Guygettnby
Well-known member
Found the info I needed about substrate and rock in the tank. Not the best idea, so that tank would not be the greatest to use either. Will be costly in water changes also to keep ammonia down.
If not for bad luck...
- Thread starter Guygettnby
- Start date
Adding copper to an aquarium with substrate is definitely NOT a good idea. Part of the problem is that many substrates absorb copper and medications so controlling the proper copper concentration is a lost cause.
QTs need to be bare bottom unless the fish itself needs to burrow. All connecting apparatus needs to be discarded or replaced. The tank should be cleaned and allowed to completely dry before using as a QT.
Buy bottled bacteria to kick off the bacteria cycle.
Amyloodinium ocellatum (Marine Velvet) has been known to infect the gills of fish. This is out of your sight. A fish flashing (rubbing itself against substrate or other things) mostly indicates a problem with it gills.
Guygettnby
Well-known member
Quick 4 month update, surprisingly the wrasse, foxface and 2 clowns are still alive and thriving. The 2 clowns never showed any signs. The wrasse showed very little signs, the foxface some signs, but more like the look of ich. They all recovered, acting normal, eating like hogs and look very healthy. Have since never showed any signs of anything. I was fully expecting everything to be dead and prepared to wait months without fish.
At this point it makes me wonder if this was velvet. Im still super nervous to attempt adding any other fish to this system though. Would hate for something to change or new additions die. Figured I would just fill it up with corals at this point and be happy with what fish I have in the tank.
At this point it makes me wonder if this was velvet. Im still super nervous to attempt adding any other fish to this system though. Would hate for something to change or new additions die. Figured I would just fill it up with corals at this point and be happy with what fish I have in the tank.
I'm glad to hear that things are going well.
Whatever you add to your system--any marine life--I'd suggest doing a quarantine. Quarantine is one of the best 'safety nets' in this hobby.
Guygettnby
Well-known member
Very true and something i have gotten away with for a very long time. Only takes once though and an old dog can learn a lesson haha!
I seriously though am not sure about adding any other fish though at this point. Not just the extreme cost these days, but just possibly knowing there could still be something lingering in the tank. Ick is something I have lives with for a very long time in tank before. It's almost like ick is inevitable in a way, but velvet is a scary thing to have to deal with. I have heard that fish can survive it and build up an immunity, but you obviously can't believe everything you read on the web.
Fish immunity to Cryptocaryon irritans (Marine Ich) has been verified. HOWEVER it was done under strict controlled experiments. Fish were exposed to it slowly at low concentrations. Other conditions must be perfect--proper nutrition, pristine water quality, no stress from other fish, and system stability. Also, all marine fish have different abilities for that immunity.
Over time, Marine Ich will weaken in a confined space, so long as any no new parasites are introduced.
Guygettnby
Well-known member
Weaken, but would they eventually die off if the current fish are immune? I know i have had ich before and stay hidden for years, just to show up again one day years later. Mainly this was just an issue with certain tangs.
Could the addition of another fish in the tank agitate the issue and have it come back again, even if they are immune? Or possibly just affect any new, healthy fish introduced into the tank, that have nothing?
It hasn't been proven. The cysts of Marine Ich can exist in the substrate or any other low oxygen area for quite some time. If a new fish is introduced that has gone through quarantine it may cause an outbreak. Much depends on the status of the system.
Corals and invertebrates can introduce fish parasites into an aquarium if they come from water where fish are kept. Even the 'coral frag' farms can accidently introduce fish parasites with the corals. So long as there are fish nearby, even inverts in their own water can be affected.
Thank you @leebca
Guygettnby
Well-known member
Yes, thanks very much for the info!
It seems like many of the local fish stores in my area these days have worse options and less healthy fish. Is this a more common thing these days or is it just my lucky choice of stores?
The increase of unhealthy fish coming through the system has increased. Even tank-bred fish are showing signs of parasites and problems. It begins right after their capture in the wild--they are confined to small tanks where the fish can 'share' their parasites and problems. Then off to wholesalers where they are kept in small spaces in a single salt water system--they 'share' more parasites. Until they get shipped to or picked up my the retailers where again they are put into small tanks on a single system where again they may share their maladies and parasites.
Studies have shown that some parasites can even be airborne. So just having an invertebrate/coral system near the fish system can be contaminated with parasites.
It isn't your choice of the source being a problem; they all can have problems.
With regards to buying marine fish from your local fish store I would suggest:
1. Ask the fish be put on hold for you...pay a deposit or pay for the fish (Make an excuse, like you have to get ready for the fish);
2. Only buy the fish after it has been on hold for 10+ days;
3. SEE that the fish eats before the final purchase;
4. Ask the local fish store if they put copper or other treatments in their water. If they do, don't add the water the fish came in to your display tank, but it's okay in your quarantine tank. And finally,
5. Quarantine all new marine life before it goes into your display tank.
Be sure to buy the kind of food you saw it eating--even if it is the wrong kind of food. Then be sure to feed your fish in quarantine the right kinds of foods--Download then read, the Fish Nutrition document.
As hobbyists our main problem in the local fish store is to buy on emotional impulse. A VERY bad idea.
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