Possible signs of trouble in QT

[fixedpoint]

Recently, I purchased a blue green reef chromis, a helfrichi firefish and a blue-legged hermit crab for my reef tank online. The shipment came early Thursday morning and I put them in QT. They have been active and feeding well displaying no behavioral problems; however, yesterday I noticed some white areas on the chromis's tail and front left side. Not small white spots, but a broader sections of white.

My QT is 10 gallons filled with water from DT water changes (lowered salinity with additional RODI water). There is filter media that sat cycling in my sump. It is barebottom with large PVC pipes for hiding. It has a powerhead and a sponge filter. QT parameters are: ammonia 0 (yesterday ammonia was .1 ppm), nitrite .2 ppm, nitrate 7 ppm, temp 76 f, salinity 1.022 SG, pH 7.8. I've been feeding a mix of frozen (mysis, cyclopeeze, rod's) and dried (pellets and flakes).

Am I just being paranoid? Should I be concerned?

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38664265/chromis4.png" />

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38664265/chromis2.png" />

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38664265/chromis3.png" />

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38664265/chromis1.png" />

 

[Newsmyrna80]

These spots are too big for ich. Recently uronemia marinum has been prevalent in Chromis'. The initial symptoms can present the same as brook. Brook has been known to start with large spots almost pimple like. The treatment is the same as well. I'm not saying that this is uronemia but if red lesions appear be prepared to act.

 

[HumbleFish]

these spots are too big for ich. Recently uronemia marinum has been prevalent in chromis'. The initial symptoms can present the same as brook. Brook has been known to start with large spots almost pimple like. The treatment is the same as well. I'm not saying that this is uronemia but if red lesions appear be prepared to act.

+1

 

[snorvich]

These spots are too big for ich. Recently uronemia marinum has been prevalent in Chromis'. The initial symptoms can present the same as brook. Brook has been known to start with large spots almost pimple like. The treatment is the same as well. I'm not saying that this is uronemia but if red lesions appear be prepared to act.

+2 Chromis especially

 

[fixedpoint]

After reading the replies and seeing that the white spots had grown a little, I tried a freshwater dip with methylene blue for 5 min. The chromis did well in the dip but it didn't seem to do much for his condition. Now two days later, he looks like he has lost most of his color.

Since he has gotten worse, I am now in damage control mode. I had another fish, a helfrichi firefish, in quaratine as well. I bought another 10 gallon tank and moved the Chromis to this new tank. Now for the questions...

1. How likely is it that the firefish is infected as well? He seems very healthy now - eating, not shy, no visible signs.
2. What can I do to save the firefish from infection? 100% water change? Change filters? Clean everything?
3. How long do I now wait for signs of infection in the firefish? 4 weeks? 6 weeks?
4. Is there any hope for the chromis? Do you recommend fresh water dips? Hyposalinity? Copper? Formalin?

 

[fixedpoint]

4 doesn't matter any more unless the firefish gets sick. The chromis didn't make it.

 

[HumbleFish]

All you can do now is watch the firefish for symptoms. IME; Uronema is mostly confined to chromis and sometimes other damsels/clownfish.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

I would think symptoms of uronemia, like brook, would show within a couple of weeks.

 

[fixedpoint]

Just for some closure on this thread...

The firefish appears perfectly healthy after another week of QT. I did do a 100% water change and cleaned everything with a mild bleach solution (drying it out in the sun before adding the fish back).

Also, I had taken a picture of the poor chromis after he died. I don't know if someone here can conclusively identify what they think the cause of death might be whether uronema marinum, brooklynella, or possibly human error in the fresh water dip I attempted (my first one ). I thought this thread might be of use to someone else if we can tie together first symptoms with an outcome.

<img width="600" src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38664265/chromis5.jpg" />

 

[Deinonych]

The red lesion near the anal fins *could* be the site of an infection by uronema. It could also be a bacterial infection of some kind. If you can do a skin scrape and wet mount the sample under a microscope, you might be able to identify the causative agent.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

^yep, looks like uronema to me. He looks like he had a few red spots. Glad the firefish is ok.