My journey using Chloroquine Phosphate begins...

[Deinonych]

I'm a medical doctor and can write a script. What does your vet write for? Aralen tablets? I would prefer to get the lab-grade powder in order to avoid the fillers, dosing re-calculations, and crushing of the tablet forms...

I asked him to write it for "chloroquine phosphate - diphosphate salt." I also called a couple compounding pharmacies ahead of time to make sure they could order it. Fortunately, I found one that had a small quantity in stock (<10g), so my vet just wrote it up for 10g.

 

[Deinonych]

so what do i need to know about the stuff that i am using? i had a powder blue and powder brown both die from it. But i figured it was because i did way to strong of a does.

Only way to be sure is to order it from a pharmacy or supplier than can confirm the purity by looking up the guaranteed analysis.

 

[MitchSutherland]

sounds good thanks!

 

[rog2961]

I do 4 weeks - 40mg/gal for preventative quarantine, 60mg/gal if the fish is showing spots. So far, I have not seen any appetite suppression from CP at either dosage (knock on wood). I plan to get a Kole Tang in the next couple of months, so that will be the real test I guess. Seems like tangs are hit or miss with CP in terms of appetite suppression.

You might consider moving the hippo to another tank and trying a different treatment like copper or tank transfer. Quinine sulfate is another possible treatment option. National Fish Pharmaceutical sells it. If you remove the CP from the current tank, you'll have to start all over.

When you say, "redose," are you adding CP on a daily basis? CP is a "one and done" treatment. You should not be dosing more than once, unless you do water changes (and then, only the amount needed to keep the dosage constant with the new water).

Another tank would not be possible. When I say redose, I mean when I do wc, I redose back up to the 40mg/g level (or what I think is back up to 40mg/G). Im interested to know why some have appetite suppression and others don't. From what I have seen its not just localized to tangs. I've had issues with anthias.

 

[rog2961]

CP definitely toasts corals too. I left a 3 head zoa in the QT just to see what happens when CP and coral are present. Didn't turn out well for the zoa, within a couple days its withered away.

 

[Deinonych]

Another tank would not be possible. When I say redose, I mean when I do wc, I redose back up to the 40mg/g level (or what I think is back up to 40mg/G). Im interested to know why some have appetite suppression and others don't. From what I have seen its not just localized to tangs. I've had issues with anthias.

I think it depends on the individual fish. Earlier in this thread, one user had problems with Royal Grammas not tolerating CP. I treated mine in QT with no ill effects, and he's doing great in my DT now.

 

[Deinonych]

CP definitely toasts corals too. I left a 3 head zoa in the QT just to see what happens when CP and coral are present. Didn't turn out well for the zoa, within a couple days its withered away.

Yes, toxicity to corals is well-documented. CP is a potent algaecide, and it wreaks havoc on zooxanthellae.

 

[Alberta-newb]

Yes, toxicity to corals is well-documented. CP is a potent algaecide, and it wreaks havoc on zooxanthellae.

As a plus, it is an excellent way to clear live rock of aiptaisia

 

[adeebm]

I'm still reading through this thread, but I wanted to report that CP most likely killed my achilles tang. He was in QT with 35g water volume. Had been eating well, but I noticed spots that were definitely ich on him one day. To treat, I dosed 500mg the first day. I noticed an immediate decrease of appetite the second day, about half of his normal appetite. I assumed it was due to the ich and dosed another 500mg, bringing the tank up to 30mg/g. He was dead the next morning. I'm quite sure the death was CP or something with it, ich should not kill that fast. I do believe a previous poster experienced similar results with tangs and CP.

I should note that the CP I dosed was in pill form, from my local pharmacy. They were pink 500mg tablets, which I ground up and dissolved in tank water before dosing. Really sucks to lose a fish this way...

