Coral beauty in hyposalinity is taking a turn for the worse

[alzika]

He is completely clear of the ich spots after 10 days. The neon goby with him helped, I'm sure. The neon goby is fine, he's not showing any signs of distress.

The angel now is breathing heavily (not too hard like my yellow tang was before he died), but obviously breathing is more labored than it was before.

He also keeps laying on his side on the bottom of the tank. If I move my hand in front of the glass, he will stand up and swim around for a second, then tip over a bit. It almost appears as if he is drunk, if that makes sense.

I checked all of the levels. I did a huge water change today anyways. I made sure the salinity, pH, and other levels were the same by drip acclimating him.

What's going on? I love this fish! It is purple and orange which are my university's school colors.

 

[eyebedam]

The swimming as he is drunk is whats making me nervous. My Flame started doin that & his time was very limited after that. Im sorry to say that because im sure its not the answer you was wanting to hear.

 

[w16227]

How are you measuring the salinity?

Are you making up the water at least a day in advance?

What were the water parameters (post how you tested and the actual numbers) between the water samples?

Drip acclimation? explain what you mean. Drip acclimation is used to slowly acclimate a fish to changes in the water. If you are using hyposalinity, then you should only use water with the same salinity and similar PH/temp (change the water slowly and and small temp and PH differences will not affect the fish).

 

[alzika]

How are you measuring the salinity?

Are you making up the water at least a day in advance?

What were the water parameters (post how you tested and the actual numbers) between the water samples?

Drip acclimation? explain what you mean. Drip acclimation is used to slowly acclimate a fish to changes in the water. If you are using hyposalinity, then you should only use water with the same salinity and similar PH/temp (change the water slowly and and small temp and PH differences will not affect the fish).

No, sorry, I was talking about drip acclimation from the fish I just moved 4 hours away from my previous home, sorry. That's a separate QT tank. I have a 29 gallon and a 10 gallon set up.

I tested the salinity with my refractomer. I ordered some calibration liquid and my refractometer is SPOT on right between 1.009 and 1.010. The test kits I used were API and all levels are 0. The pH is at 8.0, but in the previous tank it was 8.1. I wouldn't think only 8.1 would make a difference since I slowly floated him and then mixed the water together and did that for an hour.

 

[sfboarders]

whats the ammonia and nitrites at? do you have a powerhead in your QT? If not, I suggest you add one.

 

[alzika]

Ammonia and nitrites are both 0. Nitrates are slightly high. Yes, I have a powerhead and it actually has the water shooting a stream ABOVE the top of the water to provide adequate oxygen. The neon goby in there with him is showing no signs of stress at all. In fact, he's doing great, eating and everything.

 

[alzika]

Sadly, he died earlier today. I don't understand why, because he was almost 100% better, then randomly one day, he was COMPLETELY covered in ich.

I did a 100% water change with new RO/DI water and purchased a potters angel. Just like the coral beauty, it has the same 2 colors as my college. The potters angel is currently in hyposalinity treatment for 2-4 weeks in the QT tank, just in case.

 

[Matt850]

Honestly Hyposalinity is a waste of time IMO. Do some research on it. I've had ich and velvet both in the past and from everything I have read, your fish will die before they will at the extremes... Personally i just treat with copper and do a prazi treatment during QT and watch them really well.

 

[alzika]

Honestly Hyposalinity is a waste of time IMO. Do some research on it. I've had ich and velvet both in the past and from everything I have read, your fish will die before they will at the extremes... Personally i just treat with copper and do a prazi treatment during QT and watch them really well.

Copper is extremely harsh on saltwater fish, imo. I have always used hyposalinity to not just treat ich, but also for the quarantine tank. This is the first fish I have had that EVER died.

I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

 

[kingfisher62]

The first time Some of my fish contracted ich I did the hyposalinty thing. It never worked for me. I have come to the realization that a lot of these ich treatments just add to the stress of the fish. Now a days if I see any sign of Ich , I just concentrate on water quality and do a few extra water changes and feed them garlic soaked food. The garlic does not cure anything but it entices them to eat more , thus giving them more energy to fight off the parasite. I truely believe a healthy fish has the ability to fight off disease. FWIW thats how i handle things now with good success.

 

[Nanook]

[moved]

 

[Chris27]

Honestly Hyposalinity is a waste of time IMO. Do some research on it. I've had ich and velvet both in the past and from everything I have read, your fish will die before they will at the extremes... Personally i just treat with copper and do a prazi treatment during QT and watch them really well.

I use the same method, in that I use a prophylactic approach and treat all new fish with copper and Prazi Pro at the same time.

While I won't say Hypo is a waste of time, I will agree that copper is very effective, very easy to use, and doesn't harm most fish provided it it administered properly. Most fish tolerate copper just fine, it's extended periods of exposure that can be detrimental. Sharks, rays, and puffers are difficult to treat with ionic copper, but chelated or even cupramine can be used with success, provided the concentration remains relatively low - caveat here though, these fish are hard to hypo as well...

 

[wooden_reefer]

Copper is extremely harsh on saltwater fish, imo.

IMO, copper is only harsh on some fish.

Have you been using UV at the same time?

May have been a bacterial infection.