weird parasites

[rica5tully]

In another thread, I'm dealing with my sick (and dying) clownfish and yellow tang. I don't know what it is: (Ich, velvet, etc.)

What I'm wondering is, regardless of whether they live or not, what do I do with my main system? It's empty now except for a margarita snail and a hermit crab.

I've read you can leave the tank empty of fish for 4-10 weeks and the parasites will all die without a host.

I've also read that, depending on the parasite, you might have to sterlize and dry out your tank and start over. Otherwise you'll never get rid of it.

What's your advice? Anybody dealt with a nasty parasite before?

Thanks.

[tricksterpup]

I still think you have an issue with water quality over parasites being the main issue. How old is your tank? How long did you have it run before letting fish in? Are you using Tap water? Or RO water? If not using RO water, I would try using RO in your tank and see how that fairs, but let your tank cycle for a period of time before adding in fish. Do massive water changes untill you feel you have gotten rid of the old water.
Fish get ick because of being stressed out as I made mentioned in the previous post. I have experienced the same issue you have and it turned out to be water quality in the long run. You may have bad water in your area. Many cities have water that is safe for human consumption but do not care about keeping other things alive in that water. Trust me, if you have problems keeping inverts and fish alive in your water, its not a parasite at all but a metal or a chemical in your water that is effecting everyone.

jim

[rica5tully]

I understand what you're saying. It does make sense...but here are some other facts:

1) I kept my clownfish here in this water for three months and he just died today.

2) I kept my tang for three weeks (he died today too)

3) I still have a snail and a hermit crab or two that seem to be fine.

Could this be bad water? It seems like if the water was poisonous the clownfish would have gotten sick before now.

I've thought about your "bad water" theory and the only way I can think to test it would be to buy a damsel or two and put them in my tank. But if my clownfish was in there for three months, how long would I have to keep the damsels before I was satisfied my water was fine?

Thanks for your input.

[kreblak]

The bad water issue should be laid to rest by your inverts. Snails and hermits are immune to Ich and Velvet, so the fact that your fish have something doesn't bother them.

Parasitic diseases like Ich only become a problem when your fish are stressed, and their immune system fails to fight off the disease. Of course, if the parasite is not present in the first place, the fish cannot become sick. Leaving the tank fishless for 4 weeks at 79-80* will cycle all remaining cysts in your substrate. Once those cysts rupture, the free swimming protozoans have only 18 hours to find a host or die trying. So, after 4 weeks, you can expect your tank to be parasite free.

If you have something in your water that is the cause of all this, then that could be something else entirely. What kind of water are you using? City tap water, well water, or RO/DI? Are you using dechlorinator, and if so, how much? From the way you have described things in your tank, it does sound like poisoning is a possibility. I'm not trying to scare you, but 20/20 did a show last year about chemicals they found in ground water. Among other things they found in some locations were strycknine (seeping into the water table out of pressure treated lumber), benzyne, cyanide. All of these could be fatal to a captive marine system.

[rica5tully]

What about the fact that my fish was fine for 3 months in this water (when we moved until now)?

Aren't there other reasons fish get sick than poisonous water?

What about my inverts that are still alive? I assumed that the ones that died were because I have fine grain sand (that they have trouble in) and because I did a bad job of acclimating them.

I never saw any spots on my tang and my clownfish was really shiny. I assumed that I had "velvet."

I appreciate your help a lot! It just seems like some things don't add up.

[kreblak]

You're right, a lot of things don't add up here. What we do know is that you had two fish get sick and die, as well as a number of inverts. While each can be explained in it's own instance, if you look at the big picture, something is clearly wrong.

I can tell you this much: I have had MUCH fewer problems in my tank ever since I switched over to RO water for changes and top offs. My city's water has phosphates in it, as well as nitrates.

I would begin testing for all water parameters. Try to find something to correct. What percentage on inverts have you lost, and how many are left?

[Joey D]

Test and change your water weekly. PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE.