Out of options

[kornele23]

The water came straight from the main tank, so no I did not acclimate them.
The ich on the tang and angelfish have exploded and I haven't even done hypo yet. I havent been home all day today so I did not have the opportunity to do it. I will have to do it tomorrow and the following day. I also have to rely on a crappy hydrometer because I cannot afford anything else at the moment. I understand its a risk, but at this point I have no other options. Had I known I needed something better than what I had before I took the fish out of the DT, i might have never taken them out. BUt since they are out and I have basically destroyed the Rock formations in the DT tank, there is no turning back at this point.

 

[kornele23]

Well, this is turning out to be a disaster. My yellow tang is now covered from head to tail in ich. completely covered. He only had a few spots on him in the DT. The angel, who just barely had it on its fins, also covered head to tail. Nemo, head to tail.
Worse news, they were ALL eating GREAT before the transfer. They would eat like pigs actually. They haven't touched a thing since they've been in the QT. (except for the angel fish - he grabs a FEW flakes). I've covered the food with garlic to try and stimulate appetite - but its not working for the most part.
I'm so aggravated. It looked as if they could have beaten it in the DT. Now it looks as if there is no hope. My last outbreak of ich was this bad - and none of them survived.

 

[kornele23]

Well I got home from class this afternoon and they are all still alive. So that's a plus.
Tested the water and everything looks good for now. Beginning salinty was 1.024 and started to bring it down slowly an hour ago. We are now at 1.023. The plan is to have it down to around 1.016 by the time I go to sleep tonight. Then tomorrow I can finish the rest of the process of getting it down to 1.009.
I think I'm just as stressed out as my fish are right now.

 

[sepulatian]

I am glad that they are holding on. Keep their diet very high in quality and add some FRESH, not bottled, garlic to their foods. It will help boost their immune system and help them fight off the parasites. Keep us updated.

 

[kornele23]

End of day 1 of hypo.
salinity is holding steady at about 1.0175.
I did about 10 different small water changes to reach this level. tomorrow I will have to move a little bit faster.
they are still alive at this point. fingers crossed they are alive and kicking in the morning.

 

[kornele23]

We had our first fatality. Nemo died this morning. He was acting a little weird last night, but since he was already in a QT - I had no where else to put him. I figured he would pull through and be OK. When I woke up this morning he was swimming upside down. I caught him in a net and noticed a nite mark on his fin. Had noticed a few days before, right after he killed the other clown fish, that he was bullying the chromis's around in the QT. I don't know what happened, I suppose it doesn't even matter at this point. I just got home from class and i'm starting the second stage of finishing getting the SG down to 1.009. Like I said earlier, I don't have anything e other than the plastiuc hydrometer, but that is going to have to suffice for this treatment. Had I read a little closer, I would have never taken them out for hypo, and tried a different method. I would go purchase a refractometer, but I have $20 in my bank account until friday. So.....that's where I'm at.
The yellow tang and the angel actually look alright today - but I suppose that's just the cycle that ich takes. Anyways - I feel like I am talking to myself in here lol.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Kornele23
We had our first fatality. Nemo died this morning. He was acting a little weird last night, but since he was already in a QT - I had no where else to put him. I figured he would pull through and be OK. When I woke up this morning he was swimming upside down. I caught him in a net and noticed a nite mark on his fin. Had noticed a few days before, right after he killed the other clown fish, that he was bullying the chromis's around in the QT. I don't know what happened, I suppose it doesn't even matter at this point. I just got home from class and i'm starting the second stage of finishing getting the SG down to 1.009. Like I said earlier, I don't have anything e other than the plastiuc hydrometer, but that is going to have to suffice for this treatment. Had I read a little closer, I would have never taken them out for hypo, and tried a different method. I would go purchase a refractometer, but I have $20 in my bank account until friday. So.....that's where I'm at.
The yellow tang and the angel actually look alright today - but I suppose that's just the cycle that ich takes. Anyways - I feel like I am talking to myself in here lol.
How else would you have treated them? Do you have something in mind? Using a hydrometer for hypo will not work. They are simply not accurate enough. If you have a reef safe med at your house then you can use that in the QT until you get a refractometer. The only other option is copper, but you will need to pick up a test kit if you don't have one.

 

[kornele23]

I had some reef safe medicone - or so they claimed, but it did absolutely nothing. Infact probably made things worse.
I've already committed to hypo - so I'm going to follow through. They may not be exactly accurate - but it will get me close. If need be I will go between 1.008 and 1.009 to eliminate error in that direction. I can't keep them in this QT for that long - because it will take me until at least late Jan early Feb before I will be able to afford a refractometer. I can't afford to go buy any medication to get me through until then either. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm going to finish this hypo to the best of my abilities. I'm already more than half way there.

