Valuable lesson learned. Building a hospital tank today.

[b4tn]

Seems I have been very patient in setting up my reef until it came time to start adding livestock. Trying to bypass the quarantine I picked up some new fish that I was "told" where pre quarantined and ready to add to the display. Well here we are a week later and almost all my fish are developing tiny white spots that are really only extremely visible under blue lights. I'm a little frustrated but on one hand I guess this forces me to get the equipment I need to have a hospital tank on hand at a moments notice when needed. Just to check myself I wanted to make sure that I am on the right track. I am going to use a 27 gallon storage tote so that when everything is said and done I can break down, sterilize, throw the equipment in the tub, put the lid on, and store it until its needed. So here is what I have so far.

The tote is a polypropylene tub from home depot. I think 27 gallons should be sufficient.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-Gal-Storage-Tote-in-Black-HDX27GONLINE-5/205978361

I have several pieces of PVC to cut up and throw in.

I picked up an AquaClear 50, 200 gph filter and a petco brand MaxiJet style powerhead to add flow and oxygenate the water.

I already have an air pump and stone, 200 watt heater, and shop clamp light on hand.

The plan is get everything setup with fresh RODI saltwater and put my DT filter sock under the filter and use some biospira to get things started. After a few days I will add the fish and treat with copper. I am going to keep the fish in the hospital tank for 8-9 weeks in hopes that the ick in the display will die off.

This is the part I am worried about, catching the fish and transferring without tearing up my main tank with corals or hurting them. The fish going into the hospital tank:

4" foxface
Small Coral Beauty
Clown
Chromi
Coris Wrasse

Do I have everything straight? Is 12" high by 17"x26" 27 gallon tote going to be big enough? Do I need to do weekly water changes? Or only after the copper treatment is finished?

 

[twilliard]

Sorry about the outbreak!
Sounds like a good plan but wow it will be fun to catch them.
Fish trap maybe?

 

[Brian Kim]

Sorry to hear that.
Unfortunately, you will most likely have to remove some if not most of the rocks in order to catch all those fishes.
Are you planning on doing Hyposalinity or Copper treatment? Wrasse and Angels do not take copper too well
Fallow period should be at least 72 days and I would recommend using Bio Spira if you are starting a new hospital tank
Best of luck

 

[b4tn]

Sorry to hear that.
Unfortunately, you will most likely have to remove some if not most of the rocks in order to catch all those fishes.
Are you planning on doing Hyposalinity or Copper treatment? Wrasse and Angels do not take copper too well
Fallow period should be at least 72 days and I would recommend using Bio Spira if you are starting a new hospital tank
Best of luck

I had considered Hyposalinity but copper seems to be tried and proven so I was going to go that route. I was unaware of copper sensitivity for angles and wrasses. I guess I will look into a little more and see if I am able to do it.

 

[Brian Kim]

I had considered Hyposalinity but copper seems to be tried and proven so I was going to go that route. I was unaware of copper sensitivity for angles and wrasses. I guess I will look into a little more and see if I am able to do it.

It really depends on the type of angels as well, as far as I know, flame angel are the most sensitive to copper treatment. I did lose 2 coral beauty during cupramine treatment though

 

[melypr1985]

I had considered Hyposalinity but copper seems to be tried and proven so I was going to go that route. I was unaware of copper sensitivity for angles and wrasses. I guess I will look into a little more and see if I am able to do it.

So I like your plan above. You will have to get some totes and drain your display into them (not all the way) and then put your rocks and corals into them. At that point you may only spend an hour chasing these fish all over the place to catch them (been right here, done exactly this ugh). The good news? Time to re aquascape!

Angels and wrasse seem to be copper sensitive, but your can use CopperSafe instead of cuppramine and it should be a little more gentle on the fish. I used Cuppramine on my pygmy angel and yellow corris wrasse with no problems. I took a week to raise the copper up to therapeutic levels though.

 

[b4tn]

Thats good to hear! I will look at the coppersafe as well.

 

[melypr1985]

Oh! Make sure you have an ammonia alert badge as well. very important!

 

[Breakthecycle2]

If you have tiny white dots, it might be velvet.

 

[b4tn]

I may have jumped the gun and freaked out a little too fast. Looking today all the fish are looking healthy with no spots. My whites went off and still no spots. I will keep an eye on them.

 

[melypr1985]

I may have jumped the gun and freaked out a little too fast. Looking today all the fish are looking healthy with no spots. My whites went off and still no spots. I will keep an eye on them.

How long were the spots on the fish? ich will fall off the fish and encyst on a hard surface and will break free only to attach to your fish in larger numbers. So be ware.

 

[b4tn]

I usually sit and look at the tank every night and just noticed last night. Tonight they are gone. I am thinking maybe it was sand or something. Regardless I now have all the required equipment for a HT ready to set if needed.

 

[Humblefish]

Ich trophonts will remain on a fish for a minimum of 3 days; however for velvet it can be as little as 12 hours. Depends upon the strain.