Epsom Salt Treatment

[03sonicstang]

My Blue Tang seems to have pop eye. One eye looks cloudy, slightly popped out, other is fine, eating ok but a little skittish. He has been quarantine for three weeks with a yellow Yellow Tang. No signs of issues with him...So I assume he whacked his eye on something.

I was going to do an Epsom salt treatment. I read a couple of things about it but confused. So 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons, for 3-4 days. Then do I drain the tank and start again or just do a big water change? My quarantine is a 20 gallon.

Thank you for reading and any help. Never had to deal with this issue

Tom

 

[03sonicstang]

1. How old is this aquarium? NA in quarantine. Quarantine has been set up running for approximately 2 months

2. If less than six months old, what is ammonia level? - Never saw any ammonia. Checked again late night no ammonia or nitrate.

3. What is SG of this aquarium? How measured? .024 - Refractometer calibrated with RO/DI water

4. When was the last fish added to this aquarium? - added (2) Fish, yellow and blue tang (3) weeks ago

5. Was it quarantined? If so, how? And how long? Was it prophylactically treated? How? Yes, in quarantine. No meds at this time.

6. If you are using a copper based medication, which one? How often do you measure level? When? NO

7. If you are using hyposalinity, how did you calibrate your refractometer? Not in Hyposalinity, see above

8. Please describe in detail, the appearance of the fish? If there is one or more pimples, are they lumpy? What color? One eye is cloudy, color is less bright than usual

9. Please describe the behavior of the fish as best you can. Is it acting reclusive? Is it always up towards the top of the aquarium? Is it avoiding light? How active is the fish? A little skittish, still very active. I left the light off today so they can rest and not stress. Does still swim to the top at feeding but a little confused as he can only see out of one eye, poor little guy!

10. Is the fish eating? What? Yes, currently I feed different things each day. Mysis Shrimp, Rods Food, Omega Super Veggie Kelp Flake Food, Cyclop-eeze, and Ocean Nutrition Marine

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[b0bab0ey]

My Blue Tang seems to have pop eye. One eye looks cloudy, slightly popped out, other is fine, eating ok but a little skittish. He has been quarantine for three weeks with a yellow Yellow Tang. No signs of issues with him...So I assume he whacked his eye on something.

I was going to do an Epsom salt treatment. I read a couple of things about it but confused. So 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons, for 3-4 days. Then do I drain the tank and start again or just do a big water change? My quarantine is a 20 gallon.

Thank you for reading and any help. Never had to deal with this issue

Tom

You can dose 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons, wait 3-4 days and then dose again. If you don't see any improvement to the eye after 2 doses then odds are epsom salt isn't going to do the trick. Epsom salt is only useful to reduce swelling due to eye injury. If it's an infection (or develops into one) then you'll need to treat with a med that contains antibiotics. I'd suggest Furan-2.

You can do a small WC in-between doses if you want to. But it's not necessary, esp in a QT. Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate, which a lot of people I know use to raise mag in their reef tank. The only concern with it is excessive sulfate levels. But 2 doses of it, at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons, isn't going to put enough sulfate in the water to worry about.

 

[03sonicstang]

thanks b0bab0ey; makes sense now. I will pick some up and try. Hope it helps!

thanks again for your reply!

 

[b0bab0ey]

thanks b0bab0ey; makes sense now. I will pick some up and try. Hope it helps!

thanks again for your reply!

Make sure the epsom salt you buy says "USP grade" on it. That means it's food grade. Any drug store or Walmart should sell it.

Good luck!

 

[03sonicstang]

Make sure the epsom salt you buy says "USP grade" on it. That means it's food grade. Any drug store or Walmart should sell it.

Good luck!

We'll do; thanks again. I hope he makes it....

 

[03sonicstang]

Started the Epsom Salt treatment. His eye looks terrible. Color is off but he did eat this morning. I hope this helps......

 

[DeathMagnetic]

my clown had popeye in both eyes.. didnt look better until after second treatment...

 

[03sonicstang]

Well, I'm sad to say he did not make it. He was stuck to the prefilter, this morning. The yellow tang still looks perfect. Any suggestions on how long to keep him in quarantine? He's been in for three weeks.

 

[windyridge]

Just an FYI, your refractometer should be calibrated with a salt water standard, not RODI. You can buy one most places you buy refractometers. I think they cost around $6.

 

[03sonicstang]

Just an FYI, your refractometer should be calibrated with a salt water standard, not RODI. You can buy one most places you buy refractometers. I think they cost around $6.

Good tip. Thanks