Losing 2 fish a day

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

I'm sorry if this has been answered in the thread already but I have a major disaster on my hands. My tank must of been infested with velvet from a new fish and I have been rapidly losing 2 fish a day for the last 4 days. So at this point tank water is no good plus no time to seed a sponge. I have a 50 gallon AIO I can use as a hospital/Qt tank. How do I start the cycle? I received CP from my LFS what's the best way for me to start? I read to treat with cp for 30 days. Do I do water changes in the 30 days? If yes when and how much?And if so I have no more cp as of now to add to new water.
I've been in this hobby for over 10 years and I've had my current tank a 280 mixed reef for 8 without ever an issue. It really takes one bad fish to ruin 8 years of what I had established. I learned my lesson now the hard way and will QT everything from now on.
Thank you
Jimmy

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2017

What kind of bio-media do you have for the AIO? To put in the back chamber? You can seed it using a bacteria in a bottle product such as Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria.

Where did your LFS get their CP from? If its not at least 99% pure pharmaceutical grade, it may not work.

Smo · Mar 13, 2017

Jimmy, how many fish and what size? Will a 50 gal tank support them? You could seed with "bacteria-in-a-bottle," e.g., BIO Spira. All the fish will have to be removed from your DT and it allowed to fallow for 6 weeks--better to go 76 days to ensure ICH is killed off. CP needs to be maintained at a therapeutic level for 30 days. This means it needs to be replaced with new water during changes.

Reefahholic · Mar 13, 2017

Don't try to cycle the tank. Start with freshly mixed water and dose 40/mg per gallon (standard dose). That's 1/8 tsp. per 10/G. Treat 2 weeks for Velvet and 4 weeks for ICH. Do water changes when ammonia or nitrate gets high. Good luck.

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

Smo said:
Jimmy, how many fish and what size? Will a 50 gal tank support them? You could seed with "bacteria-in-a-bottle," e.g., BIO Spira. All the fish will have to be removed from your DT and it allowed to fallow for 6 weeks--better to go 76 days to ensure ICH is killed off. CP needs to be maintained at a therapeutic level for 30 days. This means it needs to be replaced with new water during changes.

Smo thanks for the quick reply!
Right now I have 5 fish left unfortunately.
So I add the bio spira and start transferring the live fish into the qt. I will keep an eye on ammonia levels if they go up use an ammonia reducer? When should I do the first water change?

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

Smo said:
Jimmy, how many fish and what size? Will a 50 gal tank support them? You could seed with "bacteria-in-a-bottle," e.g., BIO Spira. All the fish will have to be removed from your DT and it allowed to fallow for 6 weeks--better to go 76 days to ensure ICH is killed off. CP needs to be maintained at a therapeutic level for 30 days. This means it needs to be replaced with new water during changes.

Smo thanks for the quick reply!
Right now I have 5 fish left unfortunately.
So I add the bio spira and start transferring the live fish into the qt. I will keep an eye on ammonia levels if they go up use an ammonia reducer? When should I do the first water change?

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

Humblefish said:
What kind of bio-media do you have for the AIO? To put in the back chamber? You can seed it using a bacteria in a bottle product such as Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria.

Where did your LFS get their CP from? If its not at least 99% pure pharmaceutical grade, it may not work.

Sorry I got confused when I didn't see my previous post lol.
I have the sponges that come with the innovative marine AIO 50 gallon
I will ask them tomorrow about CP.
will do all of the above tomorrow hopefully will still have five fish by then.

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2017

90reefernyc said:
So I add the bio spira and start transferring the live fish into the qt. I will keep an eye on ammonia levels if they go up use an ammonia reducer? When should I do the first water change?

I would get an ammonia alert badge for active monitoring and do WCs as needed:

Smo · Mar 13, 2017

Per Reefahholic, perform a water change if you see ammonia increase.

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

Humblefish said:
I would get an ammonia alert badge for active monitoring and do WCs as needed:

Yes I ordered thru amazon should have tomorrow unbelievably I went to 2 lfs and 2 pet lands here in NYC and no one carried them!

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2017

90reefernyc said:
Sorry I got confused when I didn't see my previous post lol.
I have the sponges that come with the innovative marine AIO 50 gallon
I will ask them tomorrow about CP.
will do all of the above tomorrow hopefully will still have five fish by then.

If they are dying this fast, you might wanna get the survivors into QT with CP TONIGHT (if possible).

Worry about the other details tomorrow.

Swoody · Mar 13, 2017

Do not use ammonia reducer.... I am pretty certain that products such as SeaChems Prime are not compatible with copper based treatments.... if you seed according to bacteria in a bottle directions... it shouldn't be an issue. When water change is necessary just bring copper level back to therapeutic level.

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2017

Here is my emergency treatment protocol for dealing with velvet: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/#post-2499437

Even if you don't have formalin or acriflavine, performing a FW dip on all fish before they go into QT might help: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

After the fish are all in QT, dose CP @ 60mg/gal.

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

Humblefish said:
If they are dying this fast, you might wanna get the survivors into QT with CP TONIGHT (if possible).

Worry about the other details tomorrow.

Yea I had a feeling started adding water that I had pre mixed already and also bought 25 gallons of nutria sea water to add.

Swoody said:
Do not use ammonia reducer.... I am pretty certain that products such as SeaChems Prime are not compatible with copper based treatments.... if you seed according to bacteria in a bottle directions... it shouldn't be an issue. When water change is necessary just bring copper level back to therapeutic level.

I read for cp you can use ammonia reducer? Not for copper if I read it correct.

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2017

90reefernyc said:
I read for cp you can use ammonia reducer? Not for copper if I read it correct.

That is correct. However, I only use that as a stop-gap measure and still encourage you to do WCs for dealing with ammonia.

Reefahholic · Mar 13, 2017

You have a lot of work to do. Better get on it.

Humblefish · Mar 13, 2017

@90reefernyc How did you make out?

4FordFamily · Mar 13, 2017

Humblefish said:
If they are dying this fast, you might wanna get the survivors into QT with CP TONIGHT (if possible).

Worry about the other details tomorrow.

X2

90reefernyc · Mar 13, 2017

Humblefish said:
@90reefernyc How did you make out?

Well I managed to catch 3 fish but wrasse didn't make it

I have a hippo and scopes still in tank hippo is hiding really well plus I'm scared the cp might kill him. Just got home from work so back at it now. What are your thought about hippo?
Thank you everyone for the help!
Jimmy