Hyposalinity!! Fish shedding!!

[gaboy]

Hi,
I am using Hypo to try to get rid of the ick on my fish, I have been reducing the salinity over the past 48 hours in my main tank which is 100 gal. I have changed approximately 40 gallons of water, when I started the salinity was 1.022, now it is down to 1.012, Should salinity drop faster than this? I figured maybe 20 gallons or so should reduce the salinity to around 1.009, I am doing 5 gallon changes every 4 to 6 hours, and my salinity usually just drops a point each time. The question is, Is this normal?? I also notice my Hippo and Yellow tang have something that looks like slime hanging from their gills and tails, they look like they are shedding the outer coat of thier body, and the ick spots have become more visible, is this normal? I have checked my PH and it appears to be 8.4. Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated!! This tank has been driving me crazy for the past week!! Please Help!!

 

[gaboy]

I am using R/O water, how can I get back on track to finish bringing the salinity down. Also is it normal for the fish to be shedding?

 

[gaboy]

I am not for sure, I don't have a R/O unit, I am going to my local Target store and filling my jugs out of their R/O machine. Is there something I should be doing to the water instead of dumping it out of the bottle into my tank. The water is coming from a machine made by Culligan.

 

[gaboy]

I have checked my water parameters and they all seem to be correct, Earlier today I did add PH Buffer to my tank it was a little low. I think there may also be toxins in the water, because I originally tried to treat the tank with Greenex, and lost alot of my fish. So I started the hypo. a couple of days ago and have lost a few damsels since. So this is probably part of my problem, I do not have any live rock or inverts currently in my tank, I am using 2 emperor 400 filters, and went tonight and bought a Powerhead made by Zoo Med, which I am using to add additional oxygen to the tank. I also added Maracyn Two to the tank, hoping that this may help. I have several damsels in the tank, and they seem to be fine, it is just the tangs that are in bad shape. The yellow tang looks as if it has a heavy coat of white dust on it, and some spots of mucus stuff hanging from it. The hippo did eat earlier today and looks like the yellow tang, but worse. Is there anything else I can do. As for water I am using R/O for water changes, and I am also adding dechlorinator just in case there is chlorine in the water, because I'm buying it from the local target store. Any help GREATLY appreciated!!

 

[beth]

I know you are doing a lot of diluting with the hyposalinity but do any of your mechanical filters have activated carbon in them? It would be a very good idea to run fresh carbon in the filters for 48 hours just to get rid of the greenx.
I'd wait on dosing with antibiotics until you can actually determine that you are having a secondary problem with infection. The tangs may just be loosing their slime coat due to a hypersensitive reaction to the greenx [and now the combo of residual greenx with M2].
What are your water readings at this point? Also, begin feeding your fish garlic soaked food. The garlic will aid with the parasite problem, and it has a natural antibacterial quality as well. What are you feeding fish, particularly the tangs?

 

[gaboy]

Well, the yellow tang died, and the hippo tang is almost dead. I was feeding the tangs algae strips, that you hook on the lettuce clip, and flake food. I am soaking flake food in a garlic extract named kyolic that I bought at the GNC store. As for water, I have been checking it with Red Sea test kit, and every time I check all the parameters appear to be fine. I think it was the greenex that caused my problem, needless to say I am very upset at the loss of fish. I still have a few damsels in the tank that seem to be fine. This makes twice I have lost most of my fish in the past two years, I love this hobby, but it is stating to get a little to expensive and a large headache.

 

[gaboy]

Thanks guys,
I've learned my lesson, I will never put another fish in my tank w/o quarantining it first. I am also going to find another fish store, because they give very bad advice , and also sell unhealthy fish. I think they do this in hopes of crashing your tank, so you'll come back and spen more $$$$$.