Medicating a marine tank. 7/5/18
Happy 4th of July to your crew!
Gotta a question for you. Can you treat a tank with Melafix, Pimafix and
copper power...all at the same time?
<Mmm; you could, but I wouldn't. Am decidedly NOT a fan of the "fix" products by
API. They're usually worthless; sometimes interfere with nitrification;
cause water quality issues>
Been dealing with a big mess since just before Father's day.
<See this on your Emperor Angel pic. Yikes>
Tank info: 110g qt, ocean clear canister filter, no carbon, filled with ammonia
and nitrate reducing pads, 2 airstones, 1 air wand, 2 foam in tank filters each
rated for a 125g.
Fish: 2 triggers, 1 ladder wrasse, 1 Kole tang, 1 HiFin snapper, 1 tusk, 1
Emperor angel, 1 toadfish, 1 Foxface, 1 random damsel, and 1 mono. All currently
in the QT.
<This is a lot of good sized fishes for a 110>
I have lost 7 fish in the last few days . Rusty angel, vlamingii, sailfin and 4
yellow Hawaiians.
<Good gosh; even more fishes?>
We took everyone out of the DT to treat for what we assumed was flukes due to
flashing and rapid breathing with no other signs of spots or symptoms.
<Likely just crowding and water quality at work here>
We intended to try hyposalinity, but couldn't drop the salinity fast enough
safely to avoid the fish ripping gaping wounds..so we went with Prazi.
<... did you freshwater dip; detect worms?>
About a week after starting the Prazi we had some serious aggression in the
tank. Then it looks like an infection broke out in the tangs. This is when we
started treating with the Pimafix and the Melafix.
<Please.... search both on WWM>
We were unsure what kind of infection and found both medications were safe to
use together so we did. One by one we lost the group of 7 fish. My angel looks
really bad but is steadily improving as we continue dosing. However, the signs
during the loss of the 7 fish and on the angel now..look a whole lot like
velvet.
<No; not likely. All would be dead. See Velvet on WWM...>
I attached a pic of the angel..the bacterial infection is clearly the red..but
it's the while spots that are not raised all over her that are the question.
Upon closer inspection of all the fish their colors are like dull copies of the
original fish. They almost look dirty.
I told you all of that to get to this. Can I continue to treat with the
medications I have been and add copper power or does it need to be one or the
other?
<I wouldn't use copper and wish the non-"fixes" would disappear off the planet.
They are responsible for MANY livestock losses. At best placebos and mild
bacteriostatics; of no real use whatsoever>
Also if I have to switch to just copper, can I get away without doing a large
water change and just start to copper?
<Copper in all formats is too toxic for continuous use>
We did a 30% water change on this passed Sunday.
Any and all helpful suggestions are appreciated.
<Really; the reading (on WWM) for now... IF this was the start of your troubles,
getting a much larger system, splitting up the fish livestock into two plus
tanks... Use of Quinine cpd....>
Thanks!
Kim
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
