Fish Hospital Beds Available?

[jeremyjoslin]

I've never used proper QT methods when introducing new fish... that decision has come back to bite me... hard.

Over the last few weeks, I've lost 70% of my livestock to marine ich. The surviving fish look well now, but are certainly still infected. As is the whole tank with cysts everywhere, I'm sure.

My plan is to remove the remaining fish into a treatment tank, and let my display with LR and corals sit fallow so that the ich cannot continue the life cycle and die off.

To make things super complicated, my house is on the market, and I'm looking to move in the next 4-6 weeks. Building a hospital tank is not really a viable option during a time when I'm trying to condense and sell off equipment, etc.

What would be great is if someone in the area has a hospital tank where they could hold my fish, treat them with copper, and then discharge them back home to me after I move (or just buy them and heal them, and keep for yourself?).

Fish:

- medium yellow tang
- medium flame fin tang
- medium blue hippo tang
- small/md ocellaris
- tiny yellow goby

My inverts would stay in the tank here (since they don't allow life cycle to continue by parasitizing them).

Of course, anyone else with a better strategy is welcome to pipe up. My grander plan is to split my 6ft 125g mixed reef into a 75 corner tank with coral and a 180g predator/tang FOWLR tank once I move. I utilize 150g of basement sumps and refuges which I'll continue.

 

[tmz]

I'm in Buffalo so it's impractical for me. As for strategy ,copper can do it but I've been using tank transfer for ich prophylacticly in particualr. 12 day process but requires changing tnks every 3 days for a total fo 4 transfers. In your case with several large fish a large qt tank and copper might be more practical. Be sure the qt tank is cycled to handle ammonia and don't use ammonia detoxifiers with copper meds as they increase the toxicity.

 

[tmz]

FYI, Cysts have remained viable for a max of 72 days without a fish but that ws in cool water. Heat and normal sg levels should enocrage a more normal life cycle time but 72 days is safe.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

FYI, Cysts have remained viable for a max of 72 days without a fish but that ws in cool water. Heat and normal sg levels should enocrage a more normal life cycle time but 72 days is safe.

Thanks for the info. I was think more along 30-45 days. Is there a better method? How would you all handle the situation?

Last I read there is no "reef safe" treatment of cysts that would make this all a super easy process...

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Does copper leach into tanks and equipment? That is, if I removed my LR and corals, and treated my system as is with copper, would the skimmer, sump, and tank be "tainted" forever? Even if I cleaned and dried after?

 

[Jacwil]

I've heard copper treatments can "get into" the silicone seals of our tanks but cannot speak from experience.

 

[block head]

tough call imo ,i'd offer them free to good homes, if possible.a kiddie pool w/copper would be a distant second choice. qt ing isn't cheap,quick or easy. i'd offer to pay all expenses ,plus something for there time and effort.

 

[armison89]

how big is the goby i was going to buy one next week for my tank.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

tough call imo ,i'd offer them free to good homes, if possible.a kiddie pool w/copper would be a distant second choice. qt ing isn't cheap,quick or easy. i'd offer to pay all expenses ,plus something for there time and effort.

You're probably right.

They're such good fish though (we all know that there's considerable variation among species with regard to temperament and ability to play well with others), and I'd hate to gamble when it's time to re-stock down the road.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

how big is the goby i was going to buy one next week for my tank.

one inch.

 

[armison89]

is it a clown goby?

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Yes, clown goby.

 

[armison89]

i would take it for free and keep it. its over an hour drive.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Thanks for the offer. I'm going to try to keep things an all-or-nothing deal right now. If I can't move all the fish, I'll have to setup a QT tank anyway.... in which case it doesn't make sense to give them away.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

I'm starting think I was crazy for asking for help from some fellow hobbyists in the area.

I'm going to just bite the bullet and setup a hospital tank in my basement with a spare 30g tank, some simple lights, and a HOB Penguin BioWheel filter from WalMart or something.

Sorry if I offended anyone by asking for assistance.

 

[tmz]

Does copper leach into tanks and equipment? That is, if I removed my LR and corals, and treated my system as is with copper, would the skimmer, sump, and tank be "tainted" forever? Even if I cleaned and dried after?

A wipe with vinegar and a rinse should remove any that may be hanging on to plastic or glass surfaces. It does not soak into the silcone.
If you choose to leave some live sand or live rock in there for a biofilter you will have to measure the copper dose and adjust for adsorbtion by the media and of course dispose of any media exposed to free copper, since it will be useless for a reef tank without an acid bath.

When you restart the tank running some polyfilter and or cuprisorb would be a prudent extra precaution.

 

[tmz]

Thanks for the info. I was think more along 30-45 days. Is there a better method? How would you all handle the situation?

Last I read there is no "reef safe" treatment of cysts that would make this all a super easy process...

No there isn't any effective "reeef safe tretment" of which I am aware. Personally, I'd keep the rock ,corals and other live surfaces fish free for 72 days . Drying the tank and equipment thoroughly before reuse should destroy the cysts in there. Running fresh water in it overnight will do it too.

In your situation, large fish, heavily infected,I'd probably move the corals and other inverts and most of the live rock out of the tank if practical , leaving some for nitrifcation( ammonia control) and then drop the sg to 1.010. Measure carefully as a drop below 1.008 will harm the fish and more than 1.010 will be less lethal to the parasites..

This may suppress some of the biofilter bacteria but not all. Monitoring ammonia would be important along with some on hand ammonia detoxifier in case.. The hyposalinity should: give the fish some quick relief from parasites on their skin,less work to do to maintain their internal sg and a little more O2 in the water( it's a bit more soluble at lower sg.) The hypo saline condition will kill the free swimmers unless they are resistant strain.
I'd run the hypo for at least 4 weeks ,preferably 6 and then slowly raise the sg( .001 per day) to a normal reef tank level(1.026) . Sometimes thie ich pops back as the sg comes up,. If it does copper can be used at that point . I'd watch cht the fish for secondary bacterial infections or other potential killers like amyloodinium (velvet) or other diseases which require medication.

 

[block head]

I'm starting think I was crazy for asking for help from some fellow hobbyists in the area.

I'm going to just bite the bullet and setup a hospital tank in my basement with a spare 30g tank, some simple lights, and a HOB Penguin BioWheel filter from WalMart or something.

Sorry if I offended anyone by asking for assistance.

i think you 'll find the upstate group very willing help when possible ,or practical. asking for help is one thing. your basically asking for someone to cover your vet bills ,without compensation. sticking 3 sick tangs in a 30 is poopy at best. as a pet owner, i would like to think people will give their animals resonable medical care. failure to provide basic medical care of one's pet is offensive IMO. best of luck-james

 

[jeremyjoslin]

i think you 'll find the upstate group very willing help when possible ,or practical. asking for help is one thing. your basically asking for someone to cover your vet bills ,without compensation. sticking 3 sick tangs in a 30 is poopy at best. as a pet owner, i would like to think people will give their animals resonable medical care. failure to provide basic medical care of one's pet is offensive IMO. best of luck-james

Thanks for the concern, but I think you're way off. I gave up on "forum reasoning" along time ago. If we ever meet in person, I'll be glad to tell you why.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

The hyposalinity should: give the fish some quick relief from parasites on their skin,less work to do to maintain their internal sg and a little more O2 in the water( it's a bit more soluble at lower sg.)

These fish don't have any parasites on their skin. I'm only treating for them now being in carrier state.