clevebrowns
New member
I will start this very long thread by saying that I have learned a great deal from Reef Central in the last several weeks, I wish I would have stumbled on to this site yrs ago.
Here's my story.
I have 75gal fish only tank that has been set up for 6yrs.
The stock included 1 yellow tail damsel - 6yrs, 1 False clown - 5yrs, 1 Bicolor angle- 4yrs, 1 Ocellated puffer - year and half,
1 royal gramma - 6 months.
All water Parameters were in acceptable ranges. The only slight issue an algae growth (who doesn't ).
I decided to purchase one last fish for this tank, a banner fish (Heniochus acuminatus)
*1st mistake, I purchased this fish from a pet store chain which
I previously have not purchased from. I asked all the right questions and observed his behavior. I saw no problems, until the store employee bagged the fish up. He turned upside down and his breathing became rapid. Stress or a bad sign?I hate to say this but the price on this fish was a motivating factor. In the end you get what you pay for.
* 2nd mistake. I came home and acclimated the new fish right
in the display tank.
What was I thinking, I wasn't ! No QT
1 day later banner fish dead, 4 days later = Ich.
I went to my regular lfs and purchased Mardel Coppersafe and Fastest copper test kit. *3rd mistake. During 1st week of treatment I confused "Chelated Copper"(which is what I purchased) and Straight "copper sulfate" ( which is what the test kit monitord). Reading the instruction sheet on Mardel coppersafe it says therapeutic levels of 1.5 ppm to 2.0 ppm should be held for 30 days (Chelated Copper). Fastest kit detects free (ionic) copper,
such as copper sulfate or copper citrate. When using this copper a therapeutic level of .15 milligrams must be held at least 10 to 14 days , per test kit instructions. After realizing my mistake, I purchased Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Copper test kit.(for chelated copper)
I had started the Ich treatment in my main tank. Reading the CopperSafe instructions it suggest you remove any Invertebrates from your tank and maintain all filtration, no problem. It was then that I started reading this Forum. I Started to read about the different methods for treating Ich, Hyposaltinity,Garlic,Copper and
use of fresh water dip. I realized that from my readings that my
coral decorations and crushed coral substrate might absorb some of the copper treatment. I also read about breaking the cycle of ich by removing all fish from main tank. Ok
So, I buy a 20gal qt tank and set it up with same water parameters as main tank, including copper level. Since I was going to move the fish I also decided to take the opportunity to do a fresh water dip on them. Fresh water dip was set up with all parameters as main tank, Ph,temp,and Aerated (all water used Distilled purified). I took each one and dipped them one at a time in new fresh water. Each was dipped for no longer than 3 min.
EXCEPPT!!!
The puffer did not want to leave and he really started to stress.
I left him in the main tank and the rest were successfully transferred to qt tank. Next day i decided to move the puffer. I was
able to move him out of main tank and I dipped him in fresh water
dip. I could tell he wasn't very happy with this, none of the fish enjoyed it ! But all seemed better for it.
* 4th mistake. I put the puffer in qt tank, He seemed stressed but
no more than the others. All were eating, the puffer didn't consume his normal take.
Next morning I wake to find all fish dead !(puffer just barely alive)
I did a water test. Temp 75, Copper .50 ppm (chelated, and I was planning to increase slowly),Ammonia .01, Nitrite 0 ,Nitrate 0, Ph 8.0 . I believe the stress from the puffer released his natural toxin and caused this wipe out.
Ultimately it was I who caused this situation to happen. So I hope by sharing this GOD awful story that someone out there will avoid
the many mistakes I have made that led to this ending.
I will leave the 75gal empty for a while.
PLEASE QT ALL FISH, NEVER BUY BECOUSE OF PRICE, KNOW YOUR FISH AND DON'T DOUBT THE SIGNS THEY GIVE YOU.
Thanx to all who share their Knowledge, failures and triumphs on this site.
Here's my story.
I have 75gal fish only tank that has been set up for 6yrs.
The stock included 1 yellow tail damsel - 6yrs, 1 False clown - 5yrs, 1 Bicolor angle- 4yrs, 1 Ocellated puffer - year and half,
1 royal gramma - 6 months.
All water Parameters were in acceptable ranges. The only slight issue an algae growth (who doesn't ).
I decided to purchase one last fish for this tank, a banner fish (Heniochus acuminatus)
*1st mistake, I purchased this fish from a pet store chain which
I previously have not purchased from. I asked all the right questions and observed his behavior. I saw no problems, until the store employee bagged the fish up. He turned upside down and his breathing became rapid. Stress or a bad sign?I hate to say this but the price on this fish was a motivating factor. In the end you get what you pay for.
* 2nd mistake. I came home and acclimated the new fish right
in the display tank.
What was I thinking, I wasn't ! No QT
1 day later banner fish dead, 4 days later = Ich.
I went to my regular lfs and purchased Mardel Coppersafe and Fastest copper test kit. *3rd mistake. During 1st week of treatment I confused "Chelated Copper"(which is what I purchased) and Straight "copper sulfate" ( which is what the test kit monitord). Reading the instruction sheet on Mardel coppersafe it says therapeutic levels of 1.5 ppm to 2.0 ppm should be held for 30 days (Chelated Copper). Fastest kit detects free (ionic) copper,
such as copper sulfate or copper citrate. When using this copper a therapeutic level of .15 milligrams must be held at least 10 to 14 days , per test kit instructions. After realizing my mistake, I purchased Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Copper test kit.(for chelated copper)
I had started the Ich treatment in my main tank. Reading the CopperSafe instructions it suggest you remove any Invertebrates from your tank and maintain all filtration, no problem. It was then that I started reading this Forum. I Started to read about the different methods for treating Ich, Hyposaltinity,Garlic,Copper and
use of fresh water dip. I realized that from my readings that my
coral decorations and crushed coral substrate might absorb some of the copper treatment. I also read about breaking the cycle of ich by removing all fish from main tank. Ok
So, I buy a 20gal qt tank and set it up with same water parameters as main tank, including copper level. Since I was going to move the fish I also decided to take the opportunity to do a fresh water dip on them. Fresh water dip was set up with all parameters as main tank, Ph,temp,and Aerated (all water used Distilled purified). I took each one and dipped them one at a time in new fresh water. Each was dipped for no longer than 3 min.
EXCEPPT!!!
The puffer did not want to leave and he really started to stress.
I left him in the main tank and the rest were successfully transferred to qt tank. Next day i decided to move the puffer. I was
able to move him out of main tank and I dipped him in fresh water
dip. I could tell he wasn't very happy with this, none of the fish enjoyed it ! But all seemed better for it.
* 4th mistake. I put the puffer in qt tank, He seemed stressed but
no more than the others. All were eating, the puffer didn't consume his normal take.
Next morning I wake to find all fish dead !(puffer just barely alive)
I did a water test. Temp 75, Copper .50 ppm (chelated, and I was planning to increase slowly),Ammonia .01, Nitrite 0 ,Nitrate 0, Ph 8.0 . I believe the stress from the puffer released his natural toxin and caused this wipe out.
Ultimately it was I who caused this situation to happen. So I hope by sharing this GOD awful story that someone out there will avoid
the many mistakes I have made that led to this ending.
I will leave the 75gal empty for a while.
PLEASE QT ALL FISH, NEVER BUY BECOUSE OF PRICE, KNOW YOUR FISH AND DON'T DOUBT THE SIGNS THEY GIVE YOU.Thanx to all who share their Knowledge, failures and triumphs on this site.
