Velvet, uncycled QT, Live Rock???

[1980tom]

My display tank now has velvet. I have lost 3 fish already and be other is hiding/missing. I have set up a QT tank immediately but I have no transferable media other than Live Rock. I have Cupramine ready to start treating and plan on freshwater dipping the badly affected fish before placing in the QT. My issue is the QT isn’t cycled, so do I add Colony or Dr Tim’s, or do I just use the Seachem Ammonia plate as a warning and carry out daily water changes until the 10 days of treatment are over? I have some Live rock in the sump I could use and discard but I believe the live rock will absorb the copper and take it out of the required parameters??

 

[vetteguy53081]

My display tank now has velvet. I have lost 3 fish already and be other is hiding/missing. I have set up a QT tank immediately but I have no transferable media other than Live Rock. I have Cupramine ready to start treating and plan on freshwater dipping the badly affected fish before placing in the QT. My issue is the QT isn’t cycled, so do I add Colony or Dr Tim’s, or do I just use the Seachem Ammonia plate as a warning and carry out daily water changes until the 10 days of treatment are over? I have some Live rock in the sump I could use and discard but I believe the live rock will absorb the copper and take it out of the required parameters??

I dont trust the seachem ammonia badge after 2 weeks of use but no need to hold back on cycling- start QT and monitor ammonia with a reliable test kit.
How did you conclude its velvet? Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
For treatment, Treat the fish in the QT with your cupramine at therapuetic level 0.5 at 80 degrees for a FULL 30 days monitored by a reliable copper test kit such as Hanna Brand (no api brand). Again momitor ammonia level <.025 and add aeration with air stone

 

[Dburr1014]

My display tank now has velvet. I have lost 3 fish already and be other is hiding/missing. I have set up a QT tank immediately but I have no transferable media other than Live Rock. I have Cupramine ready to start treating and plan on freshwater dipping the badly affected fish before placing in the QT. My issue is the QT isn’t cycled, so do I add Colony or Dr Tim’s, or do I just use the Seachem Ammonia plate as a warning and carry out daily water changes until the 10 days of treatment are over? I have some Live rock in the sump I could use and discard but I believe the live rock will absorb the copper and take it out of the required parameters??

How many fish need treatment and how big is your quarantine?

 

[1980tom]

How many fish need treatment and how big is your quarantine?

10 small fish and it’s a Red Sea Reefer 250, I wasn’t planning on using the full system, just the display at 100 litres as it makes it easy for 50% water changes?

 

[1980tom]

I dont trust the seachem ammonia badge after 2 weeks of use but no need to hold back on cycling- start QT and monitor ammonia with a reliable test kit.
How did you conclude its velvet? Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
For treatment, Treat the fish in the QT with your cupramine at therapuetic level 0.5 at 80 degrees for a FULL 30 days monitored by a reliable copper test kit such as Hanna Brand (no api brand). Again momitor ammonia level <.025 and add aeration with air stone

I believe it’s velvet due to the many small milky white areas especially on the fins and the fact I started losing fish within a few hours of me noticing it. The three main fish covered are my Purple Tang, Coral Beauty and Pyjama Wrasse. The reason I said the ammonia badge as opposed to actual test kits is I have seen people say liquid ammonia tests are not accurate if you are treating with copper??

 

[vetteguy53081]

I believe it’s velvet due to the many small milky white areas especially on the fins and the fact I started losing fish within a few hours of me noticing it. The three main fish covered are my Purple Tang, Coral Beauty and Pyjama Wrasse. The reason I said the ammonia badge as opposed to actual test kits is I have seen people say liquid ammonia tests are not accurate if you are treating with copper??

Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
Liquid tests work fine when properly used.
To confirm, some signs of velvet will be :
- swimming at water surface
- Scratching body against hard objects
- Fish is lethargic
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Rapid, labored breathing
- Fins clamped against the body
- rapid breathing and mucus around the gills

 

[exnisstech]

I've had good success with seachem ammonia badges in QT. I don't even own an ammonia test

 

[1980tom]

I dont trust the seachem ammonia badge after 2 weeks of use but no need to hold back on cycling- start QT and monitor ammonia with a reliable test kit.
How did you conclude its velvet? Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
For treatment, Treat the fish in the QT with your cupramine at therapuetic level 0.5 at 80 degrees for a FULL 30 days monitored by a reliable copper test kit such as Hanna Brand (no api brand). Again momitor ammonia level <.025 and add aeration with air stone

This may be a stupid question but how do I cycle a bare bottom tank with no live rock which I plan to treat with Cupramine? I don’t currently have a hang on filter, is that the only way of supporting the nitrifying bacteria??

Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
Liquid tests work fine when properly used.
To confirm, some signs of velvet will be :
- swimming at water surface
- Scratching body against hard objects
- Fish is lethargic
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Rapid, labored breathing
- Fins clamped against the body
- rapid breathing and mucus around the gills

 

[1980tom]

Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
Liquid tests work fine when properly used.
To confirm, some signs of velvet will be :
- swimming at water surface
- Scratching body against hard objects
- Fish is lethargic
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Rapid, labored breathing
- Fins clamped against the body
- rapid breathing and mucus around the gills

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I believe it’s velvet due to the many small milky white areas especially on the fins and the fact I started losing fish within a few hours of me noticing it. The three main fish covered are my Purple Tang, Coral Beauty and Pyjama Wrasse. The reason I said the ammonia badge as opposed to actual test kits is I have seen people say liquid ammonia tests are not accurate if you are treating with copper??

Are the remaining fish breathing rapidly? That is the key symptom for diagnosing velvet.
Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

I see severe bacterial versus velvet but white lighting would really clarify what is on fish. As asked- How are other fish in tank- any signs or clear?

 

[MnFish1]

I dont trust the seachem ammonia badge after 2 weeks of use but no need to hold back on cycling- start QT and monitor ammonia with a reliable test kit.
How did you conclude its velvet? Any pics or video you can furnish under white lighting ?
For treatment, Treat the fish in the QT with your cupramine at therapuetic level 0.5 at 80 degrees for a FULL 30 days monitored by a reliable copper test kit such as Hanna Brand (no api brand). Again momitor ammonia level <.025 and add aeration with air stone

Disagree. there is no evidence that the seachem alert badge does not work after 2 weeks, however - agree - there needs to be more information - as @vetteguy53081 said above.

 

[MnFish1]

This may be a stupid question but how do I cycle a bare bottom tank with no live rock which I plan to treat with Cupramine? I don’t currently have a hang on filter, is that the only way of supporting the nitrifying bacteria??

You don't need to cycle anything - you just need to take out xx gallons of water with copper concentration of yy, and replace it with xx gallons of water with copper concentration of yy

 

[1980tom]

Are the remaining fish breathing rapidly? That is the key symptom for diagnosing velvet.
Jay

No I wouldn’t say so. It was more the Scopas before it died was swimming into things, breathing quickly and laying on his side. The other two fish had no symptoms that I had noticed before they died but they were the smallest fish in the tank.

 

[1980tom]

I see severe bacterial versus velvet but white lighting would really clarify what is on fish. As asked- How are other fish in tank- any signs or clear?

An update, the Jewel Puffer has died and the Coral Beauty's side fins are being destroyed

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Tough to say what’s going on here, but if the fish aren’t breathing really fast, I’d say the puffer has Brooklynella. Have you started any treatment?
Jay