Per request
@revhtree :
I have zero idea the effects of using things from the real ocean to help supplement QT or even a real reef tank for that matter. Hopefully someone else can chime in on this part.
If you are using copper power, which I think you are. I would get to 1ppm very quickly. 1 dose right now. One at lunch and one at dinner to reach 1ppm. Velvet is no joke and worth the getting to therapeutic as fast as reasonably possible. I would repeat dosage 3X daily. Morning, mid day, evening. 1.5ppm CP is technically therapeutic. Once you reach there you can go a little slower, but you need to get to 2.25ppm -2.5ppm. 2.5ppm would be the end goal.
I will be totally honest. Since you know you have velvet. I would not slow my ramp up with the loss of 1-2 fish when you have 19. A small loss is better than a total wipe out due to velvet.
I would get a Turkey baster and spot feed the jaws as best as possible.
I am not sure the availability of items/cost concerns you have, but with a Rubbermaid 100 gal tote. I would not get a HOB. I would get the following:
1) 2-3 sets of air stones
2) A canister filter since it would be easier on the tote set up.
3) Either some of those ceramic medias that you can put in your canister or bioballs.
4) Sponge type floss for your canister.
If you are disciplined enough to match the the copper levels with each water change. Then yes, that would be really nice. There is a copper power calculator to help you, but you are going to be burning through copper test reagents like no other. Trust me, I have done this several times ( by three refills of it). I assume you have the hannah checker. IMO there isn't any other test kit option when doing water changes and matching the copper levels when they are on the rise.
Once you are done with the treatment. I would seriously consider getting 2-3 black mollys. Convert them to SW then put them in that tub and wait two weeks to make sure velvet is gone. You can use these mollys as your observation fish, because with 19 fish of various species it is going to be very difficult to inspect them all in the tote. Mollys won't hide in the sand, don't swim fast enough to prevent you from catching them in a clear container every few days for inspection. Where as your reef fish are very hard to catch as you just experienced! The reason I saw all this is because you are using a tote and your fish either have velvet or exposed to it and I would want to keep the stress level down on them. Sorry mollys...
