Marine Velvet, I can't believe its happening to me.

[MKLKT]

I suffered the same fate as Aquattro about the same time earlier this year. I lost about half my fish. I did a 1 month course Metronidazole/Focus and garlic drops, the remaining fish stabilized although it's tough to give the efficacy. My foxface had clouded eyes (and was blind on one side), dots all over and was listing a bit and has now made a full recovery.

I suspected a sudden drop in temperature at the time is what caused the stress as I hadn't added any fish in many months.

I left the livestock alone for about 3 months before I added anything new; since then it's been another 3 now and have no further issues.

The symptoms of each fish were kinda different so a true diagnosis is tough, all I know is that I feel your pain. It really sucks, the whole family was pretty glum here, too.

[MarkoD]

There has to be a good reason why large and public aquariums use uv sterilizers. Whats the disadvantage of using one? Because it'll kill Copepods?

[jorjef]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

There has to be a good reason why large and public aquariums use uv sterilizers. Whats the disadvantage of using one? Because it'll kill Copepods?

No disadvantage, it's more for prevention not a cure. There won't be any harm to put it on now just don't expect great results for a cure.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by jorjef

No disadvantage, it's more for prevention not a cure. There won't be any harm to put it on now just don't expect great results for a cure.

I also wouldn't run one full time in a reef, as I feel that there's a lot of microscopic food floating round for corals. Other than that, no real disadvantage, just at this point, it's too little too late..

[jorjef]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I also wouldn't run one full time in a reef, as I feel that there's a lot of microscopic food floating round for corals. Other than that, no real disadvantage, just at this point, it's too little too late..

I hear ya, that's why mine sits on the shelf....

[MarkoD]

I understand it's not a cure. But would the benefits of decreasing the chances of an outbreak outweigh the killing of some microscopic foods?

Maybe running it off of a separate, slower pump instead of a return.

There's gotta be a good reason so many large and successful reef tanks run 1 or multiple sterilizers

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

I understand it's not a cure. But would the benefits of decreasing the chances of an outbreak outweigh the killing of some microscopic foods?

From what I observed with MV, no, it wouldn't help. The outbreak has already happened, so adding anything at this point isn't going to prevent an outbreak. If it's MV, the only viable option to save fish is to catch them, put them in a treatment tank and treat aggressively for the pathogen. Or let it run it's course and see what's left on the other side. However, fish can build an immunity to MV, so while you may feel some fish are safe at the end, adding a new fish could set it all off again, with the old but infected immune fish infecting a healthy new fish.

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by jorjef

I hear ya, that's why mine sits on the shelf....

hey man shoot it on the bus for me to use. i dont have one

[Skimmerking]

i used to always use Ozone in my beckett skimmer and and always never had any issues with water clarity and ick. However i may go back to either Ozone or UV since i have a smaller tank and things always change rarely fast as I'm seeing.

[Snaz]

Sorry for your losses.

Reading that information page regarding MV a note regarding vaccination intrigues me. While not yet feasible I was wondering how this works... If MV is an external parasite how would a vaccination work? If anyone has further links regarding fish vaccination I would be most appreciative.
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...ths-facts.html

Again sorry for your losses SK.