HELP Another Ich question Purple Tang Outbreak

[httorihanzo]

Ok all my fish are out of the DT and in QT.. I've dosed Cupramine to where copper test between .25 and .5. The flowfish seem to be struggling at the bottom of the tank breathing heavily. I know they are stressed by the move and the copper is toxic so I am holding my breath for them. April 21st will be 12 weeks so the countdown begins.

 

[bsilvest]

I agree with Mrtuskfish An he knows what is up I tried other methods but soundly they dont work, I myself am in the battle just the same as you but I had to break down and get everything going for an HT tank right now and will be going to QT as for me this is not an issue that is OK or I want to or should my animals have to deal with, now one thing I did try to do but gave up an went to HT is A garlic solution which I found will help only for a short time to get the parasite to drop off but not a solution. However I did learn something very important to me at least which is that during treatment a small amount of garlic based solution can be used with there food as an appetite stimulant an basically give them the munchies as we would call it, take the advise of those here who can help to solve the problem but All i know is a garlic solution will get fish that arnt eating, eating again that it does do! hope this helps

 

[wooden_reefer]

4 tiny fish in a 55g shouldnt produce much ammonia unless he's feeding alot.

I would think its going to be a bare bottom tank that he should be able to syphon and remove any and all detritus fairly easy at each water change.

perhaps frequent NOT SO SMALL water changes would be better? but I would think it should be quite manageable.

Back in the day of using fish for the purposes of cycling, I probably would have started with a similar amount of fish as he's talking about.

Ammonia is never quite manageble.

The fish gets rid of it for a reason.

 

[6lilfish]

I'm not a fan of copper Wouldn't Hypo work better

 

[httorihanzo]

After putting all the fish into the HT with Cupramine the small black ice clown died 24 hours later. The goby and wrasse seem to be just fine but the second black ice clown is worrying me. I'll go into check on him sometimes he'll be on his side at the bottom and others he is swimming around. He hasnt eatin in 48+ hours. I dosed to where initially copper read .5, was this too much too quick? How long before fish should start showing signs of relief from killing the parasite? If his behavior is this erratic should I expect him to survive?

 

[Chihuahua6]

I dosed to where initially copper read .5, was this too much too quick? How long before fish should start showing signs of relief from killing the parasite? If his behavior is this erratic should I expect him to survive?

Yes too quick. I have lost fish this way so i learned the hard way. I dose to .20 then after a few days to .40, .50 seems too high for most fish and many of mine lost their appetite from this dose.

I see relief in heavily infested fish within one to two days.

Not sure if he'll survive. I would do a water change to lower the copper. If the fish is not heavily infested and was feeling ok before treatment began I would lower to .25 and gradually increase to .40 over two days.

 

[httorihanzo]

I tossed some carbon in there to lower the copper back down and black ice clown started to look better. Last night, she even wanted to eat. She didn’t, but she was more interested in food than over the past few days. I tested the Ammonia and it seemed to be between .25 and .5 ppm so I panicked a little. I couldn’t decide what was worse, leaving her in there until I could do a large water change or moving over to a small 10G frag tank I have set up. I made the decision to move her. I hope it wasn’t foolish and I know moving a fish over and over again is very stressful but she just started swimming better today and wanting to eat, I didn’t want to leave her in the toxic water. I've read about the transfer method which some people trust and this doesnt seem like its any different than that.

 

[httorihanzo]

I just read that Copper can make ammonia test false positive. I probably shouldn't have moved her....

 

[BossHoggin]

What test kit for ammonia?

 

[httorihanzo]

I don't remember the brand. I do know that if I am getting something I feel is serious tested I go to the LFS. I've been having them test my copper but last night it was late and I just thought I'd check myself.

 

[httorihanzo]

Well the battle is over; my lady just texted to say that he went carpet surfing today and she didn’t notice it in time. Just yesterday he looked like he was going to make it for the first time and then he jumps....frustrating
So far I’m a failure at this but I promise I won’t be the guy who’s stuff turns up on craigslist. I know to do it right, I know to do my research and next time my “luck” will be better.

 

[Chihuahua6]

Well the battle is over; my lady just texted to say that he went carpet surfing today and she didn't notice it in time. Just yesterday he looked like he was going to make it for the first time and then he jumps....frustrating
So far I'm a failure at this but I promise I won't be the guy who's stuff turns up on craigslist. I know to do it right, I know to do my research and next time my "œluck" will be better.

Sorry to hear. Things happen and even with years and years in this hobby I lose fish too and I never have all of the answers. All we can do is live and learn and do better the next time. You have a great attitude. Keep learning and enjoy the process.

I now quarantine everything, even stuff from fellow hobbyists after getting ich from a fish I bought from a "healthy" established tank. I also treat everything store bought with Prazipro and copper and treat all Tangs with copper no matter where I got them.