 

[kornele23]

Not sure why...but I only see just a few spots on the yellow tang. Yesterday he was covered head to toe. I haven't even reached the 1.009 and he looks a million times better. He has only a few spots on his tail, but his body is practically completely clear. Is this just a typical cycle of ich? During my first outbreak of ich back in july - they never had days of being completely clear - not once. They were always moderately covered. anyways - they are eating like pigs again, finally. thank goodness. Things are going well for the moment. My angel is even coming up to my hands and playing with me as I'm doing water changes and he even let me hand feed him. So that to me is a good sign.

 

[kelley5454]

I just went through hypo.. not an easy thing...I have a large fish stock...(had) in my 12 gal qt i started out with 2 green chromis, 1 yellow tail blue damsel, 1 fairy wrasse, 2 neon goby, 1 humu humu and one percula clown. the 12 was the only thing I had to do it in... so in hypo I lost 1 neon goby (the humu got hungry) the clown (maybe to brookenlla but the wrasse had harassed it since day 1) an 2 days ago, one day before hypo finished, I lost my beautiful fairy wrasse to a carpet dive when I wasn't looking, found the dog with her in his mouth...so the humu, 1 neon goby, 2 chromis and the damsel made it...placed them in the dt, (100% water change was done twice on the dt) neon goby has 1 spot on his dorsal fin, everyone else looks good, am waiting it out....I think they will be fine...I also did not have a refractometer, never arrived in the mail and am still arguing that one... so if you stay diligent it can work...I wish you the best...I hope this helps you at least realize that some of your fish will make it ( I don't think anything can kill those chromis! They could freeze dry them and drop them in the water and poof a whole new school)
Kelley

 

[kornele23]

Thank You for the words of encouragement!!! So glad to hear omeoe else has made this work with a subpar hydrometer!! This gives me hope!!
Sorry that you lost some!! I lost my nemo this morning and it was hard But everyone else is looking really good at the moment. I have the salinity at 1.010 at the moment. hopefully 1 or 2 more water changes will get it down to where it needs to be.
and LMAO about those chromis!!! NO doubt...nothing kills them. we got them when our tank was 1 day old!! and they are still here with us!!!

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Kornele23
Not sure why...but I only see just a few spots on the yellow tang. Yesterday he was covered head to toe. I haven't even reached the 1.009 and he looks a million times better. He has only a few spots on his tail, but his body is practically completely clear. Is this just a typical cycle of ich? During my first outbreak of ich back in july - they never had days of being completely clear - not once. They were always moderately covered. anyways - they are eating like pigs again, finally. thank goodness. Things are going well for the moment. My angel is even coming up to my hands and playing with me as I'm doing water changes and he even let me hand feed him. So that to me is a good sign.
Please take a sample of your water as it is now to the LFS, have them check the SG with a refractometer. Figure out the difference. You will have to keep the SG slightly lower than your calculation and draw a line on the tank with a marker that can be cleaned off later. You can use that line to judge top offs. You can also bring in your water for them to check and be sure that it is where it needs to be. My first hypo was with a deep six hydrometer that I checked about six times per day, had it re-tested and mathematicaly figured out where it needed to be. It is not ideal, but it worked for me. I would go to the LFS often with your water sample to be sure that you are keeping it low enough, but not too low. Hydrometers are VERY inaccurate. When I bought my refractometer I found out that my two tanks which I kept at 1.025 and 1.026 were actually 1.030 and 1.031 respectively. If you are on top of this you can perform a correct hypo, but you will have to double and triple check your hydrometer then cross referrence it with the LFS to figure out the exact line to draw on the tank. Be sure the water is always filled to that line. It isn't quite as bad as it sounds. It just requires top offs of fresh water and a trip to the LFS three times a week once you get the SG to 1.009

 

[kornele23]

well, I got the SG down to 1.009 - or so says my hydrometer. I can't take any samples just yet to my LFS as I'm right in the middle of finals week. However, the tang looks great! He has no spots on him at all right now. The angel looks pretty good - just a tiny few spots on his tail and he's still pretty discolored, pale, and patchy. I hear things are supposed to get worse? We'll wait and see. But my fish are eating and they seem happy.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by Kornele23
well, I got the SG down to 1.009 - or so says my hydrometer. I can't take any samples just yet to my LFS as I'm right in the middle of finals week. However, the tang looks great! He has no spots on him at all right now. The angel looks pretty good - just a tiny few spots on his tail and he's still pretty discolored, pale, and patchy. I hear things are supposed to get worse? We'll wait and see. But my fish are eating and they seem happy.
Are there no LFS's in Niceville? How far away is Ft. Walton Beach? Surely there has to be a LFS close enough to you to get your water checked. You are just spinning your wheels using a hydrometer for hypo unless you can somehow calibrate it but you'd have to get your water checked first. Unless the LFS is more than an hour away then I don't buy your excuse about finals. I went to college and there's no way you are studying that much that it is taking up 100% of your time. IMO you are playing with fire and it's very possible in fact it's probable that your SG is not at 1.009.

