need brooklynella help

[jelwyoming]

I had two pair of clown is my 120g reef. As of today, all have died from what appears to be brooklynella. I still have about 10 other fish in the tank. How long would I have to wait with the remaining fish staying healthy would I have to wait to assume that the tank is free of it?

 

[jelwyoming]

After reading up on brooklynella, I am about sure it has invaded my tank. I see that the way to get rid of it is to QT all of the fish, even if they seem healthy.
If this is so, how do I cycle a QT tank to hold that may fish without going through a huge cycle? I am afraid of harming them more that way.I have about 15 small to medium size fish in my reef. I do have a spare 55 that I could set up for a QT. If the brook keeps up, I will have to move fast. How do I cycle it that fast?
I need help soon, please??

 

[TerryB]

Brooklynella spreads directly from fish to fish, so the close proximity of your clownfish being together is a factor. Sorry, there is no easy answer to your question. Although Brooklynella is most frequently seen with clownfish other species of fish can get it. I would wait to see if any of the other fish become symptomatic. Watch for any changes in behavior, eating, etc. If you see excess mucus production or changes in the scales, especially near the mouth and gills, then you will have to treat. In the meantime, I would work on getting a Qtank cycled and keeping one running at all times.

Terry B

 

[jelwyoming]

How do you keep a unoccupied QT tank cycled, epecially with this in mind where I may need to place my whole fish community in it? Won't that cause a very large and harmful cycle in itself? I thought that one has to build up bacteria in a tank so that it can sustain the fish that live in it. Placing 10 fish all at once into a QT tank sounds dangerous; but I guess the alternative is no better. So, my big question still stands, how do I treat that number of fish all at once; how do I QT that many fish?
Terry, thanks for the advice.
That is exactly what I had planned on. In addition to that I will be adding a 25w UV to aid in preventing any secondary infections if the brook is still there causing problems.
At this point, all other fish look great. I sure hope that they stay that way. I have a large copperband, flame angelfish and hippo tang that I would hate to loose, along with the rest.

 

[jelwyoming]

If some period of time goes (weeks or months) by without any of the other fish showing symptoms, is it safe to assume that it didn't pass to other fish?

 

[andrewsmart]

you will need to have some kind of filtration of course.

but i find that things like cycle which contain the bacteria do work.

alot of people will tell you they are snake oil and i have seen this from far more experienced aquarists.

however i have done many cycles with and without cycle or the like and have always found those with to be weeks faster.

 

[TerryB]

You don't need fish in a tank to keep the bacteria alive that perform denitrification. All you need it to feed the tank a little each day or so. You can also keep a couple of sponge filters in the sump of your deplay tank to use in the Qtank whenever needed. You may not completely avoid a cycle if you quickly load the Qtank heavily with fish, but it sure will keep you miles ahead of a completely uncycled tank. If you don't have any symptomatic fish in the tank for weeks then it will probably be safe to add more fish (after quarantining the new additions first).

Terry B

 

[jelwyoming]

Thanks for that help.
I read an article yesterday in the Advanced Aquarist, where a very seasoned aquarist (40yrs marine) had QT'd his fish religiously, had one fish in his system for 24 years, and when he had to move his tank and stressed the fish, all of them died of brooklynella in two days.
I guess we can manage it, but probably not be absolutely sure that it is completely gone.

 

[jelwyoming]

one more

one more

bump for the evening group

 

[jnc914]

Not to hijack the thread, but I have been reading about Brook, and I believe I may have a fish with it now. However, I read that the death of the fish usually occurs within 48 hrs of seeing symptoms. The fish in question, an Achilles tang, has been in the tank for 5 days and I have seen the white, web-like, film towards the back of the fishes body. Initially i thought the fish had a run in with my Emp. Angel, and the slime coat had been damaged. However this white film has started to spread. My question is, if a fish has Brook, doesn't this film start at the head and gills of the fish and then move to the rest of the fishes body? I am thinking the fish may only have a bacterial infection, which I could treat with Pimafix or Melafix? The fish is not having issues breathing and has been eating minimally. Any input would help. Thanks.

 

[TerryB]

JNC914,

Probably a serious bacterial infection. You need to act fast and use a combination of good antibiotics in quarantine. Use a combination of neomycin and nitrofurazone or neomycin and furanase. It will kill the biofilter in the Qtank and you will have to treat for probably 5 days. The meds you mentioned probably won't help.

Terry B