 

[zland1]

Well after 9 weeks (wanted to wait 10 but wife wanted it down since it was setup where the Christmas tree goes) fish are back in the DT, I used a 55g with live rock and a sump for a total water volume of 60gal, CP treatment was at 76mg/gal the whole time, I did 2 total water changes in the 9 weeks 20gal each time and re-dosed to get it back to 76mg/gal because nitrates were creeping up.

These are the fish I had in DT before treatment began:

1. yellow tang
2. Powder brown tang - died night before qt was ready
3. blue hippo tang - died during treatment(2weeks) became ultra shy and would wedge it's self in rocks whenever I walked in the room I don't think it got enough to eat because of this, its body looked perfect when pulled from tank.
4. naso tang
5. Bristletooth Tomini Tang
6. 3 clown fish
7. Sailfin tang
8. Niger Trigger
9. Blue throat Trigger
10. Diamond goby
11. algea blenny
12. Six Line wrasse
13. Purple Dottyback - died with in the first 12hrs of being put n QT but he was looking bad sitting in the top corner of the DT before switch
14. Foxface
15. Hoeven's wrasse
16. Cleaner wrasse - died about 2-3 weeks into treatment, I think it died do to my cut back on feeding for the first few weeks (I feed once every two days)
17. Green Chromis x3
18. Bicolor Angelfish
19. Flame Angelfish
20. Allen's Damselfish
21. Zebra Barred Dartfish

so the cleaner wrasse and blue hippo tang were the only two that died during the treatment(the Dottyback looked like it was on its way out before the swap) I think the cause may have been lack of food but that's just a guess.
All fish were eating just fine from start to finish(besides hippo due to shyness)

 

[Deinonych]

I should note that the CP I dosed was in pill form, from my local pharmacy. They were pink 500mg tablets, which I ground up and dissolved in tank water before dosing. Really sucks to lose a fish this way...

That could have been the problem. Pills use binding agents and fillers to form a solid. It's possible that one of the binding agents caused an adverse reaction.

 

[adeebm]

That could have been the problem. Pills use binding agents and fillers to form a solid. It's possible that one of the binding agents caused an adverse reaction.

That is my guess as well. Though others seem to have used pills successfully. I'm getting another batch of fish in soon. Not sure if I should try finding pure CP, or ditch it and go back to copper. Any idea where the best place to find pure powdered CP is?

 

[Deinonych]

If you can get your vet to write you a script, a local compounding pharmacy can fill it with the real deal. There are a few places online that sell it, but there's no way to verify its purity.

 

[Dr. X]

Yes, I agree that the CP itself is quite likely the problem. I've been unable to buy the pure powder form from any chemical supply company online (they will not sell to individuals). I've used the Thomas Labs Fish "Quine Forte" CP that I have now learned was probably sourced from Fishman. My hippo tang ended up dying of starvation and I had other fish losses.

Unfortunately, I don't have a veterinarian and I'm not willing to write a prescription to a compouding pharmacy - they've been under a lot of scrutiny since the Connecticut debacle, for one thing. I'm still hoping that I (we) can find a reputable chemical supply company that will sell the research-grade diphosphate powder online.

 

[rog2961]

I had quite a bit of losses in my DT when treating. I am currently treating two tangs in a 29g qt. The hippo was very shy during the first week of treatment and would not come out of hiding. I thought he was a goner for sure since my other fish showed similar symptoms while treating with CP. I checked on him yesterday and he was out and about and even eating. The sailfin never had any issues. Both showed signs of full blown ich which has now cleared. Will find out once they are back in DT.

 

[Deinonych]

I had quite a bit of losses in my DT when treating. I am currently treating two tangs in a 29g qt. The hippo was very shy during the first week of treatment and would not come out of hiding. I thought he was a goner for sure since my other fish showed similar symptoms while treating with CP. I checked on him yesterday and he was out and about and even eating. The sailfin never had any issues. Both showed signs of full blown ich which has now cleared. Will find out once they are back in DT.

What fish did you lose in your DT? Was it due to the CP itself, or other factors like an ammonia spike?

