This can't be ick this long in hypo...assistance please!

[baxterdawg]

Okay, I have chosen the hypo QT route and have followed the "rules". Hypo has been ongoing for 1 month in a barebottom 10 gallon with PVC, heater, powerhead, filter and small skimmer for added oxygenation. These fish are still showing signs of infection!!!

SG at strict 1.009 since April 2th (just over 30 days), pH was monitored daily , now everyother day and is kept 8.3 as best as possible. I was doing 25-30% water changes twice a week during the first couple of weeks to keep extra debris out. Nitrates are abou 5-10.

Here is brief history, the tank is holding two small hippo tangs and a flame angel. Initially there was an Ick breakout upon purchase. This lasted for 2 weeks, with periodic rubbing during the third week. So, rubbing and visible infection gone for at least a week and a half until today.

Flame angel has been pale for two days and today periodic head shuddering. Flame has one potential visible white speck on flank. Flame is not holding weight as I would like over the last week, but still eating very well.

One tang has periodic rubbing and could only see maybe one visible white speck.

So, here are the questions for those advanced aquarists.

1. Do I start to think that this is not Ick and maybe Amyloodinium? As I read this is not susceptible to hypo treatment

2. Do I start to raise the SG and try another treeatment method?

3. Do I keep going with hypo in hopes that this is just part of the cycle?

I am getting concerned about the flame angel and that it is getting thin. They are getting fed 2-4 times a day with 4 different foods, but the tangs eat the nori and the flame does not, so you can see the difference with that alone.

I will stop here. Thanks for reading and any feedback.

 

[Jerry W]

What are you using to measure salinity?
There are strains of crypto that are resistant to hyposalinity and
you may also now be dealing with secondary infections. The weight loss in the angel is indicative of an internal bacterial infection.

 

[saabore]

I currently am following the process. But four weeks is not good enough. You need to follow it more closely. Also, make sure you keep focused on water changes as well. goof luck.

 

[saabore]

I currently am following the process. But four weeks is not good enough. You need to follow it more closely. Also, make sure you keep focused on water changes as well. good luck.

 

[baxterdawg]

Jerry W.

What do you suggest for a broad spectrum antibiotic? Do you think it could be an intestinal worm issue?

From the sounds of it, I should continue the hypo and try to get some other treatments going simultaneously. But if it is a bacterial infection, why would the flame be shuddering? I thought that was an issue with something affecting the gills?

 

[TerryB]

It is very important to know what you used to measure the salinity. Did you use an accurate, calibrated refractometer? Anything less and the problem may be that the salinity has been too high. We need to find out if the salinity was actually low enough to be effective before we can advise you on what to do now. We should also be talking about the salinity and not the Specific Gravity. Do you know the difference?

I doubt it is amyloodinium because so much time has passed since you started treatment. Amyloodinium kills quickly unless an effective treatment is used.

What are the other foods?

Terry B