3rd exposure on its own.
If you can't eradicate the parasite from your tank this may be your best option for success.

@Brew12 recently posted a thread that discusses some of the things that could factor in for successful disease management without QT meds... if you haven't seen that one yet.

I did, but everything is so theoretical at this point. I started that as a way to gather information, not necessarily to be used yet.
I'm not sure what you are using for food, but I highly recommend LRS Fish Frenzy (or Reef Frenzy). It is loaded with probiotics that are proven to boost a fishes immune system.

 

[gobble]

I would go that route, but how the heck do you catch 5 firefish that can’t be baited into a trap?

 

[artieg1]

I do not see the point of re-treating the gem tang for ich in QT if you believe he got it from your DT. Your first time QT ensured that nothing new was introduced, like velvet. That was worthwhile. But treating him now for ich that he picked up in your DT is not doing anything other than stressing him. He will just be reinfected when you put in your DT. It is perfectly acceptable to simply manage ich in your DT. The only reason to treat gem tang now is if you are treating every fish and going fallow. My two cents.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I would go that route, but how the heck do you catch 5 firefish that can’t be baited into a trap?

I successfully baited all of my fish.

I used an acclimation box with a string tied to the door, instead of a trap... I feel like they are more likely to swim in because it is larger.

You need very, very tempting bait. I’ve used shad roe and fresh clams with great success.

The last fish or two is always the hardest, because once they realize all of the other fish are gone they get nervous/timid. But, with some patience and by ONLY feeding in the box, eventually I got them all.

 

[gobble]

How quickly does copper kill ich? What if I put the gem back in the display after a FW dip and day or two in copper and see how he manages? It's so strange none of my other fish have any signs of anything.

I might order the 40W UV. I need to do a bunch of reading first though, not convinced it's the answer.

 

[Brew12]

How quickly does copper kill ich? What if I put the gem back in the display after a FW dip and day or two in copper and see how he manages? It's so strange none of my other fish have any signs of anything.

I might order the 40W UV. I need to do a bunch of reading first though, not convinced it's the answer.

Copper only affects the free swimming variety but it does so very quickly. The parasite can stay on the fish, protected from pretty much any treatment, for up to 7 days. It then drops off and encysts on a hard surface. A few days to a few weeks later it hatches releasing the next generation which are again vulnerable to copper.
Your other fish are likely immune which is keeping them from showing symptoms. They can still be carriers.

 

[reeftopia]

soaking there food in garlic always seems to help mine

 

[reeftopia]

Soaking their food in garlic always helps mine

 

[DucatiGtr]

Thank you! Cupramine
Makes sense now



QUOTE="ngoodermuth, post: 6052437, member: 15435"]What kind of copper are you using? The therapeutic target for Cupramine (ionic copper) is .5

For Copper Power (chelated) you want to be somewhere between 1.75-2.0 at least[/QUOTE]

 

[gobble]

An update on this. I put the gem in copper for a little over a week then back in the display. The gem has been clean since going back in.

I ordered a Reefer 750 XXL this week and plan to move my rock and coral into it and run the fallow period before adding the fish. I'll run them in copper and TTM before going in the new display.

 

[Fiesty]

Id say from my own personal experience, if in your situation id get a uv sterilizer and cleaner wrasse for the display tank and put him back in there. For the stability and less stress. Then feed well with quality food and might be the best chance. Just my 2

 

[MnFish1]

But I suppose if I introduce ich into the quarantine after 30 days (or 14 days maybe) and he becomes infested with it again I need to start over and quarantine again for 30 days?

I feel terrible seeing that poor fish stuck in a glass box full of PVC. I guess better that then dead though.

The next time he is exposed- it will likely not cause as much of a problem

 

[Fiesty]

An update on this. I put the gem in copper for a little over a week then back in the display. The gem has been clean since going back in.

I ordered a Reefer 750 XXL this week and plan to move my rock and coral into it and run the fallow period before adding the fish. I'll run them in copper and TTM before going in the new display.

Id strongly suggest getting a quality uv and run on its own pump and implement right away. Then can move to new tank. And im a recent believer in a cleaner wrasse. Im im soeaking from personal experience of setting up

a 200 gal dt with lots of tangs.

 

[gobble]

I did a bunch of reading on UV sterilizers recently and am not convinced it's much of a treatment for ich, especially given the cost to purchase a proper sized one and the electricity needed to run it. It seems like the better solution is to run a new tank fallow for the 70+ days then properly quarantine everything that goes into it.

 

[gobble]

An update on this. He's been back in my display tank for over a month now. No signs of any white spots on the gem or any other fish.

My Reefer 750XXL will be here next week. I'm wondering if I still run it fallow for the 76 days given that everything appears ich free. I'm guessing the answer is still yes...

 

[Gotfrogs]

I am very glad to hear the fish was still alive as of June. How is he doing now?

 

[gobble]

The fish is doing great. It just survived 76 days in the old tank with just PVC decorations while the new larger tank ran fallow. I copper treated all the fish towards the end of the 76 days then moved them to the new tank this week. All are looking good.