Back story:
I unfortunately had Velvet invade my display tank about a year and a half ago. I didn't recognize it at first (thought it was ich) and delayed treatment for about a week. The Velvet came from one of two new angels I had just introduced (no I didn't quarantine but have been keeping saltwater for about nine years and hadn't had issues previously). Once I realized what it was I immediately started dosing copper to my display, which is a 180 gallon fish only tank. I lost about 30% of my fish, including the two new angels, before the copper kicked in. I know I was lucky based on other things I've read about Velvet.
I introduced multiple new fish, including new angels (large and dwarf), after running copper for 30 days (actually did it more like 40 days just to make sure). I invested in a Hanna checker during this time to make sure I kept copper levels in the correct range.
Since adding those new fish over a year ago, I have not added ANYTHING else to my tank. No fish, no inverts, nothing. All of the fish have co-existed peacefully and have been very healthy for the past year. So why am I infected with Velvet again?
It began about two weeks ago when noticing ich like spots on my blue ring angel and my mimic tang wasn't acting just right. I observed for a few days than started ParaGuard which I have used previously for mild ich. On Friday I decided it wasn't ich and started copper - half dose at first but up to full dose now (Monday) (should have gotten to full dose quicker but was trying to ease the fish into it). How can this happen?!?!?! Like I said I have introduced nothing to the tank for over a year. I know ich can lay dormant but I didn't think Velvet could do the same? I have already lost three fish in the past 12 hours (kole tang, lemon peel angel and watanabe angel). I am doubtful my mimic tang will make it through the night and my blue ring looks horrible. My other watanabe angel looks bad as well.
Can Velvet live dormant this long in a tank and then become active again? I didn't suspect it at first since I had no new additions for so long. Could one of my previous survivors been a carrier?
I'm pretty devastated right now since this was some of my favorite group of fish since I've been in the hobby. To see them suffer like this is just horrible for me.
Tank
180 gallon
established tank about nine years
Phosphate .05 ppm
PH 8.0
Nitrate 25 ppm
Salinity 1.023
Weekly 20% water changes
I unfortunately had Velvet invade my display tank about a year and a half ago. I didn't recognize it at first (thought it was ich) and delayed treatment for about a week. The Velvet came from one of two new angels I had just introduced (no I didn't quarantine but have been keeping saltwater for about nine years and hadn't had issues previously). Once I realized what it was I immediately started dosing copper to my display, which is a 180 gallon fish only tank. I lost about 30% of my fish, including the two new angels, before the copper kicked in. I know I was lucky based on other things I've read about Velvet.
I introduced multiple new fish, including new angels (large and dwarf), after running copper for 30 days (actually did it more like 40 days just to make sure). I invested in a Hanna checker during this time to make sure I kept copper levels in the correct range.
Since adding those new fish over a year ago, I have not added ANYTHING else to my tank. No fish, no inverts, nothing. All of the fish have co-existed peacefully and have been very healthy for the past year. So why am I infected with Velvet again?
It began about two weeks ago when noticing ich like spots on my blue ring angel and my mimic tang wasn't acting just right. I observed for a few days than started ParaGuard which I have used previously for mild ich. On Friday I decided it wasn't ich and started copper - half dose at first but up to full dose now (Monday) (should have gotten to full dose quicker but was trying to ease the fish into it). How can this happen?!?!?! Like I said I have introduced nothing to the tank for over a year. I know ich can lay dormant but I didn't think Velvet could do the same? I have already lost three fish in the past 12 hours (kole tang, lemon peel angel and watanabe angel). I am doubtful my mimic tang will make it through the night and my blue ring looks horrible. My other watanabe angel looks bad as well.
Can Velvet live dormant this long in a tank and then become active again? I didn't suspect it at first since I had no new additions for so long. Could one of my previous survivors been a carrier?
I'm pretty devastated right now since this was some of my favorite group of fish since I've been in the hobby. To see them suffer like this is just horrible for me.
Tank
180 gallon
established tank about nine years
Phosphate .05 ppm
PH 8.0
Nitrate 25 ppm
Salinity 1.023
Weekly 20% water changes