Marine velvet outbreak

[zulin]

Hi!

This is my first post and it's not for showing you my fantastic reef tank. I am really new to this hobby, I started 6 months ago. All was going fine and my reef tank was starting to grow, but last week I had an outbreak of Marine velvet that took off more than a half of my fish community. After a lot of research I understood the need of using a quarantine tank for new arrivals an for a hospital tank. I read a lot about the Marine velvet and all the sources say that now I have to take out the fishes that have survived, put it into a quarantine tank and do a treatment for Marine velvet, and also let the main display without fishes for 4 to 8 weeks because of the life cycle of this bacteria. Is this right? I ask you some tips about how I have to proceed for cleaning my tank and start over with a fresh system. I will appreciate any information.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi!

This is my first post and it's not for showing you my fantastic reef tank. I am really new to this hobby, I started 6 months ago. All was going fine and my reef tank was starting to grow, but last week I had an outbreak of Marine velvet that took off more than a half of my fish community. After a lot of research I understood the need of using a quarantine tank for new arrivals an for a hospital tank. I read a lot about the Marine velvet and all the sources say that now I have to take out the fishes that have survived, put it into a quarantine tank and do a treatment for Marine velvet, and also let the main display without fishes for 4 to 8 weeks because of the life cycle of this bacteria. Is this right? I ask you some tips about how I have to proceed for cleaning my tank and start over with a fresh system. I will appreciate any information.

Thank you in advance.

that is correct. You want to let the display sit fallow for 78 days or more so that the parasite starve and dies out. Otherwise as soon as you reintroduce fish into the system the parasite will just come right back. Set up a quarantine and start treatment asap. Cupramine is your best bet. You'll also want to get a copper test kit. Check out this thread on copper treatment for velvet
Hope this helps and good luck!!
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/copper-treatment.193343/

 

[Deinonych]

Fallow period for velvet is 6 weeks: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fallow-periods-going-fishless.190324/

 

[zulin]

Hi again,

First of all, thank you for the replies.
I have to quarantine the fishes still they show no symptom of the parasite?

Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi again,

First of all, thank you for the replies.
I have to quarantine the fishes still they show no symptom of the parasite?

Thanks!

Yes because the parasite is still in the system. Only a matter of time before it comes back.

 

[zulin]

Yes because the parasite is still in the system. Only a matter of time before it comes back.

Ok, I will quarantine all the fishes then.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ok, I will quarantine all the fishes then.

Thanks for your help!

No problem. The only way to kill off the parasite is to remove the life force. Keep the tank without fish for 6 weeks minimum.