reefknight
Well-Known Member
This began a week ago Friday, my AC unit froze up as Middle Georgia began going into the upper 80's lower 90's. The tank temperature increased to 82 from the usual 78-79. ( Heater and two CPU fans are controlled via APEX and typically maintains a fluctuation of no more than 0.50 degree.) Saturday morning I awoke to find my trio of Sunburst Anthias dying. Each one about an hour apart, swimming erratically with difficulty breathing. Out of sympathy and knowing nothing could be done, they were euthanized. I was puzzled due to the lack of any markings on the bodies or outward appearance. I began feeding frozen foods soaked with Metro and Kanaplex to stave off any thing that may occur. Wednesday I noticed that my Fowler's surgeon and Magnificent foxface both had a few irregular white spots. Recalling that before the Sunburst's were released from store QT that a fish had flukes, I thought it was a possibility and treated the DT with PraziPro. (The Sunburst's had been held in QT for a month with no signs of disease, so I foolishly added them to my DT without further QT.) Thursday I had to leave town for 3 days due to cataract surgery. Leaving my wife to watch what was unfolding. She called me each day saying she noticed a few more spots. When I returned on Sunday, the Fowler's, Golden Dwarf angel and a Lytetail anthia were all deceased. I have since set up a hospital tank and moved the foxface, Hooded wrasse, Angulatus wrasse, Diamond goby, Mandarin and Darwin clown pair. The DT still has my two leopard wrasses, a Potter's and a Black. I have been unable to trap them. This morning, my female clown passed. The pair has been with me for almost 9yrs. My Fowler's over 4yrs. This is just heart wrenching.
The hospital tank has a 406 Fluval canister filter and a Tunze 6055 powerhead, along with a 500w heater. It is bare bottom and is an old 58g Oceanic tank that I had setting around not in use. I filled it 2/3 of the way with display water and the remaining with newly made saltwater. Added cupramine to it to begin treatment as well as Stability to assist in bio filter production. I have a copper test kit on the way and a ammonia badge. I was unable to get either locally. The only test kit I could locally was an API, and I have read that they are not accurate enough for use with non-chelated copper. Ammonia this morning showed about 0.25 with a Salifert kit, so I will make up new saltwater to reduce that. (Probably about 15g) The remaining fish in the hospital tank look horrible and I am afraid they will not survive. I have ordered CP to use as well once the copper is out of the system and for the future, but I fear its too late.
My general thought is that the parasite was in the gills of the Sunburst's and when they became stressed due to the increased temperature it manifested itself within the DT. From there it has struck like wildfire and my absence has made it so much worse. I will be setting up a QT and CP will be used in the future to treat all new arrivals. It will be smaller than the 58g though as this was used as there were so many fish and the size of some that required it.
The two leopards that have not been moved still look and act well. I have noticed a bit of glancing and maybe a small spot on a fin. I am afraid that when they are trapped and moved that they will become more ill in the hospital system due to the stress and ammonia. I also realize that the DT needs to go fallow. At this point, any thoughts would be appreciated. I am beside myself with grief because I know that this is my fault and it could have been prevented. I believe that I have read through every thread concerning the disease and QT but maybe someone has an idea that is unique to this situation.
The hospital tank has a 406 Fluval canister filter and a Tunze 6055 powerhead, along with a 500w heater. It is bare bottom and is an old 58g Oceanic tank that I had setting around not in use. I filled it 2/3 of the way with display water and the remaining with newly made saltwater. Added cupramine to it to begin treatment as well as Stability to assist in bio filter production. I have a copper test kit on the way and a ammonia badge. I was unable to get either locally. The only test kit I could locally was an API, and I have read that they are not accurate enough for use with non-chelated copper. Ammonia this morning showed about 0.25 with a Salifert kit, so I will make up new saltwater to reduce that. (Probably about 15g) The remaining fish in the hospital tank look horrible and I am afraid they will not survive. I have ordered CP to use as well once the copper is out of the system and for the future, but I fear its too late.
My general thought is that the parasite was in the gills of the Sunburst's and when they became stressed due to the increased temperature it manifested itself within the DT. From there it has struck like wildfire and my absence has made it so much worse. I will be setting up a QT and CP will be used in the future to treat all new arrivals. It will be smaller than the 58g though as this was used as there were so many fish and the size of some that required it.
The two leopards that have not been moved still look and act well. I have noticed a bit of glancing and maybe a small spot on a fin. I am afraid that when they are trapped and moved that they will become more ill in the hospital system due to the stress and ammonia. I also realize that the DT needs to go fallow. At this point, any thoughts would be appreciated. I am beside myself with grief because I know that this is my fault and it could have been prevented. I believe that I have read through every thread concerning the disease and QT but maybe someone has an idea that is unique to this situation.
