Need help! Nitrate Spike

[melypr1985]

If its ich TTM is my choice of eradication. I also use prime or amquel to keep ammonia from being an issue. Just went through this after adding some rocks. Will quarantine them next time. I used 20 gallon tanks for this. Removed all rocks and sand and put them into quarantine for way over the 73 days. Cleaned the DT and let it dry while fish were undergoing TTM. Then seeded the tank (140 gallon) from my smaller DT. Used amquel more than I like to admit. Only lost one fish during this. Ich gone! My experience, others will differ.

Shelley

While i agree with this in theory, I don't think breaking down your tank is needed at all. Simply letting the display go fallow for the 76 days is all it needs to be free of ick and velvet.... coupled with treating your fish of course.

 

[code4]

Very true. But since I had noticed the rock was sprouting algae and could use a good period of phosphate remover I decided to do it right. I bought the rocks from a guy here in Casper WY. Big mistake. They were loaded with phosphates. Right off my red sea testing kit! The corals were few, and went into a small tank for special care. Boy have I made some mistakes along the way!

Also had added a warning on using prime or amquel with copper.

Shelley

 

[melypr1985]

Very true. But since I had noticed the rock was sprouting algae and could use a good period of phosphate remover I decided to do it right. I bought the rocks from a guy here in Casper WY. Big mistake. They were loaded with phosphates. Right off my red sea testing kit! The corals were few, and went into a small tank for special care. Boy have I made some mistakes along the way!

Also had added a warning on using prime or amquel with copper.

Shelley

Sounds like in your case you just needed a restart. I wanted to be sure that if somebody comes across this thread they didn't think they had to break down their tank to be rid of ick. You had other reasons to do it. I hope it's all back up and running smoothly for you!

 

[code4]

Yes it finally is! Thank you! I am OCD, I think it helps me in this. I never do anything without researching it for long nights on end. I know I drive my hubby nuts at times!

Travis I hope your fish get better. Good luck.

Shelley

 

[Travis Rider]

scratching against rocks can be a sign of parasites like ick. No matter what I would suggest getting the fish into QT for treatment. Copper or TTM would be my choice for ick, though I still want a good picture of the fish with spots before I commit to it.

This is the best pictures I could get.

 

[Humblefish]

On the foxface, are any of the white dots on the body or fins only?

That juv Emperor definitely has a secondary bacterial infection of some sort.

 

[Travis Rider]

On the foxface, are any of the white dots on the body or fins only?

That juv Emperor definitely has a secondary bacterial infection of some sort.

Foxface has most spots on his fins. There are a couple on his body too. I would say about 6 or 8.

 

[melypr1985]

That angel will need antibiotics for the infection. Kanaplex or Furan 2 are my antibiotics of choice. You can combine them and add in metroplex for a wide spectrum coverage, though don't do that unless it's necessary.
The others need to be treated for ick.... the angel will need to be treated for it as well, though the infection looks to have progressed enough to need treatment now.

 

[Humblefish]

^^ I agree

 

[Travis Rider]

I got the Angel into qt and started dosing with Maracyn Plus (recommended by my local marine aquarium). I also started treating my display tank for ich. Hopefully I will have good news to share in a couple of days.

 

[code4]

I got the Angel into qt and started dosing with Maracyn Plus (recommended by my local marine aquarium). I also started treating my display tank for ich. Hopefully I will have good news to share in a couple of days.

How are you treating your display tank? Hope the angel improves.

Shelley

 

[Travis Rider]

How are you treating your display tank? Hope the angel improves.

Shelley

Treating with Marine Max.

 

[melypr1985]

Treating with Marine Max.

That's at best a preventative (like it says on the bottle) it will not eradicate ick from your display. Just leave the fish out of it and it will starve out. It's easy to do. This stuff isn't going to cure or kill any parasites.

 

[Travis Rider]

I got to the Angel late. He didn't make it through the day.

 

[Humblefish]

 

[melypr1985]

sorry for your loss

 

[Humblefish]

That's at best a preventative (like it says on the bottle) it will not eradicate ick from your display. Just leave the fish out of it and it will starve out. It's easy to do. This stuff isn't going to cure or kill any parasites.

^^This, the devil is always in the details if you read the label:

Marine-Max is a dual-action disease preventative and life extension system for saltwater aquarium fish.

Dual-bottle system is half life-maximizing formula, half disease-preventing probiotic. The probiotic formula is a biological additive for saltwater aquariums. It includes probiotic bacterial strains that protect against ick, aeromonas, and other common saltwater fish diseases.

Life Maximizing Formula includes 17 antioxidants to help ensure cellular strength and boost natural disease immunity. Fights off oxidizers that can cause premature death. Contains pharmaceutical grade aquatic vitamins to improve saltwater fish health.

Probiotics, antioxidants and vitamins will not successfully interrupt the life-cycle of Cryptocaryon (Marine Ich). That's like using a slingshot against a swarm of killer bees.

 

[code4]

I got to the Angel late. He didn't make it through the day.

I know your loss! Very sad. . Hope you are successful with the rest. I use TTM on all my new fish now. I find lowering the water level and using a plastic colander to be the least stressful method of transferring the fish from one tank to another. Good luck with however you decide to treat your fish.

Again, sorry for your loss.

Shelley

 

[Travis Rider]

I lost another clown. What meds do you recommend that is safe for inverts? I don't have a big enough QT tank to remove the last 4 fish I have left. I am going to get meds and start the treatment this evening. I also purchased a UV sterilizer and installed it last night to help manage the 'free swimmers'. Please help. I don't want to lose any more fish.

 

[Humblefish]

I lost another clown. What meds do you recommend that is safe for inverts? I don't have a big enough QT tank to remove the last 4 fish I have left. I am going to get meds and start the treatment this evening. I also purchased a UV sterilizer and installed it last night to help manage the 'free swimmers'. Please help. I don't want to lose any more fish.

Do you have a photo of the clown before it died? Or at least provide a detailed description of how it looked? It's highly unusual for a clownfish to succumb to ich, so you may have a more serious disease lurking in your DT.