One Death and Blue Hippo Acting Funny.. Need Advice

[Fueledbychar]

Hello All,

I recently had a ich outbreak in my tank and though I have been keeping it hyposalinic (is this a word?) I have added fresh water dips as well. I did this with my Kole Tang and my blue hippo.

Unfortunately, I lost the Kole tang yesterday (just when we cant get anymore). I am super sad about this one.

His symptoms started with not eating, breathing heavy, then just not swimming around just staying in one place and then eventually just death. He had no visable ich on the outside any longer and the rest of the tank seemed ok so I am thinking this became internal.

Since the death of the Kole, my blue hippo seems to be going down the same path. She is acting unusual, only ate one brine shrimp yesterday and didnt eat at all today and is breathing heavy. She is still swimming around fine but I know something is off. I know this fish.

My boyfriend and local LFS fish people say continue with the fresh water dips. I personally believe since this may have gone internal I should resort to copper.

Thoughts? Stick with the fresh or its time for copper?

If you think Copper, do I treat the whole tank with my other tangs etc included? I just want to get rid of this ich and save my blue hippo. Ive had her since a baby.

 

[bertoni]

If you treat the tank with copper, you'll have a hard time getting it out of the rock. Personally, I'd try to set up a hospital tank, and work from there. You could look into the tank transfer method of treatment, although you'd need a setup that could hold all the fish in the system.

 

[Jdub968]

The hyposalinity is in a DT ? And what SG are you at? Copper cannot be used in a DT with rock sand and Inverts.

 

[Fueledbychar]

The hyposalinity is in a DT ? And what SG are you at? Copper cannot be used in a DT with rock sand and Inverts.

A few things. What I thought was hyposalinic apparently was not. I read in a few places that what I had my tank at was considered hypo but according to others it wasnt. I was at 1.020. Apparently the range is a lot lower than that around 1.015 ish?

So due to my hippo still not eating and my ring tail covered in spots, I decided to remove all rock, sand, and inverts from my 60gal tank and put them in a 20 gallon. My tangs would be too stressed having to move to the smaller tank. I am treating the 60gal with cupramine. So far so good. Everyone but my hippo is back to normal and spots fell off of my fish like over night.

I am hoping whatever is still ailing my hippo goes away. I call her my little fat kid. She eats no matter how stressed or whats going on so I know her not eating is a bad sign. I have read copper can decrease appetite in fish, but she wasnt eating before the copper. I just hope she doesnt die like my kole. She was apart of my original trio that got me in this hobby and she was so small. I know she isnt even close to what her full growth is, but after having her for a year she is like my baby :worried2:

**Side note** I do know copper will kill inverts and live rock so they will be living in the 20 gallon for about 2-3 months. I plan to treat my tank with copper for 4 weeks. Then allow 6-8 to get the copper out of my system and return the rock and inverts. I am testing the levels 2 times a day. I plan to run a TON of carbon and chemipure when it comes time to remove the copper. Someone suggested cuprisorb? However, I have a long way to that.

 

[Jdub968]

Sounds like on your headed down the right road. FYI hyposalinity is best used at 1.009 SG for 30 days with ick. You can try food soaked in garlic to help entice her to eat

 

[lagatbezan]

Make sure NOT to use any ammonia removers like prime with copper.
Also need to make sure you are using a seachem copper test kit daily to check the copper level and that it should be .3 to .5 range.
I'm not a bog fan of copper, but the one good thing about it is that if done properly it will eradicate both ich and velvet.

 

[lagatbezan]

Also I see in your signature that you have a puffer. They tend not to take copper treatment too well specially ionic copper (cupramine).

 

[JustinM]

After you run 4 weeks of copper, you will need to sterilize your tank or you risk the chance not all tomonts have hatched. Generally ich goes through its cycle in 7-14 days but there are many strains last more than 30 days. Copper will only kill ich in the theronts stage.