I QT'd my Ichy False Percs...I need Experienced advice....

[s14joe]

My 2 clowns have ich and I tried Greenex to help with the problem. Before I get flamed I bought this green disaster stuff through a reccomedation at a local fish store. I really didn't learn about QT untill last week by that time I already treated my tank. This week I set up my tank as a QT.
I set up using my cycled water and lowered the salinity to 1.009. I have my Penguin 125 and a Skimmer circulating the water and a bare bottom. Now, I put all of my live rock in a plastic container with water from my tank. The fish I can tell already are looking better in this short period however they just don't want to eat much.I have tried Formula 1, fresh seafood mixed from the fish store and I have Flakes. They only seem to eat the flake. So basically i have a completely empty tank w/ 2 false percs. I am confused on how I should continue to treat the live rock and make sure that it is safe to put back into the tank after my Hypo treatment is over. Can someone please relpy and let me if I'm the right track and any changes that I need to make.
P.S. All my silicone is green thanks to GREENEX, Will this fade away in time?...if it doesn't I will have to buy another tank and use my current one as a QT for new purchases or disease treatment in the future
Thanks for your help,
~Joe
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[s14joe]

BTW.my 2 False Percs are also having problems with their fins,they look a bit choppy like there are little chunks taken out of them, they are the only fish I have and they are peaceful towards each other,what can be the cause? Please someone help because I'm getting really stressed about these fish. Thanks
~Joe

 

[beth]

Originally posted by s14joe
This week I set up my tank as a QT.
What does this mean? Are you using your display tank as a QT now with the percs? Or do you have a separate QT? If the tank that your fish are in is completely bare except for the fish, then you must put in something [like PVC or fake rocks]. Fish are stressed in bare tanks which could well be the cause for the lack of eating. It could also be the cause of aggression [which you just are not noticing]. What are your water readings in the treatment tank?? As for the fins, are they frayed and ragged like rags, or do they look like chuncks bitten off. The latter is aggression, the former is bacterial infection.
Now, I put all of my live rock in a plastic container with water from my tank.
Greenx is harmful to LR. I would suggest doing major water changes in the LR container. The silicone may fade, but it will likely never go back to normal. If you break down your tank completely and then fill it with water and bleech it may get rid of the green. In the end, its not such a big deal. Most tank silicone discolors and if you have LR a lot of it will get taken over by coraline anyway.
I am confused on how I should continue to treat the live rock and make sure that it is safe to put back into the tank after my Hypo treatment is over.
As long as fish don't have contact with the LR over the next mo, no further threatment is needed for the LR.
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[s14joe]

Yes, I am using my main tank as a quarentin. My fishes fins are frayed like old rags.I have the salanity down to 1.009 and I'm going tomarrow after work top buy another test kit so I will post the readings when I get them. What can I do to help the fin problem? Here are some pics

 

[s14joe]

 

[beth]

Take a look at my fish food receipe in the FAQ Thread. I'd suggest offering them this type of food. When you food process, add in a some fresh minced garlic.
Did the frayed fins occur before or after the greenx?
I don't see the ich, you're sure about that? DO ADD some comfort for your fish by adding fake rock or something. Even a piece of LR at this point. They can not be kept in a bare tank!

 

[s14joe]

yeah, Im pretty sure. My camera blows so the pictures are not very clear. They do have white dots on them and one of the clowns has like a sore on it's lip. The frayed fins started before the Greenex. Is is ok to add the LR since I'm not going to be treating them with any kind of chemicals. I mean the critters should die off in about a month or so right?

 

[beth]

I wouldn't say you didn't need to actually treat them with med. Secondary bacterial infections are common with ich, and it looks like you may be dealing with that. One thing at a time. I am also concerned about nutrition for this fish. Some of those fins look like malnutrition to me. What do you think of my fish food receipe and are you willing to give it a try??
You can add LR, but you can not put that LR back into your display ever again.

 

[s14joe]

I definitley think malnutrition plays a roll in the fish because of their eating habbits. I had made a mix of Shrimp,Squid and scallops and put it a food processor just like the one you have and I used an old frozen food packaging like the what the blood worms are in so I used it because I can make little cubes. I did this 2 days ago and i tried to feed it to the fish right, but they didn't even give it the time of day. I fed them Formula 1 just 20 mins ago because I just got home from work and they ate some of that. They are becoming much more active and seems to like when I go near the glass.
Ok, now if I put my current LR back into my tank what is the problem? My current tank is my diplay tank but it torn down to help my fish right now. Can you please explain why I won't be able to use them again.....I'm a bit confused about what you said about the LR.

 

[beth]

I'd like to know what all your water readings are: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH.
While you are at the LFS, see if you can get some Maraycn Two for Saltwaterfish.

 

[s14joe]

Originally posted by Beth
You can add LR, but you can not put that LR back into your display ever again. [/B]
What did you mean by that?

 

[beth]

You wanted to know if you can use LR for that QT where your fish currently have no comfort zones. If you want to place LR in there for them, a few small pieces will do....it is better than not putting anything in there at all. Better to put PVC or fake corals. Right now, I would like to see you put something in there for the fish.
If you put LR, though, in a QT, it is best not to return that LR back to the display. It will hold on to meds, perhaps harmful organisms, etc. Better to sacrifice a piece or 2 of LR then risking putting it back into your tank.

 

[s14joe]

I see what your saying.....Now is all my Live rock no good for the display tank now that I have used greenex with them in the tank previously? Because now I'm just going to use the tank that I have now as a permanent QT and I am going to buy a new 20gal tomarrow for my display and start over. I'm just worried that my LR is now useless now that it is contaminated. I'm gonna buy another test kit tomarrow and I will post the readings. Also, that antibiotic is a great idea for my troopers.

 

[s14joe]

Also, would it be ok to boil the rock then put it in the tank? i'm thinking if I boiled all of it then I can put it my new tank because I only have 10lbs and I plan on getting at least 15lbs more of live rock. Will it then be sterile to use as decoraction in the display tank?

 

[beth]

Live rock usually has many creatures on it...that you may not even notice. Like brittle stars, bristle worms, sponge, etc., etc., etc. Its not just rock. The reason it is called LR, is because of the many living creatures that live in it.
You can boil. But if you use copper or antibiotics, I would not put that back in my display. Just pay an extra $15 for new LR.