Ill effects of garlic [Please help!]

[Echidna09]

Yesterday I bought some garlic extract on account of me thinking my Sailfin tang has ich. I added 6 drops to the water, then immediately fed frozen krill and mysis shrimp soaked for 10 minutes in 2 drops of garlic. I fed again 6 hours later unsoaked spirulina flakes and garlic-soaked brine and mysis. When I woke up I found a dead lionfish and several sick fish. My sailfin and Allardi Clownfish both look to be doing very badly, breathing heavily and cloudy eyes; signs not seen before use of garlic. 2-3 hours later, my gold-head sleeper goby died under some rocks. I fished him out immediately. I fed them another garlic-dosed combo of krill and mysis shrimp, all accepted it except the clown.

The clownfish looks like he has brown algae stuff on one side of him, and the other side looks completely clear. My Niger Trigger and Lamark angel don't seem to have anything wrong with them.

Please help

Thanks

 

[kevin2000]

Other than making your tank smell bad I can't think of any overtly positive/negative things that would happen by adding a few drops of garlic.

I suspect the only positive impact of using garlic is to stimulate appetite which in turn would help a fish's own immune system ward off ich .. can't image how that would harm your tank or have a short term positive/negative impact on any fish.

 

[Echidna09]

I was also wondering if maybe the lionfish releases his toxins when he dies. If so, it could be the toxin that is hurting the fishies. I also did a 10 gallon water change this morning.

 

[kevin2000]

As I recall a lionfish will release toxins when it dies .. but I am not 100% sure. If thats the issue a series of water changes combined with running some fresh carbon should help.

Good luck.

 

[Echidna09]

I added fresh carbon during the water change, I was due for some so that's good. I will probably do another, this time 15 gallon, water change on Tuesday, maybe following another one Thursday or Friday. Thanks for your help any other help is appriciated. I moved the clown to my 9 gallon to see if he bounces back. Would Vitamin C help?

 

[pbukow]

Are these fish in the 55 FOWLR tank? If they are, your tank is WAY overcrowded and it was definately not the garlic that brought this onset of sickness.

 

[Echidna09]

Yes, they were all in the 55. They were all small though.

Sailfin Tang 2.5 inches
Allardi Clown 2.5 inches
Lamark Angel 3 inches
Gold-Head Sleeper Goby 2.5 inches
Damsels 1 inch and 1/2 inch
Lionfish 2-3 inches
Niger Trigger 4 inches.

Everything died today except the Trigger and one damsel. the Clown was quarinteened(sp) in a 9 and wasn't eating. I started hyposalinity treatment for the ich with fresh RO water and put in my Larmark angel (no signs of ich but was at the top and breathing heavily.) and my Tang. They were in 3 gallons heated to 83 degrees. I couldn't catch either damsel so they stayed with the trigger in the main tank. All 4 fish found dead today died between 7 am and 12 pm today. Any thoughts of what caused this and how to salvage my last 2 fish will make me happy.

55 tank parameters the day before crash -

Ammonia .1
Nitrite .1
Nitrate 5
pH 8.3
Phosphate 0

Only thing I added to the tank was the garlic so that's why I think that might have been the issue.

 

[kevin2000]

No offense intended ... but a 55 gallon tank is considered a pretty small tank by SW standards. Your sailfin, angel, and trigger fish really don't belong in that size tank.

Both liveaquaria.com & marinedepotlive.com will provide you information about potential fish purchases .. the suggested minimum tank size, compatibility with other fish, and how hard they are to keep.

 

[Echidna09]

Yeah I knew they got big, I was only planning to have them for a few months, but I guess that doesn't matter anymore.

 

[Echidna09]

Yeah I knew they got big, I was only planning to have them for a few months, but I guess that doesn't matter anymore.

 

[kevin2000]

My 02

Stocking levels and compatibility issues are critical when setting up a SW tank. Your tank was overstocked which would contribute to high stress levels ( probably the no. 1 killer in SW) and deteriorating water quality. Further .. I suspect you had compatibility issues to boot.

Do some research on ich treatments ... raising the temperature is an old FW cure that would likely increase the stress level of SW fish and accelerate the life cycle of marine ich making things worse. Also .. do some research on how to setup an appropriate QT - a 3 gallon tank is not appropriate and I would never go less than ten gallons (only cost about $10)

Purchasing fish with the intent of "upgrading" is a common newbie mistake. Most don't have a clue as to whats really involved in purchasing an appropriate size tank and the equipment cost alone associated with a 125 gallon tank would likely shock you.

Lastly ... go slow. Qting each fish before you place in your ST forces you to space out your ST additions (about 1 a month) .. that allows your tank to slowly acclimate to the new bio load and will help keep stress levels to a minimum.

You should consider taking back the Trigger .. not appropriate for that sized tank and is considered an aggressive fish which will make life stressful for any future fish additions. I am not a fan of damsels either .. tough/mean little fish that can make a living hell for other fish in the tank. If you take back your remaining fish you should consider leaving your ST without fish for 5-6 weeks .. should kill off any ich within that tank. You can setup a QT and start Qting your next addition while your ST is fallow. Just my 02.

 

[billsreef]

Based on the speed of progression and symptoms, it's quite likely Amyloodinium which is also known as marine velvet. Get the remaining fish into a QT and treat with copper, Sea Chem's Cupramine being the best IMO.

 

[Echidna09]

Should I leave the tank fishless for a while if I can get the other 2 out? Also would a powerhead be sufficient for water movement if I set up a QT? I heard carbon is bad when using copper

 

[billsreef]

Yes, leave the tank fishless for a good 6 weeks. A powerhead is good for circulation, but also make sure you set up a good biological filter as well. No substrate or any calcerous materials should be used either. PVC pipe fittings make good cheap cover and won't react with any treatments. You are also correct that it is a good idea not to use carbon while treating.