Velvet / ick outbreak in 220 15 fish left

[Gangous]

I'm know this is a touchy topic I've been in hobby for 5 yrs or so but this is my first lg tank previously I never qd because it wasn't practical lived in apt and had a 75 gal with 7-9 fish!

I moved into a house and set up 220
Added 25 fish over period of a yr last week I went on vacation came home too most fish showing velvet symptons and some appear to have ick so I'm not 100% sure which it is
I've asked several the heavy hitters I know and I understand my options !
I've lost 8-9 fish already the remaining fish r eating well but r agitated!
I am totally willing to rip this reef down to get these fish into a qt so that's not the issue for me what I'm struggling with is to pull all my rock / coral out and chase down 15 or so fish to put in a qt that's been set up the day b4 feels like a death sentence for them!
My gut tells me to keep them feed and as happy as I can!

The other thing I'm considering is hydrogen peroxide treating display Im very aware that this could wipe tank but seems like an option at this point!

Is it possible that 5-6 fish can pull through this or will they all die if I do nothing???

[Deinonych]

If it is velvet, it's very likely that all the fish may die. Those that don't would become carriers for the disease, infecting any new fish you add in the future. If you want to be rid of the parasite, the only option is to remove all fish for treatment in a dedicated QT and leave the DT fallow for a period of time (6 weeks for velvet, 10+ weeks for Crypto).

[enjetek]

As stated above, you only have that option if you want to save your fish. Better act fast because that disease kills quickly...

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Deinonych

If it is velvet, it's very likely that all the fish may die. Those that don't would become carriers for the disease, infecting any new fish you add in the future. If you want to be rid of the parasite, the only option is to remove all fish for treatment in a dedicated QT and leave the DT fallow for a period of time (6 weeks for velvet, 10+ weeks for Crypto).

this.

[Gangous]

How can I tell for sure velvet or ick?

Thoughts on the hydrogen peroxide?

If a fish is medicated in a qt it will never get ick or velvet again unless introduced from another fish?

[enjetek]

You need to treat for either velvet or ick depending on what you have. The hydrogen peroxide wont help you in this case. And yes, if you treat future additions you won't have this problem again.

Remember, you might have both depending on what the new fish brought in.

[Gangous]

Can u please post a list of exact meds I should use?? It just copper???

[Gangous]

Few fish also have cloudy infected eye

[Deinonych]

I would recommend reading through the treatment options in this sticky thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2389659

[Gangous]

Thanks for the link!!!

[Gangous]

I have few questions!
I'm gonna set up a qt tank.

Now is the qt where the fish is medicated or do you keep fish in qt to observe for few weeks if no sign of disease u add to display?


Or do u medicate each and every fish while in qt?

How do u keep biological filtration going doesn't copper and other meds kill it??

If you medicate all incomming fish when do u do it day 1 as soon as u purchase the fish?

What meds do u use for all fish with no symptoms b4 u add to display?

Thank you so much for any help/ advice

[Gangous]

Not sure if I was clear on one my questions.

Do u put medication directly into a qt tank or do u remove the fish to a separate tank to medicate then put back into qt??

Thank you

[biomek]

yes you need to medicate in the QT and then after treatment steralize the tank so it's ready to go for any new arrivals. At that point it is recommended by most, to place all new arrivals into a QT for observation and/or prophelactic (sp) treatment before entering the display tank.

[Gangous]

So do ppl keep a qt running all the time do u add sand bed for wrasses and live rock???

[Gangous]

Some pictures of ppls qt set ups would be awesome !

[Gangous]

I have my sump in a closet next too my tank I built a heavy duty shelf above it and was planning on a fuge but I'm thinking a qt would be better so it will be permanent so I wanna set it up right

[fsamir]

I've tried to treat velvet with hydrogen peroxide and wasn't very successful. Small fishes died even faster due to stress. Not saying you shouldn't try, just that velvet acts quick and is is hard to recover from.

[Gangous]

Thank you for ur experience yes I've ruled that out !

I only have a few fish left I'm gonna see if anything makes it if they do ill let them recoup a few weeks then pull whatever fish survived if any and medicate them / leave in a qt!

Could really use some help with some the questions I had in previous post!

Thanks again for any help

[Gangous]

Originally Posted by Gangous

I have few questions!
I'm gonna set up a qt tank.

Now is the qt where the fish is medicated or do you keep fish in qt to observe for few weeks if no sign of disease u add to display?


Or do u medicate each and every fish while in qt?

How do u keep biological filtration going doesn't copper and other meds kill it??

If you medicate all incomming fish when do u do it day 1 as soon as u purchase the fish?

What meds do u use for all fish with no symptoms b4 u add to display?

Thank you so much for any help/ advice

[Deinonych]

Originally Posted by Gangous

I have few questions!
I'm gonna set up a qt tank.

Now is the qt where the fish is medicated or do you keep fish in qt to observe for few weeks if no sign of disease u add to display?


Or do u medicate each and every fish while in qt?

In your situation, you will need to medicate all fish in the QT. Once treatment has concluded, you can keep them in the same tank for observation.

Originally Posted by Gangous

How do u keep biological filtration going doesn't copper and other meds kill it??

Cupramine does not adversely impact the biofilter in a significant way. A bottle of Bio-spira and some ceramic media in a HOB filter will take care of ammonia issues.

Originally Posted by Gangous

If you medicate all incomming fish when do u do it day 1 as soon as u purchase the fish?

What meds do u use for all fish with no symptoms b4 u add to display?

You will get differing opinions on this. Some treat proactively, while others observe for an extended period (8+ weeks) and treat only when disease symptoms appear.

[enjetek]

For the questions about if you treat them immediately and what meds to use...

If you want you can give them a couple of days to acclimate and start eating before you begin to treat them.

I always treat with cupramine and prazi pro at a minimum. I also have quick cure, furan 2, and metro on hand for anything that can pop up. There are other medications you can keep on hand but at a minimum I feel others need to have cupramine and prazi pro.

Good luck!

[Gangous]

Ok I plan on keeping wrasses so a sand bed is ok in qt tank?

[Gangous]

Also would like to hear more thoughts from ppl on weather to medicate 100% the time or just when u see issue

[Deinonych]

Originally Posted by Gangous

Ok I plan on keeping wrasses so a sand bed is ok in qt tank?

For QT, a small Tupperware container filled with sand is sufficient. If you medicate with copper, the medication will adsorb to the sand making dosing difficult. So, the less sand, the better.

Not all wrasses require a sand bed. Which species are you planning to keep?

[HumbleFish]

Originally Posted by Gangous

Also would like to hear more thoughts from ppl on weather to medicate 100% the time or just when u see issue

It really comes down to knowing what kind of person you are and how much free time you have to spend watching your fish in QT. Are you the kind that notices the little things and pays close attention to detail? You may want to ask your significant other for an honest assessment. If this is you, then you should at least be able to tell that something is "off" or "not right" about a fish in QT. Experience identifying & treating fish diseases then comes into play.

But if this doesn't sound like you, then I would advise just assuming every fish you buy is diseased and prophylactically treat. A lot of people treat with Cupramine and then Prazipro (or vice versa) to accomplish this. However, there are other all-encompassing treatment methods.