Just wanted to give back to the community by sharing my experience. It was this actual thread that I got most of my information from.
I've been in the hobby for 16 months now. It all started months ago when I lost an Ocellaris clownfish to an exposed HOB skimmer intake during a tank upgrade from 20 gallon to 46 gallon (I only had a pair of clownfish at the time). After that I bought a couple corals (no dipping) before attempting to add juvenile clownfish to pair with my existing clownfish. Fast forward a bit, I've lost a total of 3 juvenile clownfish. My one original remaining clownfish seemed unfazed and healthy. My inexperience blamed my skimmer intake, water quality/acclimation, and powerhead. The first I bought was also sucked in the skimmer intake (thought the first time was a fluke so after this bought a strainer to guard intake), the second I found near the tank floor lifeless, the third I found stuck to the side of a powerhead. All these clownfish looked and acted odd almost as soon as I added to the tank and right up to their deaths. Again, due to inexperience, I had no concern until it was too late. To this day, I still don't know how exactly my tank got the deadly disease.
Researching led to Ich"¦which led to Brooklynella"¦which led to Velvet. I didn't think it was Brooklynella as I did not witness a mucous trail. All evidence of what I seen pointed to Velvet; loss of appetite, erratic swimming, acting reclusive, swimming into the flow of a powerhead (unique to Velvet), and death within 24 hours. I also seen the velvety, fine sugar sprinkled skin. Along with the velvety fine sugar sprinkled looking skin, if you think of fish fried how brittle the skin looks; the skin began looking like that. I then realized that my one live clownfish I had all this time was immune to Velvet. Just because she was alive and well, didn't mean others I add will be as well. Something was clearly killing the new fish and it was up to me to stop it.
Out of the know treatments, I was drawn to Chloroquine Phosphate (or CP) as it treats Ich, Velvet, Brooklynella, (and Uronema); so basically anything I most likely have. I set up a HT/QT made up of a Sterilite 68 litre bin, heater, temperature controller, Ammonia badge, pvc pieces, sponge filter, and 10 gallons of disease infected display water (to be treated with CP). I bought 25 grams of CP from ebay through seller jweage. CP is supposedly 99.9% pure. I also requested the certificate of analysis from lab. I was fully aware that there were mixed results using ebay CP.
As soon as I set up the HT, using a digital scale, I used exactly .38 grams of CP for 10 gallons of water. I added my immune clownfish to the HT to medicate. I had a lid for the bin so didn't have to worry about evaporation, top off water, or denature of CP due to UV light. My clownfish seemed fine in the dark bin aside from ambient light during feeding time. My clownfish was to stay in the HT for 25 days (3-4 weeks) and tank to remain fallow for 76 days, to get of Ich as well if I had. Why not?
After 25 days, I began doing daily 5 gallon RO/DI saltwater changes to dilute the CP in my HT. Days following I also bought a freshwater Black Molly to do the fallow disease test. A week later, the Molly was still well and healthy, so in my opinion, treatment was a success! My clownfish was free of disease! It is to note: I read that CP will tint the water yellow/brown which I can confirm when compared to clean saltwater during the water change. I was surprised to see the different color as I didn't notice this in the dark colored HT bin.
Immediately following, I came across Ocellaris Snowflake Clownfishes I just had to have. I sold my one clownfish to get 2 snowflakes. My 2 snowflakes were prophylactically treated in CP for 25 days while the tank fallowed for the remaining weeks. The Black Molly was moved to its own "œfish bowl" with air stone, awaiting its mission to test the display tank water when done the 76 day fallow.
Days approaching day 76, I started doing water changes on the Black Molly using display tank water. Day 76, Black Molly is well and healthy. I treated Ich, Brook, and Velvet. Good enough for me! I put the snowflake pair into the display tank.
Today marks day 2 after the 76 day fallow and both my snowflake pair is doing well; swimming, eating, exploring. I considered keeping the Black Molly with the clownfish but feared they would bully him, so currently keep in QT until needed next. I will definitely QT everything from now on"¦EVERYTHING.
As you can see, I've learned so much and try my best to educate others and help when I can. Member posts that stood out: b0bab0ey, alprazo, and HumbleFish. Thank you all.
