Marine Velvet!!!!

[Slodoc07]

I have a newly established mixed reef tank (2months) and I made the neebie mistake of not quarantining newly added fish. Well 4 fish contracted Marine Velvet. 2 Butterfly fish, Valentini puffer which are deceased and a saphire damsel that seems to still be doing ok but has become very reclusive and only comes out to feed. The fish I have that dont seem to be experiencing any symptoms are, 6 line wrasse, Maroon Clown, firefish, purple Firefish, and Orange spotted gobie which I plan on plan on quarantining and medicating when I get the chance to start a QT tank if I can catch them.

My question is how should I proceed? do corals and inverts need to be QT as well? I heard I should fallow my tank for 9 weeks in order to eradicate the disease. Do I need to do a complete tank tear down, 100% water change or less? If so, what can stay in the tank, shrimps, snails, hemits, conch, Corals?

If you could provide me with detailed steps I would sincerly appretiate it. I'm calm and collected on the outside but inside I am having a mental breakdown lol. Like all of you I put a lot of time and effort into this tank build and I feel very foolish for not putting the new fish in QT. Please tell me thing will work out!!!

 

[Brew12]

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this!

I recommend reading this.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Anything that isn't a fish can stay in the tank. You need to keep the fish out of your aquarium for 6 weeks to ensure you starve it out properly.

 

[Slodoc07]

I'm so sorry you are having to go through this!

I recommend reading this.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Anything that isn't a fish can stay in the tank. You need to keep the fish out of your aquarium for 6 weeks to ensure you starve it out properly.

Thanks Brew12, that was the first article I read. You did answer 1 of my main questions though, what could stay in the tank and I really appreciate that. Do you know know if I should do a large water change or just let it take its course? Also I feel this is a huge step back for the progression of the tank. Can I continue adding coral or stop progression all together? Thanks again for your help!

 

[Brew12]

Thanks Brew12, that was the first article I read. You did answer 1 of my main questions though, what could stay in the tank and I really appreciate that. Do you know know if I should do a large water change or just let it take its course? Also I feel this is a huge step back for the progression of the tank. Can I continue adding coral or stop progression all together? Thanks again for your help!

Just let it take its course.
You can continue adding coral but I don't necessarily recommend it. Although not as likely as with fish, Velvet and Ich can come in on coral, also. Having a frag QT is almost as important as having a fish QT.

 

[Slodoc07]

Just let it take its course.
You can continue adding coral but I don't necessarily recommend it. Although not as likely as with fish, Velvet and Ich can come in on coral, also. Having a frag QT is almost as important as having a fish QT.

Got it! Thanks again man!!

 

[Slodoc07]

*Update*

My wife just told me that the sapphire Damsel just passed. He was the last that showed symptoms of Velvet. I plan to QT the rest of the tank mates that currently do not have symptoms but my question is, how should I treat these fish? Should I treat them as if they had symptoms with Chloriquine Phosphate or is there a different approach given the circumstances?

 

[Brew12]

*Update*

My wife just told me that the sapphire Damsel just passed. He was the last that showed symptoms of Velvet. I plan to QT the rest of the tank mates that currently do not have symptoms but my question is, how should I treat these fish? Should I treat them as if they had symptoms with Chloriquine Phosphate or is there a different approach give. Then circumstances?

Yes, treat them all as if they had symptoms. If you have CP that is fantastic. Velvet is known to do enough damage to the gills that rapid breathing may be the only symptom you ever see on fish with thicker slime coats like wrasses and clownfish.
If you have to use copper it becomes a little more challenging. Even if there are no symptoms other than rapid breathing I get copper levels up quickly. If there isn't rapid breathing I may ramp it up more slowly. With CP, you can go full strength right away so acclimation isn't a concern like it is with copper.

 

[Dizzirn]

Good luck Slodoc

 

[savetheocean]

Good luck.

I have no idea if there is ich or velvet in my aquarium, sometimes I see signs like one of my tangs rubs against the rock but I almost never see any salt like dots. Tangs rubbing against rocks are also not uncommon in general. I have a qt setup JUST in case anything goes wrong.

 

[LuckyPhil]

You already made the "newbie" mistake of not QTing your new fish and not QTing corals/inverts/anything wet to the DT puts you at risk of parasites entering the tank through their cyst stage.

I would recommend Leaving the tank fallow for 76 days which will eliminate both ich and velvet.

I also would advise if you want to add coral or inverts to do it now all in one go to your fallow DT and then count 76 days from then or to your last addition.

Good luck!