The Puffer Forum

Well, our boys in the salt water tank got Ick. The Puffer had it bad, but I think it's subsided, however a secondary infection has set in - note his horribly foggy eyes. The Power Blue Tang still has Ick around his gills, and his eyes have now gone foggy. I think it's a fungus - do you? We were treating the tank with Rid-Ick, and now with Sea Cure Copper. The water params are ok, no ammonia, and I was told to do frequent water changes for the next few days.

I feel terrible, they look miserable - and a week ago they were happy as anything. The Puffer is about 5" and the Tang is about 4 ... " Comments, suggestions? Thanks.

Sorry to hear that. I'll PM Puffer Queen so she sees this.

Aww, my old porc had that (or something very similar) I treated it with Pennicilin.
Also could she have bumped into the rock?

Don't treat with anything till PQ gets here. I don't recommend meds for treating ich. How close were you keeping an eye on the copper? Lots of water changes to keep the water clean can help till then. Add fresh carbon too. How are the parameters?

Thanks for all the replies ... yes, just did another water change. The Copper is at .15. No change today, still looking miserable.

Are you using copper in a tank with substrate??? Substrate and anything porous (rock) will absorb and leach copper making obtaining a therapeutic level difficult and could lead to toxicity.

This looks parasitic - advanced case.

What test kit are you using to measure copper - there are two types of copper: chelated and nonchelated. Different kits measure different types.

What are your specific water parameters - pH, SG, temp, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates......?

<< Are you using copper in a tank with substrate??? Substrate and anything porous (rock) will absorb and leach copper making obtaining a therapeutic level difficult and could lead to toxicity. >>

I'm using a sand base, just a few pieces of rock, not much at all (5 to create a few hiding spaces).

<< What are your specific water parameters - pH, SG, temp, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates......? >>

Temp: 80
Ammonia: ~0
Nitrates: 10-20
pH: ~8
SG: slightly lower than the 'safe zone'

I'm checking on the Copper Test kit. Using Sea Cure Copper however.

Thanks!

Sandee wrote:<< Are you using copper in a tank with substrate??? Substrate and anything porous (rock) will absorb and leach copper making obtaining a therapeutic level difficult and could lead to toxicity. >>

I'm using a sand base, just a few pieces of rock, not much at all (5 to create a few hiding spaces).

sand and rock absorbs the copper. You need to maintain a steady therapeutic level or the parasites will not be eradicated.

<< What are your specific water parameters - pH, SG, temp, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates......? >>

Temp: 80
Ammonia: ~0
Nitrates: 10-20
pH: ~8
SG: slightly lower than the 'safe zone'

What is safe zone? sg 1.023??
What are your nitrites?

I believe by safe zone he means the reccomended area on most common hydrometers which is between 1.021-1.024

Yes, the SG is about 1.020, I was told to reduce the salt slightly to help during treatment. The Nitrites are between 0 and .5. The copper test kit I have is by Marineland, non-chelated.

Tonight, I was told to turn off the UV filter, as that will reduce the effectivness. The Tang died today - hoping to hold on to the Puffer. For some reason, I just feel like I've caused 'sick tank syndrome' - so we bought a whole new 90 gal tank, wet/dry filter and new sea water gravel. Hoping to get that setup tomorrow - move the water over from the 75 gal and top it off with the water in my holding tank. As for the filter, I'll run the new and old in parallel until the new one gets going. Yes, this is nuts - but I just hate watching him suffer like this ... I can't sit still.

On a related, but un-related note - my 1/2" baby Cichlids are doing great! So much fun to watch the six of them growing so quickly. Take a look at the live webcam I have pointing to that tank (lights on between 11am and 11pm): http://www.sandeeland.com/FishCam/

Sandee wrote:Yes, the SG is about 1.020, I was told to reduce the salt slightly to help during treatment. The Nitrites are between 0 and .5. The copper test kit I have is by Marineland, non-chelated.

Tonight, I was told to turn off the UV filter, as that will reduce the effectivness. The Tang died today - hoping to hold on to the Puffer. For some reason, I just feel like I've caused 'sick tank syndrome' - so we bought a whole new 90 gal tank, wet/dry filter and new sea water gravel. Hoping to get that setup tomorrow - move the water over from the 75 gal and top it off with the water in my holding tank. As for the filter, I'll run the new and old in parallel until the new one gets going. Yes, this is nuts - but I just hate watching him suffer like this ... I can't sit still.

Sorry for your loss.

Using water, filters or anything that has water from the infected tank (even it is just damp or a drop) should be avoided as parasites will then be transferred to the new tank. You can cycle the new tank with pure ammonia (no additives - if you shake the bottle and it suds - don't buy/use it).

Using water, filters or anything that has water from the infected tank (even it is just damp or a drop) should be avoided as parasites will then be transferred to the new tank.

Won't the fish be wet?

You can cycle the new tank with pure ammonia

Can't she use Bio-Spira?

Pufferpunk wrote:

Using water, filters or anything that has water from the infected tank (even it is just damp or a drop) should be avoided as parasites will then be transferred to the new tank.

Won't the fish be wet?

Yes, the fish are wet but a freshwater dip with methylene blue for 15 - 30 minutes should eradicate the feeding stage of the parasites on the fish. The other things or water have a high chance of transferring the cyst or free swimming stages that are not visible to the human eye With a new tank, why start out on a potential 'bad' note

You can cycle the new tank with pure ammonia
Can't she use Bio-Spira?

I use ammonia as one gallon jug costs $1 and will last a very long time.....I have had a jug for almost 3 years and it is not even a quarter gone.

I have never used bio-spira as I have heard mixed reviews and me being on a limited budget - ammonia is less expensive and easier to obtain.

In an emergency, I would suggest using B-S. Negative reviews are from folks using the product that somewhere along the line, has ben allowed to get warm. It MUST be kept refrigerated at all times.

Good news! Since my last post, Puff Puff is doing MUCH better. One eye is 100% better, the other is about 90% there. So, all is going well. Stopped with the Copper and started with ProziPro (something like that, will confirm later). But he IS getting better!