So fed up I'm about done!

[Daveb300]

I just can't get rid of what I assume is flukes. I have tried copper, prazipro over and over. I have tried general cure, hypo and cp. I can't get rid of these things. I'm about ready to call it quits and take a loss and just sale it all! I just lost my hippo tang and flame angel. My Achilles is acting like something is attacking him swimming all crazy and my yellow tang is in hiding. I haven't seen ich since copper seven months ago so I assume what I have is flukes. I am at my wit's end and have exhausted every idea I can come up with to rid my tank of flukes. I guess it's time to just quit!

 

[Impala67]

I just can't get rid of what I assume is flukes. I have tried copper, prazipro over and over. I have tried general cure, hypo and cp. I can't get rid of these things. I'm about ready to call it quits and take a loss and just sale it all! I just lost my hippo tang and flame angel. My Achilles is acting like something is attacking him swimming all crazy and my yellow tang is in hiding. I haven't seen ich since copper seven months ago so I assume what I have is flukes. I am at my wit's end and have exhausted every idea I can come up with to rid my tank of flukes. I guess it's time to just quit!

Actually this is the time to proceed!!!!! What I would do is put all the fish with problems in a separate holding tank from there, maybe in separate tanks to discourage aggression. Then you can really kick this thing in the butt!! I would try two things poly lab reef safe medic and try rally those two I use and there fantastic!!! Second do freshwater dips!!! That should really help as well!! Don’t give up it’s a ruff patch and this is the point where you either become a full time reefer or you don’t. Don’t give up just yet there’s still hope!!

 

[blaxsun]

If you have a chance, post some images.
#fishmedic

 

[Daveb300]

Actually this is the time to proceed!!!!! What I would do is put all the fish with problems in a separate holding tank from there, maybe in separate tanks to discourage aggression. Then you can really kick this thing in the butt!! I would try two things poly lab reef safe medic and try rally those two I use and there fantastic!!! Second do freshwater dips!!! That should really help as well!! Don’t give up it’s a ruff patch and this is the point where you either become a full time reefer or you don’t. Don’t give up just yet there’s still hope!!

I don't have any inverts or coral in my display yet. 300g display with fish only and it's almost impossible to catch them.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just can't get rid of what I assume is flukes. I have tried copper, prazipro over and over. I have tried general cure, hypo and cp. I can't get rid of these things. I'm about ready to call it quits and take a loss and just sale it all! I just lost my hippo tang and flame angel. My Achilles is acting like something is attacking him swimming all crazy and my yellow tang is in hiding. I haven't seen ich since copper seven months ago so I assume what I have is flukes. I am at my wit's end and have exhausted every idea I can come up with to rid my tank of flukes. I guess it's time to just quit!

It's possible that over a long period, you have been battling multiple issues. Have you been able to positively identify the issue as flukes? There are isopod "mini-predators" in some reef tanks. These little critters hide in the rocks during the day and attack fish at night. They cause the fish to act really flighty, give them tattered fins, and might even cause death.

Copper won't cure flukes. General Cure and Prazipro both contain praziquantel. What happens is that with multiple doses of prazi (say 5+) bacteria begins to grow in the tank that consumes prazi as a food source. Soon, it eats the prazi faster than it has time to work.

Hyposalinity works for most species of flukes, but you need to run a specific gravity of 1.012 for 35 days. There are also some very rare, brackish water flukes that are not harmed by hypo.

Jay

 

[Daveb300]

If you have a chance, post some images.
#fishmedic

There is nothing to see. All fish look good. Their just scratch their gills. Some of them stop eating and go into hiding and then die. No visible signs of disease.

 

[Daveb300]

It's possible that over a long period, you have been battling multiple issues. Have you been able to positively identify the issue as flukes? There are isopod "mini-predators" in some reef tanks. These little critters hide in the rocks during the day and attack fish at night. They cause the fish to act really flighty, give them tattered fins, and might even cause death.

Copper won't cure flukes. General Cure and Prazipro both contain praziquantel. What happens is that with multiple doses of prazi (say 5+) bacteria begins to grow in the tank that consumes prazi as a food source. Soon, it eats the prazi faster than it has time to work.

Hyposalinity works for most species of flukes, but you need to run a specific gravity of 1.012 for 35 days. There are also some very rare, brackish water flukes that are not harmed by hypo.

Jay

I ran hypo at 1.012 for 35 days like you suggested. Fish were still scratching at 35 days.

 

[Daveb300]

It's possible that over a long period, you have been battling multiple issues. Have you been able to positively identify the issue as flukes? There are isopod "mini-predators" in some reef tanks. These little critters hide in the rocks during the day and attack fish at night. They cause the fish to act really flighty, give them tattered fins, and might even cause death.

