Cleaning rock while maintaining beneficial bacteria

[Eric552]

Admin: can the title be updated? I can't figure out how. "Cleaning rock while maintaining beneficial bacteria".

Hello, I am currently managing a velvet outbreak in my large DT, I have multiple tanks set up to spread the fish out (x2 40g, x1 30g, x1 10g).

I am going into this with the idea that I will have to treat all fish for 30 days because of the lack of a clean observation tank.

However, I’ve been able to consolidate a couple fish and now have the 30g empty. However, since it just had fish in it, I am trying to figure out how to quickly clear the system while maintaining ammonia management. Obviously if I bleach bomb the whole system, including the piece of rock in there, ammonia management goes out the door.

I did a search and come across an old thread that mentioned maintaining a temp >86F for 2 weeks will clear the rock of ich/velvet while maintaining beneficial bacteria. Is this still the current thought?

Also, as an aside, I do realize rock will absorb Cu, but I always monitor levels daily for absorption and realize not to reuse the rock. This was an unexpected event and live rock was easiest and fastest to obtain from my LFS for this purpose.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Admin: can the title be updated? I can't figure out how. "Cleaning rock while maintaining beneficial bacteria".

Hello, I am currently managing a velvet outbreak in my large DT, I have multiple tanks set up to spread the fish out (x2 40g, x1 30g, x1 10g).

I am going into this with the idea that I will have to treat all fish for 30 days because of the lack of a clean observation tank.

However, I’ve been able to consolidate a couple fish and now have the 30g empty. However, since it just had fish in it, I am trying to figure out how to quickly clear the system while maintaining ammonia management. Obviously if I bleach bomb the whole system, including the piece of rock in there, ammonia management goes out the door.

I did a search and come across an old thread that mentioned maintaining a temp >86F for 2 weeks will clear the rock of ich/velvet while maintaining beneficial bacteria. Is this still the current thought?

Utilize a seeded sponge or media for treatment tank in lieu of rock which is porous
Treatment if velvet is warranted immediately and using coppersafe or copper power for 30 days with air stone added
Leave display without fish for 45-60 days

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Admin: can the title be updated? I can't figure out how. "Cleaning rock while maintaining beneficial bacteria".

Hello, I am currently managing a velvet outbreak in my large DT, I have multiple tanks set up to spread the fish out (x2 40g, x1 30g, x1 10g).

I am going into this with the idea that I will have to treat all fish for 30 days because of the lack of a clean observation tank.

However, I’ve been able to consolidate a couple fish and now have the 30g empty. However, since it just had fish in it, I am trying to figure out how to quickly clear the system while maintaining ammonia management. Obviously if I bleach bomb the whole system, including the piece of rock in there, ammonia management goes out the door.

I did a search and come across an old thread that mentioned maintaining a temp >86F for 2 weeks will clear the rock of ich/velvet while maintaining beneficial bacteria. Is this still the current thought?

The issue is that fluke eggs and the tomont stages of ich and velvet are resistant to chemicals.

86+ works for ich, but the time is 3 weeks. That doesn’t work for velvet though.

From your use of the term “managing”, you are dealing with ich, not velvet. Velvet kills fish too fast to really manage it.

If the fish still have symptoms, you could post a clear video under white lights and we can try to lock down your diagnosis.

 

[Eric552]

The issue is that fluke eggs and the tomont stages of ich and velvet are resistant to chemicals.

86+ works for ich, but the time is 3 weeks. That doesn’t work for velvet though.

From your use of the term “managing”, you are dealing with ich, not velvet. Velvet kills fish too fast to really manage it.

If the fish still have symptoms, you could post a clear video under white lights and we can try to lock down your diagnosis.

Good point. I should have used eradicate. I am attempting to eradicate what I believe is velvet from my DT.

This is a video of the fish that was observed for 2 weeks and placed in my display (had been at my LFS since sept ‘25 and healthy so I mistakingly saw him as low risk.). After placing in my DT, he was stressed out by my yellow tang and the next morning looked like this.

Since this video however, all fish are out and in divided tanks with copper. The gem tang has recovered and looking infinitely better.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Good point. I should have used eradicate. I am attempting to eradicate what I believe is velvet from my DT.

This is a video of the fish that was observed for 2 weeks and placed in my display (had been at my LFS since sept ‘25 and healthy so I mistakingly saw him as low risk.). After placing in my DT, he was stressed out by my yellow tang and the next morning looked like this.

Since this video however, all fish are out and in divided tanks with copper. The gem tang has recovered and looking infinitely better.

That's a really severe case of ich. I call it "stale ich" because it doesn't look like how a fresh infection does.

 

[Eric552]

Good point. I should have used eradicate. I am attempting to eradicate what I believe is velvet from my DT.

This is a video of the fish that was observed for 2 weeks and placed in my display (had been at my LFS since sept ‘25 and healthy so I mistakingly saw him as low risk.). After placing in my DT, he was stressed out by my yellow tang and the next morning looked like this.

Since this video however, all fish are out and in divided tanks with copper. The gem tang has recovered and looking infinitely better.

That's a really severe case of ich. I call it "stale ich" because it doesn't look like how a fresh infection does.

Interesting! So it’s likely that ich was in my display without my knowledge and showed up on the gem as a new addition and the stress related to it?

Even so I guess, I definitely don’t want to manage ich so will plan to stay the current course.

 

[Eric552]

So I just wanted to follow up for anyone that has been following this thread or comes across it in the future.

Jay Hemdal was indeed correct, this appears to have been a severe case of ich. I appreciate the help with everyone who chimed in.