PLEASE HELP ASAP!! VELVET INFECTED FISH

[HotRocks]

Are any of these antibiotics going to affect the api copper test results in any way?

I'm not sure if it will or not since it discolors the water. It however does not skew the reading from the Hanna checker.

 

[Coral Keeper]

I'm not sure if it will or not since it discolors the water. It however does not skew the reading from the Hanna checker.

I know.. but I can't find the Hanna checker ANYWHERE . I literally called every fishstore out there within my 100mi range. BRS shipping is not fast enough. Can't trust my API now .

 

[Coral Keeper]

So, I'm in a bit of a situation... the Furan-2 is discoloring the water so bad that i cant rely on the API test kit anymore but it seems like the liverock is soaking up so much copper that the fish are acting like they have velvet again.. so I dose another 8.1mL of copper to the tank to raise it by 0.25ppm... making it a total of 77.2mL dosed into the QT... What should I do at this point? I'm thinking about doing a 30 gallon water change tomorrow morning, then another 30 gallon water change in the evening to remove all of the discoloring caused by the Furan-2? And dose antibiotics that don't discolor the water? What regimend of antibiotics should I do then?? Please help!!

 

[HotRocks]

Are the fish still covered in white spots?

Can you remove the LR?

I would be careful adding any more copper. Fish in overdosed copper will exhibit alot of symptoms that are similar to velvet.

 

[Coral Keeper]

Are the fish still covered in white spots?

Can you remove the LR?

I would be careful adding any more copper. Fish in overdosed copper will exhibit alot of symptoms that are similar to velvet.

The fish are doing much better this morning, definitely less white spots and the bacterial infections have completely stopped eating away at the fins and 90% of the redness is gone..

I'm afraid if I removed the live rock my ammonia will go through the roof because thats the only seeded bacteria I have in there.. because I haven't been having ammonia issues like everyone kept saying that I would..

Okay, I'll stop with the dosing now that the fish are looking better..

My plan for today is to do two 50% water changes, one in the morning and one in the late evening to remove all the antibiotics/water discoloration since I can't run carbon..

 

[Coral Keeper]

So, just an update of what happed/going on. I decided to just do one 32 gallon (58%) water change last night so that the fish could have gotten at least 48 hours of antibiotic treatment and right before doing the water change i fed the fish PE Mysis pellets soaked in selcon vitamins and everyone was going at the food like crazy. At the time of the water change the badge Ammonia levels were at 0.05ppm. I'm happy to report that all of the fishes are doing very well, they are eating like pigs/picking on the rocks and the leopard wrasses are hunting among the rocks

 

[HotRocks]

So, just an update of what happed/going on. I decided to just do one 32 gallon (58%) water change last night so that the fish could have gotten at least 48 hours of antibiotic treatment and right before doing the water change i fed the fish PE Mysis pellets soaked in selcon vitamins and everyone was going at the food like crazy. At the time of the water change the badge Ammonia levels were at 0.05ppm. I'm happy to report that all of the fishes are doing very well, they are eating like pigs/picking on the rocks and the leopard wrasses are hunting among the rocks

Glad to hear it!!! It's alot of work. But soooo worth it!

 

[Coral Keeper]

A few update pictures of the fish they are so active it's hard to get a clear shot of them!
Some of the clownfish and powder blue still have a few spots but definitely much less than they did before..

 

[Coral Keeper]

Just got a Hanna Copper checker! It is SOO convenient and hassle free! No comparing colors or wondering this or that! No more headaches!!
I just tested the QT and it shows 1.87 ppm with a +- of 0.05ppm ( +- of 5% ) so it is anywhere from 1.82ppm - 1.92ppm

 

[Rython]

Wow what a turn around! Nice job!

 

[HotRocks]

Just got a Hanna Copper checker! It is SOO convenient and hassle free! No comparing colors or wondering this or that! No more headaches!!
I just tested the QT and it shows 1.87 ppm with a +- of 0.05ppm ( +- of 5% ) so it is anywhere from 1.82ppm - 1.92ppm

Great job on the Cu level. Very good place to be. Hanna is awesome I have to agree.

 

[Coral Keeper]

Update, did a 35 gallon water change on the QT, waited 45 minutes or so and the water tested at 1.74ppm (range 1.69ppm - 1.79ppm).. curious to see what the levels will be at/how much copper the live rock will soak up tomorrow...

 

[Coral Keeper]

Ive been reading other threads and have seen people mention ABX and NFG for bacterial infections, what exactly is that/what does it stand for exactly?

 

[HotRocks]

ABX just stands for antibiotics in general.

NFG is Nitrofuracin Green
It can not be mixed with copper as it contains methalyne blue.

It's worth having for sure. By far the best antibiotic I've ever used.

http://store.nationalfishpharm.com/NFP-products-Nitrofuracin-Green-59584.Item.html

 

[4FordFamily]

ABX just stands for antibiotics in general.

NFG is Nitrofuracin Green
It can not be mixed with copper as it contains methalyne blue.

It's worth having for sure. By far the best antibiotic I've ever used.

http://store.nationalfishpharm.com/NFP-products-Nitrofuracin-Green-59584.Item.html

Agree both points I was going to make.

Op, great job! Keep up with the ABX so the infections do not come back. Continue course for 10-14 days

 

[Coral Keeper]

Agree both points I was going to make.

Op, great job! Keep up with the ABX so the infections do not come back. Continue course for 10-14 days

Thanks! Since everyone is doing well and the previous bacterial infections are gone from what it looks like, is it still a good idea to dose antibiotics since it was an emergency QT and not established? I'm currently doing daily water changes of 60% and ever since I've dosed 2 days of the antibiotics and even though i removed the antibiotics from the water, the ammonia badges have always been showing 0.05ppm even after a 60% waterchange.. I'm guessing it's because the QT didn't fully establish yet + antibiotics killing most of the bacteria?
This is what I'm thinking so far, since the fish are doing better and eating well, I was thinking of just continuing the daily waterchanges and feeding the crap out of them with vitamin soaked foods to boost their immune system to help fight anything off? Because I don't want to overdo it with medications/make it harder on their little bodies?

Or rather not risk it and continue with antibiotics just to be on the safe side? If so, how do I manage with the ammonia/waterchanges/more doses of antibiotics with each waterchange? If that makes sense...

Also, I read that when the fish are on antibiotics for a lil while, they need to be given probiotics? Can someone elaborate on that a little more/post some links about it please?

Also, just tested the copper levels and it is currently at 1.71ppm, looks like over a 21 hour period 0.03ppm was absorbed by the live rock or whatever..

 

[4FordFamily]

If you only doses antibiotics for two days the infections are likely to come roaring back and this time be stronger.

 

[Coral Keeper]

So should I do the triple antibiotics? Kanaplex, metroplex and furan2? If so, for how long?

 

[Coral Keeper]

So I was feeding the fish and noticed the powder blue has these spots on him??? Please help!! This is nuts! Was fighting velvet, then bacterial infections and now this?! What is going on please help! I tested the copper level last night and it was at 1.83ppm... going to test it again in a bit..

 

[Coral Keeper]

I also found this fireworm?? Especially with copper levels at 1.83ppm? Thought copper killed almost all inverts... the wrasse ended up eating it 10 seconds after i took the picture..