Anyone Locally have any ideas?

[fishnugget]

I have repeatedly had multiple parasites in my reef tank killing many fish. This has been going on for 18 mos. Some fish never show signs others just get sick and die. I was told to remove all fish and treat them. Keep my tank fishless for 90 days. (fallow) This should kill off all parasites as well as treat fish in Qt tank.

However, I have dictyota algae growing all over my tank and rocks. It is not controllable. When I had a naso tang he helped keep it under control but I can't put a new one in due to the parasites. I am concerned that even after going fallow that these fish will still be carriers and my issue could reoccur. The algae is growing exponentially. The extreme measure would be to empty tank. Bleach tank and components and start over. Get new rock. And start over. Concerned about how long I would have to keep my corals doing well in a separate DT until my new tank is ready for them.

Any thought would be appreciated. I have never been more frustrated in this hobby I have enjoyed for over 50 years. I buy all my fish from LFS that quarantines for 30 days.


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[Sharpimage]

The fish need to be treated while outside the main tank, either with tank to tank transfer method or like copper to get rid of the parasites. The Dt needs to remain fishless for the 90 days, as that is the life cycle that the parasites can live without fish. How much Coral is in the tank? If it is not too much, it might be a good time to reset and move stuff around, change the rocks and start over. Just a thought. Good luck.
Dan

 

[flfireman1]

First of all, what parasite are you dealing with? Ich, velvet? Second the fallow period should be 76 days and that is being conservative. Lastly your fish should be treated in a separate QT tank. Look into Chloroquine phosphate. It works absolutely wonderful on Ich and velvet only trouble is finding a source for it.
Oh and your algae problem needs to be addressed or rather find the source. High nutrients, phosphates?
Good luck


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[Scarface8]

With fish in a QT for 90 odd days, leave the light off on the other tank if you don't have corals, that should help get rid of the algae issue, or while the fish are being QT'd, you can make a fresh start on your main tank, that would be plenty enough time to clean it out, get new rock/clean old rock (watched a video where freezing algae will kill it so freezing your rock might help) re scape your rocks and cycle again, just a thought.

 

[gemini aquarius(t)]

Medication is key. But for the same parasite to kill fish over 18 months, makes me jump to poor water quality, especially with uncontrollable algae growth. I have found that most fish are able to fight off parasites fairly well when given a healthy environment to fight in. I would do a test for po4 and no3, and make sure your alk and salinity are stable.

As far as what to do next, is it a reef tank? Fowlr? some inverts? what are we working with here?

 

[rovster]

If you've been dealing with it this long I'd go for a reset. Sometimes it's best to start fresh and get reinvigorated. Sounds like one too many issues. Maybe treat your rock and see with some high quality live rock. Yes you can treat both algae and parasites but that's a tall order and may be more trouble than it's worth? I don't know, just talking out loud here hope you work it out.

 

[Rogger Castells]

I agree with most comments, we really need more details on your tank and parameters to be able to help, it will also be best if you are able to look at the fish slime under the microscope to id whats happening, I suspect Velvet, it has been very common lately everywhere.

 

[fishnugget]

Just had it checked

Just had it checked

Brooklinella, amelodinium, and another unnamed parasite. How is that for a parasite cocktail.

Time to bleach and restart. This sucks

 

[Scarface8]

Yeah that sucks, but at least you can make changes to your scape work easily