Sailfin in QT with Popeye

[lakai]

I have a Sailfin in QT that developed a very serious case of popeye. Theres 10 days left in copper and I was wondering if it is safe to use antibiotics in the whole tank or should I just take him out and treat him. Any help would be great. Thank you

 

[Big G]

Sometimes popeye, if it's just one eye, is usually from an injury and can be treated by dosing the DT with plain USP epsom salts. 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of tank water. Can re treat once after a day or two. It will slightly elevate your magnesium levels but is reef safe.

For bad eye bacterial infections, treating with erythromycin is the best antibiotic to use. It can be pretty tough on a tank's bio filter. If you are inclined to do so, after the sailfin has been in copper for at least 14 days of therapeutic levels of copper for either ich or velvet, you can move the fish to a clean, fresh QT for observation and then dose the erythromycin.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Just curious about the outcome, I also have one fish in the QT and dosing with copper, only on day 3 of 4 to get to 2.0ppm. The fish has the same popeye in one eye.

 

[lakai]

I just left it alone and it healed up fine in a day or two