Copper won't cure flukes. General Cure and Prazipro both contain praziquantel. What happens is that with multiple doses of prazi (say 5+) bacteria begins to grow in the tank that consumes prazi as a food source. Soon, it eats the prazi faster than it has time to work.

Hyposalinity works for most species of flukes, but you need to run a specific gravity of 1.012 for 35 days. There are also some very rare, brackish water flukes that are not harmed by hypo.

Jay

If hypo doesn't work and prazi doesn't work then what should I do? This is why I I'm about done with this hobby. How do you get rid of these Isopods? Copper? I have done copper also.

 

[Daveb300]

It's possible that over a long period, you have been battling multiple issues. Have you been able to positively identify the issue as flukes? There are isopod "mini-predators" in some reef tanks. These little critters hide in the rocks during the day and attack fish at night. They cause the fish to act really flighty, give them tattered fins, and might even cause death.

Copper won't cure flukes. General Cure and Prazipro both contain praziquantel. What happens is that with multiple doses of prazi (say 5+) bacteria begins to grow in the tank that consumes prazi as a food source. Soon, it eats the prazi faster than it has time to work.

Hyposalinity works for most species of flukes, but you need to run a specific gravity of 1.012 for 35 days. There are also some very rare, brackish water flukes that are not harmed by hypo.

Jay

How do the isopods get in the tank? I have never put live rock or corals in. Just fish and marco rock and sand.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I ran hypo at 1.012 for 35 days like you suggested. Fish were still scratching at 35 days.

Then, that points towards brackish water flukes or a non-fluke cause. Brackish water flukes are very rare in aquariums. They get into our supply chain when a wholesaler carries some brackish water fishes in the main system housing their other fish.

What about trying an isopod trap? Take a small container (I used to use film canisters) and punch holes in it. Add some food, like mysids and weight it to the bottom of the tank next to some live rock, right before you turn out the lights. The next morning, retrieve it and look at the food under a magnifying glass or microscope....anything crawling around on the food *could* be a micro predator (except worms, those are harmless)

Jay

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

How do the isopods get in the tank? I have never put live rock or corals in. Just fish and marco rock and sand.

Ah, I didn't know that,. then isopods wouldn't be the case, they always come in on LR, usually shallow water, natural ocean rock.

Jay

 

[Daveb300]

Actually this is the time to proceed!!!!! What I would do is put all the fish with problems in a separate holding tank from there, maybe in separate tanks to discourage aggression. Then you can really kick this thing in the butt!! I would try two things poly lab reef safe medic and try rally those two I use and there fantastic!!! Second do freshwater dips!!! That should really help as well!! Don’t give up it’s a ruff patch and this is the point where you either become a full time reefer or you don’t. Don’t give up just yet there’s still hope!!

Poly lab and rally at the same time? Or try one or the other?

 

[SlugSnorter]

I just can't get rid of what I assume is flukes. I have tried copper, prazipro over and over. I have tried general cure, hypo and cp. I can't get rid of these things. I'm about ready to call it quits and take a loss and just sale it all! I just lost my hippo tang and flame angel. My Achilles is acting like something is attacking him swimming all crazy and my yellow tang is in hiding. I haven't seen ich since copper seven months ago so I assume what I have is flukes. I am at my wit's end and have exhausted every idea I can come up with to rid my tank of flukes. I guess it's time to just quit!

have you done a fallow?

 

[ReefSlice]

Have you confirmed the presence of flukes with a fw dip?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Poly lab and rally at the same time? Or try one or the other?

Remember, both of those products are "reef safe" that also means they will not control multi-celled parasites. If indeed your tank has flukes, they will not work at the doses listed on the bottle (although peroxide and formalin, at higher doses, will work as dips). Medic has a peroxide salt in it and Rally has formalin.

Dips work, but it must be a "dip and move" scenario - dipping and returning the fish to the same tank allows for reinfection.

Jay

 

[Daveb300]

Ah, I didn't know that,. then isopods wouldn't be the case, they always come in on LR, usually shallow water, natural ocean rock.

Jay

I am just out of Ideas. I feel helpless. I don't see any visible signs of sickness or disease other than scratching occasionally. I have had a couple fish stop eating and just hide. My Achilles is swimming erratically.

 

[Daveb300]

Have you confirmed the presence of flukes with a fw dip?

I couldn't catch them in a 300g tank if I wanted to.

 

[Impala67]

I am just out of Ideas. I feel helpless. I don't see any visible signs of sickness or disease other than scratching occasionally. I have had a couple fish stop eating and just hide. My Achilles is swimming erratically.

What are your parameters?

 

[Daveb300]

What are your parameters?

Ph 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Temp 78
SG 1.025

 

[Impala67]

Ph 8.3
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Temp 78
SG 1.025

I would feed them all frozen food and soak it in some garlic juice that way you know there eating and the garlic will help boost there immune system!!