Need advice badly; mistakes made.

[LisaJill]

Alright, so here's the history.

I purchased a few fish for my tank, and they did well for about a month. Then all but one of them died.

I believe it was ich, going by post diagnosis.

So, fast forward 6 weeks - the firefish that survived never showed a sign of anything, during the illness of the other fish or after. So, I added a midas blenny. Within a week he showed signs of Ich. He fought them off and was fine for a month, then the parasite cycled and it started again.

Still, the firefish was fine.

Anyway, the blenny wasn't working out for other reasons I trapped him and brought him back to the store I got him from. A few minutes ago my firefish swam into the other coke trap bottle I had in the tank.

Now, I've learned my lesson about quarantining. So let's be kind to me, I already feel like an idiot I have a 10 gallon tank, a sponge in my Aquaclear HOB refugium, a spare heater, and some pvc pipes. I need to purchase a mini aquaclear for the quarantine tank and that's it. Right now it is empty - no water, just the heater sitting in it, unplugged.

The sponge has been in my display's refugium for only 3 days.

So, can I just move water from my DT to the soon to be hospital tank, move the sponge over, get everything up and move the firefish in there? Then take the treatment from there?

Right now my goal is simply to get the firefish out so that I can leave the DT fish-less for 8+ weeks. Once I've got the firefish into another tank, I can work on figuring out what to do about him. He's symptomless but I'm sure he's at least a carrier.

Thanks for the help =)

 

[LisaJill]

Alright, got the firefish into a hospital tank. Currently am just letting him settle in. Should I just observe for signs of ich? He's never scratched nor shown any spots, so I'm hesitant to treat him even though I suspect he is at least carrying it.

If I need to treat, I'll need to order cupramine online as none of the local shops around here seem to have it.

 

[limitdown]

Although he's not showing any signs of ich, he's been exposed. Parasites might be hiding in his gills.
I would go with cupramine treatment for 6-8wks.

 

[LisaJill]

Alright, I'll get some and begin treatment. Thank you limitdown!

 

[biger]

I would also be careful about some biological filtration cause I don't know if the sponge in the refugium for only 3 days is long enough. You could also put a small rock from your display that doesn't have any corals or anything on it.

 

[LisaJill]

yea, I know the sponge is iffy; I'm keeping a close eye on any cycling of the tank and have water on hand for water changes as necessary. I also have another sponge siting in the DT that I'll be able to cycle into the QT in a week or two.

Thank you =)

 

[limitdown]

Also make sure to avoid using any water conditioners (ie Prime) or ammonia removers (AmQuel, Amguard), those will make Cupramine toxic.

If the sponge is not "seasoned" enough, then consider taking a piece of live rock from your display.

 

[LisaJill]

No worries, prime has not been near the tank and my ammonia badge and backup tests have been showing no detectable amounts, the sponge and small wter changes seem to be keeping up.

Thanks for all the advice! The firefish is still showing no symptoms of illness at all; if he was just in quarantine from the store, I'd think he was fine.

 

[limitdown]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Hope all goes well.

 

[Freed]

Typically when a LFS tells you any certain fish has been in quarantine at their store I would be extremely iffy on that. Most LFS run any number of fish in and out of any of their tanks on a daily/weekly basis so the chances your fish was all alone by itself without any other fish coming or going and being given a strict actual QT regimen to combat any disease would be at best a long shot. ALWAYS QT new fish, corals, inverts, etc. after bringing them home from the LFS or online sellers.