Marine Velvet Treatment

[Minkota]

I recently had an outbreak of what I think is marine velvet in my 150g FOWLR Tank.

I had approximately 12 fish and now I am down to 4.

I have a yellow tang, a tomini tang, a green chromis, and a Valentino puffer left.

I have the 2 tangs and the chromis in a QT treating with Copper. The puffer is in another tank with no treatment (just fresh water dip).

My question is, I know I need to leave the display tank "Fallow" for a number if weeks, does this mean I need to try and remove ALL livestock from it including snails and crabs?

Also, since I can not treat the puffer with copper, will the fresh water dips be enough?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Inverts are ok to leave in the DT. I would never trust FW (or formalin) dips to eliminate velvet. The dips do reduce the number of parasites, providing some relief and that improves chances of recovery. I know its controversial, but I (and others on this forum) have used Cupramine (at a lower level, about, .30ppm) with puffers. I don't want my example to be taken as a suggestion to use copper; but it may be your only choice. I am just very comfortable with copper and don't have any specific fish that I would not use it on; especially to cure velvet. I have 4 large puffers now and all have been prophylacticly treated with copper, prior to going into a DT. Again, this is just my experience, not a real suggestion (CMA). Velvet is terrible stuff and you don't have the luxury of time when treating it. Formalin and a couple of the quinine drugs have been used successfully by some, but I have no first hand knowledge. You might search this site and Google Quinine sulfate" there is another quinine drug, I'm away from my main PC and can't find the name, its another malaria quinine drug. These drugs can be hard to find and you don't have much time. You may also be able to find the specs and reliability of formalin on this site. If you decide to go all-in and use copper, let me know and I'll pass on some things I've learned about Cupramine copper. Sadly, a high loss rate must be expected with velvet. On the flip side; I'll bet you never let an unquarantined fish near your tank again; this stuff is 100X worse than ich. Also, I'd leave the DT fallow for 9+ weeks. This is more than you need for velvet; but ich often travels with velvet as fish become weakened by the velvet, hidden ich can easily set in. The copper, or other drugs will take care of ich as well.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Typical of Marine Velvet if you don't move fast enough, you can have a tank wipe out. Leave fallow for at least 2 months to avoid reinfestation. If you don't ever plan to use tank for corals, I would take the inverts out and copper entire tank. Otherwise, what you're doing is fine, just make sure long enough to kills the cyst stage.

But he isn't doing anything to eliminate velvet on the puffer; the only way velvet will go away by itself is if the fish dies.
The idea that tanks/silicone sealant absorbs copper is an old myth that just won't die. A tank can be used for anything after copper, with a vinegar wipe down and good rinse.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Actually, I should have clarified. I meant display tank with live rocks. I notice member had FOWLR tank and if it's stays FOWLR, I would copper the entire tank. If ever to use for corals, then no as live rocks absorb copper and leach out over time. I don't believe that silicone absorbs copper in any way, at least in the over 30 years I've been in the hobby.

Also, when dosing copper in with live rocks, must test next day for copper level as the live rocks will absorb copper, so need to boosts up. The best is still a seaparate bare Hospital tank if you can catch out all your fishes.

I think you're right. Using copper with LR or substrate makes testing copper impossible; and copper level is critical.Its surprising how many folks think a tank that has seen copper can't be used for a reef. I'm guessing that this goes way back to the meta-frame tank days that used a different sealant. All the wholesalers and LFS that run copper 24/7 would be in real trouble if silicone absorbed & released copper.