Trenton Henderson Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 My yellow eye kole tang came down with ich I my quarantine tank and has gotten rid of it with copper. However, this morning the lower half off his tail was chewed up. His whole tail has a white frosty tint to it and he doesn't move it at all. He acts as if it's not there though. What could this be? Thanks, Trenton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 Copper treatments weaken a fishes immune system. This sounds like a possible bacterial infection to me. It would be best to treat your tang in a separate quarantine tank to prevent a possible spread of the infection. Treatment with antibiotics may be helpful. Here's some info that may be useful to you. http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenton Henderson Posted February 21, 2015 Author Share Posted February 21, 2015 It's definitely my water quality. I'm doing a 50% water change tonight. I've got high nitrites. If I clean up those nitrites will he heal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted February 21, 2015 Share Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) Sounds like your quarantine system wasn't cycled. A water change will not "take care of nitrites". A completely cycled tank is what you need. Adding fish to an un-cycled quarantine system is a way to increase stress and will lead to the eventual death of fish. A proper qt system is completely cycled...ie always setup and running. An emergency qt is usually what happens...fish comes down with ich, aquarists toss together a "qt" system, and then are surprised by high ammonia and nitrite. Edited February 21, 2015 by Mandinga 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I always keep several squares of filter flow in the sump of my display tank so I always have an instant bio filter for qt. I know it's a little late now but a thought for the future. If you can continue to do large water changes daily you can keep the nitrite down but it makes meds hard to control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 It's definitely my water quality. I'm doing a 50% water change tonight. I've got high nitrites. If I clean up those nitrites will he heal? I understand that you are fairly new to the hobby Trenton. Ammonia NH3>Nitrites(NO2)>Nitrates(NO3). Anearobic bacteria in Liverock/Deep Sand Bed will reduce Nitrates(NO3) Also water changes if Nitrates are high (20ppm) Is it high Nitrites or Nitrates that you have? Adding live Aerobic bacteria may be helpful in converting Nitrite into less toxic Nitrate. If it is high NO2 don't change water. It will only lengthen the time of cycling your tank. *Please excuse me if I am stating what may be obvious to others. We were are beginners once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just sharing, because many of us have been there and feel your pain... A couple of good things to keep handy for the QT: 1) An ammonia detector 2) Ammonia remover http://www.aquavitro.com/products/alpha.html These are handy to have if you get an unexpected spike. I love Randy's suggestion to have backup filter material full of good bacteria handy as well. It is tough keeping QT cycled, and then there is often overfeeding because fish don't always eat right away. I run a big a** skimmer too in the QT, to help with export. It gives some lee way for overfeeding and keeps the water quality up. Well good luck! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JManrow Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just sharing, because many of us have been there and feel your pain... A couple of good things to keep handy for the QT: 1) An ammonia detector 2) Ammonia remover http://www.aquavitro.com/products/alpha.html These are handy to have if you get an unexpected spike. I love Randy's suggestion to have backup filter material full of good bacteria handy as well. It is tough keeping QT cycled, and then there is often overfeeding because fish don't always eat right away. I run a big a** skimmer too in the QT, to help with export. It gives some lee way for overfeeding and keeps the water quality up. Well good luck! Aquavitro looks like a great product! I was just about ready to suggest using Prime. Thanks for the info theclark! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 My pleasure, glad to share. It sure stinks to lose fish in QT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenton Henderson Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 Yeah, I knew that it wasn't smart as soon as I put them in the qt tank. I know better; I've done it enough times. My tang is losing tail by the hour, so it may be too late. I have some sand in my qt tank, do u recommend it to have rock too? Most people I here just say bare bottom. Would it just make my life easier to use more live sand and live rock with a skimmer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rworegon Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Sand and rock in a qt make meds hard to control. Especially copper, where the line between therapeutic and toxic are so slim. Both will absorb copper, and other meds. Sounds like bacterial or fungal infection. Furan, I think I'm remembering right, can help if you can find it. There are a couple of milder antibiotic medications that are common and readily available. I'm sure someone else will chime in with a better memory. Sucks getting old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandinga Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 (edited) Yeah, I knew that it wasn't smart as soon as I put them in the qt tank. I know better; I've done it enough times.Sorry I wasn't trying to call you out or anything, most of us have made the same mistake, especially if you've been in the game long enough. Oftentimes we are stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to fish. To bad we can't just dip fish like we dip corals:) Good luck! I'm hoping your fish makes a miracle recovery...and kole tangs can do it! Edited February 22, 2015 by Mandinga 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trenton Henderson Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 This morning his tail stopped declining in size. I'm cleaning 50% again today. It appears good for now! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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