I am likely going to treat my DT, as crypto has reared its ugly head despite a 12 week fallow period. I only have a few corals, some snails and two cleaner shrimp. My rock started as dry BRS reef saver, so I'm not too concerned about microfauna dying off.

 

[rog2961]

What fish did you lose in your DT? Was it due to the CP itself, or other factors like an ammonia spike?

I am likely going to treat my DT, as crypto has reared its ugly head despite a 12 week fallow period. I only have a few corals, some snails and two cleaner shrimp. My rock started as dry BRS reef saver, so I'm not too concerned about microfauna dying off.

It was a couple posts back, but I lost my anthias, and the initial trigger that caused it all. It was not due to a spike, verified with a salifert ammonia kit. I personally think its because anthias are sensitive to food (ie they need alot) which is why they died. I noticed that they all slowly stopped eating, once this occured they were gone within a couple days. My trigger was just way to stressed. It had ich, then flukes, just coudlnt make it. I'd take the shrimp out as they will die eventually. Mine did about two weeks in. I have some snails but only added them after treatment. Your microfauna will be fine, I actually had some coraline algae start growing after 3 weeks. I won't know if I was sucessful at treating the DT until I add some new guys in. I did 4 weeks with 2 water changes, each time dosing back up to 40-60mg/g


That's rough that after 12 weeks your still having issues. Is it possible it was caused by new additions. Am interested to know as you have reported great success with the drug.

 

[salty joe]

I actually had some coraline algae start growing after 3 weeks. .

That does not sound right as CP is an algaecide.

 

[Deinonych]

It was a couple posts back, but I lost my anthias, and the initial trigger that caused it all. It was not due to a spike, verified with a salifert ammonia kit. I personally think its because anthias are sensitive to food (ie they need alot) which is why they died. I noticed that they all slowly stopped eating, once this occured they were gone within a couple days. My trigger was just way to stressed. It had ich, then flukes, just coudlnt make it. I'd take the shrimp out as they will die eventually. Mine did about two weeks in. I have some snails but only added them after treatment. Your microfauna will be fine, I actually had some coraline algae start growing after 3 weeks. I won't know if I was sucessful at treating the DT until I add some new guys in. I did 4 weeks with 2 water changes, each time dosing back up to 40-60mg/g


That's rough that after 12 weeks your still having issues. Is it possible it was caused by new additions. Am interested to know as you have reported great success with the drug.

Thanks. I plan to remove the shrimp along with the other inverts. Trying to get a separate invert tank set up today.

It is definitely a punch in the gut to see crypto back in my DT. The only thing I can think of is possible cross-contamination from one of my QTs. I have a foxface in QT right now that did have crypto when I first got him (mid-November). He has been cleared of spots for three weeks now, but I could have transferred something before he started showing spots. I have tried to be extremely careful about cross-contamination, but that's the only thing that makes sense to me at this point.

The only other new additions to the DT are a firefish and a Royal Gramma. Both were treated prophylactically with CP for 4 weeks (plus an additional 2 weeks observation) before being moved to the DT. So, I don't think they brought it in. The gramma is the one showing spots right now.

 

[rog2961]

Thanks. I plan to remove the shrimp along with the other inverts. Trying to get a separate invert tank set up today.

It is definitely a punch in the gut to see crypto back in my DT. The only thing I can think of is possible cross-contamination from one of my QTs. I have a foxface in QT right now that did have crypto when I first got him (mid-November). He has been cleared of spots for three weeks now, but I could have transferred something before he started showing spots. I have tried to be extremely careful about cross-contamination, but that's the only thing that makes sense to me at this point.

The only other new additions to the DT are a firefish and a Royal Gramma. Both were treated prophylactically with CP for 4 weeks (plus an additional 2 weeks observation) before being moved to the DT. So, I don't think they brought it in. The gramma is the one showing spots right now.

Was the foxface treated with CP?