EMTX777
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2026
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 2
- What state or country do you live in
- Texas
Hello All!
I have a quarantine tank conundrum. About 3 weeks ago, I placed a batch of newly arrived fish in my quarantine tank; this batch included a couple of butterflies, 2 hawkfish, two damsels, 1 blenny, and 2 tangs. I have multiple mature saltwater display tanks that these fish would have eventually gone into following their 30 to 45 day quarantine period.
Just prior to this shipment I had successfully completed a 45 day quarantine period with another group of fish. The 20 gallon quarantine was well cycled and good to go following the removal of those fish into their respective display tanks. I did do a 50% water change.
About a 14 days into the quarantine period one of the butterflies developed what appeared to be velvet (and this is why we quarantine every time, all the time, folks) . At that point, I had a very, very low dose of copper in the tank. I immediately began increasing the copper over a few days to a therapeutic level. However, this did not change anything and I lost the entire group within the week- the original butterfly died in a day, with only the 2 hawkfish and a butterfly remaining- the last butterfly only made it through the end of the week and looked to have developed a secondary bacterial infection. At that point, I added Kanaplex, and the following day, the last butterfly died and the hawkfish were very stressed.
I moved the hawkfish into my tiny 5 gallon quarantine- that was empty, but cycled, where one died with in 24 hours. The last hawkfish continues to thrive alone in that tank- looks good and is eating well. There are no medications in that tank at all. I am planning on adding a basslet and a cardinal next week with him to see if any further diseases appear to ensure that he is healthy- where the 30 day quarantine will begin again.
The question here is what to do about my 20 gallon quarantine. I am due to have another shipment of fish arrive in a week or (I have asked the vendor to hold my shipment as long as possible), but I need to get the quarantine back up and running.
It has now sat empty and running for a week as is- copper and kanaplex still in the water column. As it is a quarantine tank- there is no sand, just pvc and a few plastic plants. I want to save the media in my filter, so I don’t have to re-cycle the tank, but I'm worried that it is "infected" with velvet. I can absolutely empty, bleach the tank, pvc, and plants and refill, but having the same filter media makes me feel that I'll just put the disease back in.
What's the best course of action here?
Thank you!!
I have a quarantine tank conundrum. About 3 weeks ago, I placed a batch of newly arrived fish in my quarantine tank; this batch included a couple of butterflies, 2 hawkfish, two damsels, 1 blenny, and 2 tangs. I have multiple mature saltwater display tanks that these fish would have eventually gone into following their 30 to 45 day quarantine period.
Just prior to this shipment I had successfully completed a 45 day quarantine period with another group of fish. The 20 gallon quarantine was well cycled and good to go following the removal of those fish into their respective display tanks. I did do a 50% water change.
About a 14 days into the quarantine period one of the butterflies developed what appeared to be velvet (and this is why we quarantine every time, all the time, folks) . At that point, I had a very, very low dose of copper in the tank. I immediately began increasing the copper over a few days to a therapeutic level. However, this did not change anything and I lost the entire group within the week- the original butterfly died in a day, with only the 2 hawkfish and a butterfly remaining- the last butterfly only made it through the end of the week and looked to have developed a secondary bacterial infection. At that point, I added Kanaplex, and the following day, the last butterfly died and the hawkfish were very stressed.
I moved the hawkfish into my tiny 5 gallon quarantine- that was empty, but cycled, where one died with in 24 hours. The last hawkfish continues to thrive alone in that tank- looks good and is eating well. There are no medications in that tank at all. I am planning on adding a basslet and a cardinal next week with him to see if any further diseases appear to ensure that he is healthy- where the 30 day quarantine will begin again.
The question here is what to do about my 20 gallon quarantine. I am due to have another shipment of fish arrive in a week or (I have asked the vendor to hold my shipment as long as possible), but I need to get the quarantine back up and running.
It has now sat empty and running for a week as is- copper and kanaplex still in the water column. As it is a quarantine tank- there is no sand, just pvc and a few plastic plants. I want to save the media in my filter, so I don’t have to re-cycle the tank, but I'm worried that it is "infected" with velvet. I can absolutely empty, bleach the tank, pvc, and plants and refill, but having the same filter media makes me feel that I'll just put the disease back in.
What's the best course of action here?
Thank you!!
