My tank just got screwed up diddnt it...

[Drix]

I have a clown in dire need of help. He's got a sort of whitish film growing on him that sort of strings off at the fins. I'm currently treating with macracyn two and maroxy which is what I was told I should try.

Anyhow, I figured I'd give my clown a quick freshwater dip (less than a minute, he's not doin so hot). I prepared a solution of water about 1.01 (think thats right) and had my brother look after him while I did some disease reading.

After our quick dip I told my brother to just sort of drain the glass we were dipping him in out through the net and put him back in the hospital tank. Anyhow, it took me a minute to realize that my brother never left the room, but rather just poured the water into my main display and walked over to the hospital and put him in.

My main tank just got screwed diddn't it? Luckly theres no fish in it atm, just inverts (Black longspine, snails, hermits) What should I do?

 

[Drix]

This is similar to what's going on in my tank, anyone know exactally what it is so I can treat it better?


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1113694

 

[SultanOfSushi]

A little more detail on the strings...are they white or are they clear or have any curve to them and are they only on the fins-or is this the only place you see them? As far as what happens to your main tank, can you get by with out putting any fish in it for over a month? Most infections/protazoas/fungis ect need a host system to keep them going, some will break off into spore formation, but that does not sound like what you are facing. Can you get a pic too?

 

[SultanOfSushi]

Foot note to the host system part...most of these issues fish get do not go to the inverts, as they are simplier bodies and systems. e.g. exoskeletons and not fungus carrying mucus layer ect. Hence why I mentioned keeping your tank bare of fish for 4 weeks.

 

[Drix]

I don't have a digital camera, so I'm afraid decent pictures aren't possible.

The strings are I guess a white color, a bit cloudy, they look more like long strands of mucus than anything else. Actually, if I had to describe the situation I'd say it looked like the fish had excessive mucus build up that covers body spots and fins. This fish belonged to a mated pair, the mate died thisafternoon to the same thing, the mucus built up over one of its pelvic fins prefenting it from flapping, as well as buildup over the dorsal fin that has made it pat down close to the body.

The link I posted shows a fish with similar problems. The Front dorsal fin looks almost identical to whats going on in mine. The tail fin also shows similar features.


The fresh water dip took off all of the external symptoms of the ailment (the dorsal fin has yet to pop back up) but when the mucus substance dislodged it took a bit of tail fin with it, sort of looks like he's suffering from fin rot now I guess would be the best way to describe it.

Anyhow, from there I can keep fish free yes, but will it host on my inverts?

 

[SultanOfSushi]

Most likely not as they are inverts and exoskelton and snails. Not a close enough connect biologically to cause harm. What about all your parameters? Snails and many inverst will show ill effects much later then the fish will. What your basically describing could even be a high level of ammonia or nitrite, the extra mucus could be the clue. Hard to say still even with that.

 

[Drix]

It's def. not ammonia or nitrates, I've tested nitrates, they're virtually 0, and my ammonia's 0 too. Neither one of my tanks have had any significant amount of life in them for at least a year now.

I'm glad to know it shoudln't cross over to the inverts, I'll just keep fish free for the summer and hope for the best. Thanks for the help

 

[andrewsmart]

both cases here sound like brook and a series of 3 formalin dips s days apart should be the treatment.

for the origional poster leave the display fishless ofr 8 weeks and you will be fine.

look up velvet, brook and clownfish disease. all the same thing.

you need to be very quick with this.