 

[kornele23]

sure, we have a LFS in Niceville. When my last final is over, and I have time to take the water down there, I will. Until then, my fish look great, they are eating great, and they seem to be, in general, pretty darn happy. I would imagine that they will be fine until Friday morning until I can get the water tested to see where my hydrometer stands on accuracy. I can agree that it's likely my SG is not exactly at 1.009. But there's a possibility that it could actually be right. I will find out more on Friday.
I'm sorry you don't buy that finals are taking up 100% of my time. its actually taking up about 90% of my time - and doing all these small water changes and posting on here is taking the other 10%. I can bet your finals weren't as hard as mine either. Otherwise - you would have spent 100% of your time studying and preparing. My field of study just happens to be slightly more challenging than most and I don't settle for average grades.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by Kornele23
sure, we have a LFS in Niceville. When my last final is over, and I have time to take the water down there, I will. Until then, my fish look great, they are eating great, and they seem to be, in general, pretty darn happy. I would imagine that they will be fine until Friday morning until I can get the water tested to see where my hydrometer stands on accuracy. I can agree that it's likely my SG is not exactly at 1.009. But there's a possibility that it could actually be right. I will find out more on Friday.
I'm sorry you don't buy that finals are taking up 100% of my time. its actually taking up about 90% of my time - and doing all these small water changes and posting on here is taking the other 10%. I can bet your finals weren't as hard as mine either. Otherwise - you would have spent 100% of your time studying and preparing. My field of study just happens to be slightly more challenging than most and I don't settle for average grades.
Okay well good luck. I just think it would be better if you got your water tested rather than post here. Your parameters are the best indicators. Moving on... What happened to your refractometer and have you tested for ammonia since your clown died yesterday? Ich has several stages and it's possible for fish to still be infected and on their way out and still be eating but I would consider them to be happy for the moment if they are eating.

 

[kornele23]

What happened to my refractometer? I've never had one. A simply hydrometer has always been sufficient. Yes I have tested everything and they are all perfect. The clown died because he was sick, not due to poor water quality. I'm quite certain of this. I believe he was sick when we bought him 3 or so weeks ago. He has never acted quite "right" since we bought him. I think the stress of moving him from the pet store, to the first QT, getting ich, and moving to another QT just did him in. After watching him fight with the other clown, and seeing the bite marks on him yesterday morning, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the other fish have made him that much more stressed which ultimately killed him.
Other than that....everything looks good
Ammonia - 0
Nitrates - 0
Nitrites - 0
pH - 8.2 - 8.3
have been adding vitamins and garlic to every meal.
so far so good.
as far as "posting here" and "taking water to the store"...you are talking about an hour difference of time. This has taken me 3 minutes to write. I wouldn't even be backed out of my driveway yet if I was to go to the LFS. just sayin

 

[kelley5454]

As you know I took my fish out of hypo 3 days ago, the white spot on the goby is gone. As a precaution I did one dose of medication on the dt the day I moved them. (I can't qt them any longer so I did this as a precaution,) if any signs come back after a few days I will let you know and off to the qt tank for hypo again it is. My royal gramma went through 2 cycles of hypo, unfortunately she died when paced back on the dt before the big break out. Another thing you can do, I don't know how much it helps but people swear buy it so I do it. Is to soak the food in garlic (juice i think?) It is said to boost the immune system to help the fish better fight off disease and such.
Kelley

 

[kornele23]

Yes Kelley, please do tell me if you get any signs of ich coming back. Seeing as you and I have gone about this in very similar ways, I would be please to hear all the rest of your fish made it. I'm sorry your royal gramma didn' make it. they are beautiful fish. I was thinking of getting one myself after all of this is taken care of.
I've also heard this garlic rule. I have the garlic Xtreme, but from what I am reading it seems the fresh garlic is what helps boost their immune system. I went to the store yesterday and I completely forgot to grab it because I was in such a hurry. I do plan to hit the grocery store on my way back from class tomorrow to grab some. Luckily they ate like pigs today. I was getting scared for my yellow tang because he didn't eat for almost 2 days. Well I believe he made up for that today lol.
Thanks so much for encouragement. Its always nice to know when you haven't done things exactly how people tell you, there is still someone there supporting you!! Good luck with your fish as they get back to normal life in your DT. Please let me know if you start seeing anything on your fish!

 

[earlybird]

I was asking about the refractometer because you said you had one in this thread https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/275933/has-anyone-used-this-for-ick#post_2190422
Like you I'm concerned for your fish and hypo is only a good treatment if your SG is exactly at 1.009. Hydrometers can be way off and usually are. If you order one you can probably have it in 2-3 days. Is it possible for your husband to bring a water sample to the LFS for you?