Quote:
Originally Posted by my2rotties
It is indeed flukes... I added water to the Ziplock bags and see thousands of them floating in the water around the fish.
From the big thread I posted a link to, the Prazipro appears to be reef safe. Still doing research on it now. I hope I can find the meds today and I have to figure out what to do with everything now.
Taking a nice hike to avoid a panic attack and will be calling all the LFS while I'm doing that. At least I have answers now since nothing else made sense. Reefcentral people say it is a mystery killer and the thread I posted a link to has been more then helpful
I want to thank all the members of canreef for bringing up the flukes to help me pinpoint something. I owe you guys and thanks again...
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To be as delicate as I can. Adding...I repeat adding any medication to a tank is a recipe for disaster. A few people have success (luck..it really is) Most people who have been doing this hobby long enough IF they have to treat their fish they do it in another tank. Adding medications to an established reef tank is not good.
1. medications (some) kill bacteria...ALL bacteria.
2. Medications kill parasites on fish (kill ALL parasites...yes even copepods)
3. Medications kill fungal infections...(most will also kill inverts, corals etc..)
There is a very specific reason people with well established tanks and a long history in this hobby (most of the bigger tanks on rc..as big tanks need more forward thinking than a small tank..the potential for losses in a big well established tank are greater) use 2 things.
1. Quarantine tank
2. Patience (for reasons other than one would think)
Quarantine tank - MARINE and ORNAMENTAL TROPICAL fish go through a myriad of shippers and wholesalers systems all different and all contaminated (treated, but usually there is something) this single fact should deter anyone from putting a fish directly in their system without observation at home. Most people have small quarantine tanks...you quarantine a tang you need a tank that will suffice. Quarantine is to medicate and to observe WITHOUT inducing stress if it can be helped. Putting a tang or a big angel or any fish that needs a 180 or more in a tank that is 40-50 gallons, well you get what you deserve i think (this is not directed at anyone in particular just everyone in particular

) Once a disease is in the main tank you run into a myriad of troubles that usually results in a few losses at best and a crash at worst.
Specific in your case - research all you wish on medications but you will find big tanks that are well established (ie years and years) these people know what they are doing and DO NOT risk medicating a main tank(unless threatened with a total tank loss, and by then some do indeed panic...but not many) There simply is no medication you can put in your main tank that will not harm it in some way...if it doesn't it is a placebo and you just got ripped off.
2. Patience, as people have most assuredly told you rushing to stock a tank is a recipe for disaster. Both because the system is not ready for it....lots of live rock does not mean lots of bacteria...bacteria grows as the demand for it is increased. As ammonia is introduced to the tank eventually the bacteria we need is created..slowly. then the system is ready for the bio load it is at. Then another fish is introduced, more ammonia, then more bacteria, then bio load the tank can handle at that moment...see the pattern here? Also patience is required in order to OBSERVE fish....many many fish come to us that are sick (parasite, fungus, bacteria, cyanide) the only what to find out is to observe (hence the quarantine tank(s) ). When one rushes this process they inevitably loose fish...either blaming the store(s), themselves or a combination. A lot of people new to this hobby get discouraged and blame themselves (I see a bit of this in you messages) which it is hard to admit is ones one fault...but it can be prevented. Lots and lots of people will disagree with the use of a quarantine tank for medicating and observation, but I will say and say it quite bluntly they are not what i would call bright people in the sense they are taking a huge risk that is not needed. If you have a big system it is moronic not to have an equally sized system for quarantining. Some very great people in this hobby will say quarantining is something they don't practise and their tanks are fine...this is nothing more than luck, their day so to speak...will come. This is not a knock on the intelligence per say of people, but their intelligence related to the hobby.
I have noticed you have added a lot of fish in a short time also have met you and seen sick fish in tanks where you have bought your fish ( I will not name the store people, do your own looking when you purchase fish, you may pm me and i will tell you the stores it is not) I even mentioned some of the fish looked like they had a fungus or parasite, but that is neither here nor there. But an observation period allows one to see these things first hand....when one quarantines for 4-6 weeks then anything bad happens in that tank and can be isolated and dealt with.
This is not meant to flame anyone only to offer advice...if anyones advice is to forgo a quarantine tank because YOU didn't need one...keep your inane babble to yourselves...people new to this hobby already get enough useless advice they don't need more. same goes for medications...i repeat medicating a Display tank is simply asking for problems.
Cheers.
Take this anyway you wish.